Vegan Superfood Hot Chocolate Recipe

Update: This post originally ran December 3, 2013, but we wanted to share it again… it’s the perfect recipe for relaxing by the fire with loved ones this week — and it feels good to get something healthy into our bodies after all of that overeating we may or may not be doing lately.

The time has come for cozy nights filled with homemade hot chocolate… when the heat radiates through the mug, warming your hands from the outside in, and then your entire body from the inside out with every sweet sip you take. I’ve come across a few recipes that include healthy ingredients, so I’ve merged a few to form this uniquely delicious concoction – one that will nourish both body and soul.

Raw vegan superfood hot chocolate ingredients

 

The benefits:

Maca root is a nutritionally dense superfood from Peru that is known to boost energy and to balance hormones overall. It helps regulate mood, growth, and tissue development, lowers stress, and can even aid in preventing disease. It has a light, sweet, nutty flavor that some report as being reminiscent of butterscotch or vanilla. You can find maca root in powdered form at many health food stores.

Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which help increase brain health; and fiber, which aids digestion. They’re an excellent source of protein, can help combat diabetes, and play an important role in heart health.

Raw cacao contains many antioxidants — especially anthocyanidin — which promote overall health and can reduce the risk of disease. Cacao is also filled with vitamins and minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium; is great for the heart; and may prevent cancer, as well.

Sea salt is alkalizing to the body and can help build up the immune system. It has been thought to  help treat depression, and — due to its potassium content — can help prevent muscle pains, cramps, and spasms.

Cinnamon has long been used to treat coughing and sore throats — two things that are mighty common during this time of year. It can also aid digestion, relieve nausea, and fight bacterial and fungal infections.

Almond milk is free of dairy and high in antioxidants. It’s filled with vitamins and minerals like copper, zinc, magnesium, iron, and calcium, and can help improve heart health.

Coconut sugar is considered a healthy sweetener option due to its classification as a low glycemic index food. It’s a great source of potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, and contains several B vitamins, as well.

Cayenne pepper is an immune booster, inflammation reducer, and pain reliever. It can also help clear congestion and improve heart health.

And now for the recipe!

Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup soaked chia seeds
2 tablespoons raw cacao
1/2 tablespoon raw coconut sugar
2 teaspoons maca root powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch sea salt
Pinch cayenne powder

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix on high until you reach an even consistency. Heat over the stove or in the microwave, pour into a pretty mug, and enjoy! This recipe makes one serving, but you can add in extra almond milk to dilute. You can also vary the amount of sugar as desired.

Vegan superfood hot chocolate

 More healthy recipes from the BLDG 25 Blog.

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10 years ago

Oh my goodness this looks incredible. I have seriously got to make it.

xo, Juliette Laura
http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com

10 years ago

This by far has gotta be one of the best recipes I’ve seen for vegan hot chocolate, you guys are rad!!!!! xoxo
<3 Annejelina

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10 years ago

So yummy! Love all your posts B — would love to collab in the future <3

Mariel
10 years ago

Would chocolate almond milk be too rich do you think? I might just have to try it.

Mariel
10 years ago

Thanks Brigette! I just made this. I love it! One of my new faves. The chocolate almond milk worked lovely (simply because I was out of regular). Love all your posts. :)

10 years ago

This sounds really good! Maca root has an interesting flavor, though.

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Jen
10 years ago

This looks wonderfully healthy. I always like interesting healthy recipes :)

Tom
10 years ago

Doesn’t the heating destroy the essential nutrients in this superb list of super food ingredients?

Johanna
10 years ago

Yeah, I never thought of using a blender. I just knew that the maca, no matter how hard one whisked, it made my cocoa lumpy. Maca is not really pleasant to “chew.”

Beka
10 years ago

Tom–it is a widespread myth that heating food destroys or lessens the benefit of nutrients. There is a small percentage of foods that can be nutritionally altered by certain cooking methods, but in general it is not a problem. In most of the few cases where the food can be affected by heating, it reduces the levels of some but enhance others. Examples of this are lycopene in tomatoes or dried versus fresh spices. If you are concerned, I would suggest researching each particular ingredient to see if it anything can affect its nutrient content levels. Regardless of that, these superfoods contain so much nutrients that even if some of it cooked off, there would still be so much left that the body wouldn’t be able to absorb all of it anyway. Our body can only take in so much of each kind of nutrient per day, & all that is excess is passed as waste. Many people take way to many vitamin and mineral supplements because they think it will do extra good, but the reality is that they just pass it once their body has reached its limit.

10 years ago

I recently just switched over to a vegan diet! I can’t wait to try this delicious drink recipe!!

Check out my blog for some Fashion/Lifestyle/Music/Travel tips: http://fashnative.wordpress.com

Oh my! your recipes! Always delicious. Thank you!

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10 years ago

This looks so yummy, I have to try it xx
The other day, I tried to make cacao-powder coco and it was disastrous, I will definitely try this recipe!

http://freshhealthynatural.blogspot.com

10 years ago

I cannot wait to try this!

when-m-dreams.blogspot.com

jill
10 years ago

Interesting! I always try to use the least amount of ingredients as possible. Try using just the coco powered, no sugar almond milk, SF syrup and stevia. The others will add cals if you are trying to reduce that. This looks amazing and I have to try your idea!

sabrina
10 years ago

Just made this. I’m on a MAJOR high right now from the super foods! I usually don’t like the taste of maca, but you can’t really taste it in this drink. Delicious, thick, and serious energy booster. Thanks!!!

10 years ago

This looks like the perfect way to kick start your afternoon if you ask me!

9 years ago

Beware, the cinnamon sticks shown in the image are actually ‘cassia bark cinnamon’ i.e. not real true cinnamon! Always make sure you are using real true cinnamon, aka Ceylon Cinnamon / Sri Lankan Cinnamon. Why? Because the usual stuff available in the West is ‘Cassia Bark Cinnamon’ and when used frequently it actually is toxic to the liver. You can buy real Ceylon cinnamon teabags, ceylon cinnamon powder and ceylon cinnamon sticks over at http://www.buyrealcinnamon.co.uk/ International delivery is available – just email your order details so that postage can be worked out.

9 years ago

Vegan, huh? Still sounds good! ‘ll give it a shot.

9 years ago

Looks amazing. Definitely worth a shot. Here’s a simpler version of Hot Chocolate I happened to stumble across. – http://www.prestigesmartchef.com/cooking-tips/read/show-all/7/how-to-quickly-make-home-made-hot-chocolate?refer=DiscNov14

Holly
8 years ago

This one is pretty cool that I found, go for longevity hot chocolate (as the beauty has Pearl so not vegan) http://www.wildeflowers.com

7 years ago

I actually have another resource you might want to consider adding to it to provide further value for your readers: http://www.wetgrindermanufacture.com/

Anyways, just wanted to say hello and keep up the great work!

Cheers,
Naveen

6 years ago

This looks so yummy, I have to try it xx. For making fast food you need good and quality kitchen appliances and you can get these with ease at http://www.kitchenempire.in