Homemade Hot Cocoa {No Refined Sugar}
It is definitely hot cocoa weather here in Montana and my kids are taking full advantage of that lately. If they have to go outside for any reason for any length of time, even if they pop their little heads out to the barn while I am milking to ask a quick question it’s usually, “Oh, and I’m cold. Can I have some hot cocoa?” I had one of those big containers of store bought hot cocoa for them but I just didn’t like what was in that container. So many additives and who-knows-what-that-is type of ingredients. I just couldn’t handle it. I figured I could probably come up with something better. Heck, even if I did use refined white sugar I am pretty sure it would still be better than what is in that Swiss Miss container. But I wanted to come up with something better. I have been trying to get out of my slump and getting yucky stuff out of our pantry {much to my husband’s dismay}. Honestly I wasn’t very good about being healthy over the summer – likely because I was outside playing all day instead cooking and cleaning. Can you blame me? I had a fun summer, even with my truck breaking down and nearly being stuck at my sister’s house in Wisconsin for a few weeks – whoops! I ended up getting back on a patch but it would have been fun to spend a month with my sister. I don’t think we’ve spent that much time together since we both got married. Anyway so I have been slowly but surely weening my children off all the goldfish crackers and refined processed junk I had been letting them eat and the hot cocoa was one of the first things to go. It’s super easy to make. You could mix it up ahead of time if you want, but I have just been making it a cup at a time. I don’t think it’s any more difficult to pull two things out of the pantry than one. The first time I made it for the kidlets I said nothing. I wanted their pure, raw reactions. Nothing. They sat and sipping and chatted and giggled like they normally do. I considered that to be a good sign. When asked if they liked it Juliette {my chocolate loving girl} looked at me with excited, big golden eyes {her eyes are actually gold in color} and says, “This is really good!” So there you have it: This is a kid approved recipe. Amen.
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1½ tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 cup whole milk - or whatever milk you prefer, warmed to desired temperature
- Place the cocoa powder and sugar in the bottom of a mug.
- Pour the hot milk over the top and stir until dissolved.
- Top with fresh whipped cream or homemade marshmallows if you want
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