With the cooler weather creeping in we begin to crave warming drinks such as hot chocolate, and this is a nice alternative to coffee in the afternoon. Hot chocolate after dinner and before bedtime will help to satisfy sweet cravings and its believed warm milk before bed will help with a good night’s sleep. We also thought the kids may enjoy helping to make Mum a yummy hot chocolate on Mother’s Day.
There are a couple of options for your hot chocolate – the sweeter option and the healthier option.
The sweeter option calls for a ready-made chocolate mix that is sweetened with sugar. We use Grounded Pleasures ‘African Red’ blend which is beautifully rich in flavour and colour.
To make a hot chocolate doesn’t really require a recipe, but as a general guide follow these simple steps …
Add 2 heaped teaspoons of African Red Drinking Chocolate to your mug or saucepan and add enough hot water to make a thick syrup. If using a saucepan to heat your milk add a mugful of milk (of your choice) to the saucepan and whisk to combine, then heat over medium heat, whisking every so often, until hot – 65 to 70 C is a good temperature. Pour into your mug and enjoy. This basic recipe can be multiplied depending on how many mugs you are serving, just make sure to choose a large enough saucepan.
For a healthier option choose the Loving Earth Raw Cacao powder and sweeten with a little honey or coconut sugar for a lower GI rating. The Loving Earth Cacao is organic and full of nutrients and minerals, which can help you feel more energised and healthy. This gorgeous cacao powder is sourced from a single origin in Peru and is fairly traded with Peruvian farmers. Use this cacao powder in your smoothies, bliss balls (see our recipe here) and raw desserts.
To make your hot chocolate using raw cacao powder, add 2 teaspoons of Loving Earth Raw Cacao powder to your mug or saucepan and add enough hot water to make a thick syrup. Add some sweetener of your choice, to taste. Honey, coconut sugar, or raw sugar would all be lovely, maybe a teaspoon or so. If using a saucepan to heat your milk, add a mugful of milk (of your choice) to the saucepan and whisk to combine, then heat over medium heat,Ā whisking every so often, until hot – 65 -70 C is a good temperature. Pour into your mug and enjoy. This basic recipe can be multiplied depending on how many mugs you are serving, just make sure to choose a large enough saucepan.
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