With the crisp Fall weather (unless you’re in Texas?), it’s time to cook up a warm beverage. If you’re on a quest to reduce the amount of refined sugar your family is consuming, try whipping up this Honey Sweetened Hot Chocolate!
Your kids will probably need a few sips to adjust from the regular Swiss Miss but keep trying. If they just won’t even give it a try, you could always cut the packet hot chocolate with some of this honey sweetened version to help ease their palates in.
This would be a fun option to make for a brunch, MOPS group meeting (when you can have those again) or even after trick or treating on Halloween night! Increase the recipe and keep warm in a crockpot so people can ladle out portions as they need. Serve alongside a few different varieties of marshmallows, whipped cream and sprinkles to spice things up.
Honey Sweetened Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
4 T. cocoa powder
3 T. raw honey
2 tsp pure vanilla extract (try picking up some vanilla beans and make your own vanilla extract)
3 1/2 cups milk (any kind you like)
*You can purchase quality honey from your local farmer’s market, but use Amazon to buy raw honey to get you through the winter. Also check your local Costco, they have started carrying some really delicious varieties!
Directions
Heat milk over low heat until hot but not boiling.
In a small bowl mix together honey, cocoa powder and vanilla until it forms a smooth paste. It should look like this:
Once milk is warm, whisk 1/3 cup into the bowl with your chocolate paste to loosen up the honey cocoa mixture. Then whisk back into pan and cook until heated through.
***********************************************
Looking for a way to make cocoa time super fun with your kids or grandkids? We love using these cappuccino cups with saucers for cocoa. Honestly, anything tiny is a bit hit with kids! This would be great for making any get together just a little bit more fancy and fun.
Looking for some delicious treats to serve with hot chocolate?
Follow Frugal Living NW on Pinterest!
Fantastic range of boards from best recipes and tips for frugal living to gardening and budgeting help.
This post may contain affiliate links. See the disclosure policy for more information.
If you are in SE Portland you can buy honey from the Barleans. Yes, the same family as the flax oil. Brother I think. They sell it out of their house. Off 82nd go west on King Rd. Watch for the honey for sale signs on the left side of the street. They are 1-2 miles up King Road. Sorry I don’t have better instructions. I love my hot chocolate with honey. Adds a different level of flavor.
We make this all of the time, you might want to try xylitol. It is also a great sweetener and can actually kill bad bacteria in your children’s mouths. It is recommended from my dentist and all natural.
Looks absolutely delicious! Trying to remove refined frankenstien sweeteners myself, so thank you, will try this recipe.