1. GINGERBREAD HOT COCOA
This hot cocoa really tastes like freshly baked gingerbread cookies. With this drink it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Ingredients:
-1/2 cup water
-1 cinnamon stick
-3 – 4 cloves
-2 – 3 allspice berries
-freshly grated ginger (about 0.5 to 1 cm long little knob)
-1 tablespoon coconut sugar
-2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
-1 cup coconut – almond milk (or milk of your choice)
Instructions:
1. Make a quick gingerbread syrup by combining the water, cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice berries, ginger and coconut sugar in a pot. Bring to a simmer and stir well. Add in more spices, adjust it to your taste.
2.Once the “syrup” is done, add in the raw cacao powder and stir well until it dissolves and there are no lumps.
3.Pour in the coconut milk and bring to a simmer.
4.Pour the mixture in your favorite Christmas mug, top with whipped cream or coconut cream, gingerbread spice mix and gingerbread syrup , and top with a cute gingerbread man.
Gingerbread Syrup:
-1 cup water
-1 cup coconut sugar
-1 cinnamon stick
-4 allspice berries
-3 cloves
-grated ginger (about 1 cm long)
In a pan bring the water and sugar to a boil, until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat and add in the rest of the ingredients. Simmer about 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens a bit and it’s infused with the spices. Transfer to a smaller bottle and store in fridge.
Gingerbread Spice Mix:
-2 tablespoons ground allspice
-2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
-2 tablespoons ground ginger
-1 tablespoon ground cloves
-1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
-pinch of ground black pepper
Mix them well and store in a jar.
2. ORANGE HOT COCOA
This drink has a nice orange and chocolate flavor, and oranges just scream CHRISTMAS, so this is a perfect drink to sip on during the holidays.
Ingredients:
-1 cup fresh orange juice
-3 tablespoons coconut sugar
-freshly grated ginger
-3 – 4 cloves
-2 – 3 allspice berries
-1 star anise
-1 cinnamon stick or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
-1 cup nut milk of choice
Instructions:
1.Add the orange juice, coconut sugar and spices to a pot, stir well and bring to a simmer.
2.Next add in the cocoa powder and 1 cup of milk.
3.For a more intense flavor you can add a few drops of pure orange extract, or use the zest of an organic orange.
4.Strain and pour in you favorite mug.
5.Top with whipped cream, an orange slice and you could also stick a star anise on the whipped cream to make it fancier.
3. PEPPERMINT CANDY CANE HOT COCOA
Who doesn’t love the combination of peppermint and candy cane? They go together so well, especially in this time of year. This drink has a sweet yet fresh taste thanks to the peppermint extract.
Ingredients:
-1 ½ cup nut milk of choice
-¼ cup raw cacao powder
-vanilla powder or extract
-3 – 4 drops of peppermint extract
- ½ of a crushed candy cane
Instructions:
1.Bring the milk to a simmer in a pot.
2.Add in the cacao powder and some vanilla powder/extract.
3.Stir well until everything is combined and smooth (there are no lumps), this may take a few minutes.
4.Crush up a candy cane and put half of it to the bottom of a mug.
5.Pour over the hot cocoa and stir.
6.Decorate with whipped cream, crushed candy cane and you can also stick in a whole candy cane.
!!! Be patient until the candy cane melts, the hot cocoa will taste much better.
4. PEPPERMINT CANDY CANE WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE
This drink is almost the same as the peppermint hot cocoa, but instead of the raw cacao powder we’ll use white chocolate. We had this amazing strawberry one, with no added sugar. Let me tell you, this tastes amazing!
Ingredients:
-1 ½ cup nut milk
-40 g white chocolate (usually half of a chocolate bar)
-3 – 4 drops of peppermint extract
-½ crushed candy cane
Instructions:
1.Heat up the milk in a pot.
2.Add in the white chocolate and stir well until dissolved.
3.Add a few drops of the peppermint extract. Add more or less, depending on your preferences.
4.To a cute mug add the crushed candy cane and pour over the hot chocolate.
5.Top with whipped cream, crushed candy cane and a whole candy cane.
5. IRISH LIQUOR HOT COCOA
This is not really a kid-friendly hot chocolate but for adults it’s amazing. We can imagine drinking this by a fireplace watching the Christmas tree and just chilling.
Ingredients:
-1 ½ to 2 cups nut milk
-3 tablespoons raw cacao powder
-1 tablespoon coconut sugar
-2 – 3 tablespoons of your favorite irish liquor.
Instructions:
1.Bring the milk to a simmer.
2.Add in the cacao powder and the coconut milk and stir to combine.
3.When everything is smooth and dissolved (after about 5 minutes) add in the liquor. Feel free to add more if you prefer a stronger taste.
4.Pour the mixture in a mug, top with whipped cream and a piece of dark chocolate.
PINK HOT CHOCOLATE
Even though ,as the name says, this drink it’s pink, it truly tastes like white hot chocolate.
Ingredients:
-1 ½ to 2 cups nut milk
-40 g white chocolate
-1 to 1 ½ teaspoons beet juice
Instructions:
1.Bring the milk to a simmer in a pot.
2.Add in the white chocolate and stir until it melts.
3.Add the beet juice to the mixture. If you want a lighter pink color add less juice, if you want a more intense pink add more juice. Just be careful not to add too much, otherwise your hot chocolate will taste like beets.
4.Pour it in a cute glass mug so you can admire its color and top with whipped cream or coconut cream and a pinch of cinnamon.
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