Everyone deserves a nice cup of Hot Chocolate after an afternoon out in the snow (or in the case of today, freezing drizzle). Sara asked me about how I would go about making a paleo friendly hot chocolate treat for one of those special afternoons. My initial response was coconut milk, dark chocolate and maybe some hot water, but I also knew that the question deserved some research.
Upon further investigation I found three that I can get behind from a “I could use this to keep me sane” paleo perspective. Most of the others I found required heavy use of non sugar sweeteners.
Microwave Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup Coconut Milk
• 1 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Tap Water
• 1 tsp Cinnamon, Ground
Directions:
Combine coconut milk, cinnamon and cocoa powder. Microwave for 1.5 minutes. Add vanilla. Stir.
Double Boiler Paleo Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
• 1/4 – 1/3 cup Dark Chocolate chips or Chopped Dark Chocolate
• 1 can (13.5 oz) Coconut Milk
• 1 – 2 cups Water
Directions:
In a double boiler whisk together:
• dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
• A small amount of coconut milk
When the chocolate is completely melted and combined with the coconut milk, slowly add:
• the rest of the (13.5 oz) can of coconut milk
• 1-2 cups of water
Blender Hot Chocolate for Later
This final one lists sweetener, but I would toy with Vanilla and Cinnamon in it before reaching for the packets of anything.
Ingredients:
2 cans (13.5 oz) Coconut Milk
3/4 cup raw cocoa powder
Directions:
Put two cans of coconut milk in the blender, add 3/4 cup raw cocoa powder and blend…Carefully. Pour into two pint mason jars and refrigerate.When you want cocoa, put a few spoonsful in a mug, add sweetener of choice and fill the mug with hot water.
Finally, might I also recommend Dagoba Organic Unsweetened Drinking Chocolate? I REALLY enjoy their eclipse 87% cacao for a treat.
Sara and I will try some of these ideas out and report back. It’s going to be a homey weekend as far as I can tell.
Yum. I can’t wait to do the research. :)
Oh yes, the drinking chocolate is WONDERFUL … think I’m going to have to get some for the winter :-) (I’m not eating much chocolate at all right now but you’re right sometimes one just needs some hot chocolate.) I also like to make it spicy (like the mexican recipes and have a aztec chili tea from yogi right now that has a hint of chocolate as well that satisfies me when I need that spicy chocolate taste most days. I have a bag of raw cocoa on hand right now though and am thinking that blender recipe sounds great but then wonder how long it would keep in the fridge because it makes a lot … although I suppose I could try sharing. :-)
We’ve bought the vosgues chocolate drinking chocolate as well, a little on the pricey side but wow. I just ordered some dagonah spicy drinking chocolate as well. It makes me happy on several levels.
I’m definitely leaning more toward the double-boiler one, but the third option looks good too.
To be honest, though, my first thought was “coconut milk + cocoa powder”, and that’s about where I stopped. Coconut milk is plenty sweet, and I think would provide better mouth happiness than if you thin it.
Mind you, I’m currently eating a dessert made of thickened coconut milk with raspberries and pecans (and, admittedly, some Frangelico mixed in), so my perspective may be tainted.
Just so you know, I tried the coconut milk + cocoa idea. I learned a couple of things.
1. thick and heavy if you use just coconut milk. Cut in half with water, I think.
2. a quarter cup of cocoa per can of coconut milk is way too much. Back it off to maybe half that, or even a third. A quarter might be too little, but I’ll get back to you.
Also, adding cinnamon and some stevia helps a fair bit as well.
I took another run at it, I think I’m getting closer. You can take a look at http://www.kjdavies.org/2011/01/09/probably-primal-hot-chocolate-take-three/
I used unsweetened almond milk w/ the unsweetened cocoa, cinnamon, and 1 TBS or a little more of Agave nectar. It was superb.
I used honey, and a dash of stevia along unsweetened almond milk, unsweetened cocoa, cinnamon and yes, it was superb!!! Thank you!!!!
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