While the recent weather is not exactly conducive to a decadent mug of hot cocoa, we all know where this weather is headed. I was asked by a client to craft a dairy free version of this American winter favorite. And I am so happy that I did!
I have many fond memories of my mom making us kids hot cocoa after playing in the snow. It was the Swiss Miss brand packets and if you were lucky enough, they included those mini marshmallows. Or even better, you had a bag of those mini marshmallows and topped off your cocoa with them! Before going dairy free, I would tell my kids that my mom always used water and not milk in our hot cocoa. We would always poke fun at her and tell her she ruined the cocoa since she didn’t use milk. Truth be told, I hated milk as a kid. As I got older, I did add milk to my cocoa and would do the same for my kids. We decided it tasted way better!
Fast forward to present day and being dairy free, I absolutely adore coconut milk. It’s the perfect dairy alternative. And this was a very fun recipe to create. If coconut is not your thing, go with your favorite non-dairy milk such as Almond or Oat Milk.
It also inspired me to tweak my Coconut Whipped Cream recipe. Check out the newest version – link available on the Coconut Hot Cocoa recipe. This kicks up the decadence level – so rich and creamy! You can also top with a few mini chocolate chips, sprinkle with cinnamon or cocoa powder. Or find some better quality marshmallows (I have found at Whole Foods in the past).
I hope this recipe helps you with “not missing out” on an old time favorite winter treat!
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Cheers To Your Health,
Coach Christi
