This healthy homemade sugar free hot chocolate cocoa mix is made using just three ingredients and no dairy! Easy, low calorie, low carb, and the perfect holiday gift, it’s naturally gluten free, keto, vegan, paleo, dairy free and sugar free!
Last week we had a protein-packed hot chocolate mix.
This week? We skip the protein part (if you must, drink this with an omelet), and give it a sugar free AND a 3 ingredient makeover!
I’ve never been a fan of those instant hot cocoa or hot chocolate mixes. The ones I had tried were all ‘just add water’ kind, which perplexed me. Whenever I added cocoa powder and sugar to hot water, it looked like mud soup. The instant packets of hot chocolate, however, looked pretty much like a typical hot cocoa…minus the deliciousness factor.
A reader recently asked me to recreate their favorite (“healthy”) hot cocoa mix. I’d heard of the brand before, and have tried a couple of their ‘indulgent’ flavors before (thank you, hotel breakfast bars!). The diet one, however, was new to me. I purchased a box and gave it the official taste test- It was an easy ‘just add water’, mix and enjoy.
I’m not going to lie- It was pretty creamy, it mixed well and had a good chocolate flavor. However, it was INSANELY sweet and left with a weird taste in my mouth. I finished it all, before checking out what the actual ingredients were.
Packaged hot chocolate/cocoa Ingredients- Non-Fat milk, processed cocoa, calcium carbonate, modified whey, salt, less than 2% of; Carrageenan, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, natural and artificial flavors, milk, disodium phosphate, caramel color.
I’m not one to waste food, but the remaining 7 packages were left untouched.
Just kidding.
I wrapped it in some newspaper, with intentions of giving them to Niki.
Hi.
No wonder it was sickly sweet- It had sucralose in it! I’m not one to often use it in any of my recipes (except these candied almonds, but I gave them to a family friend who is diabetic and tolerates sucralose well) and as such, could really taste it. Not only that, but it was relatively creamy too, and all I added was water. The addition of non-fat milk ‘powder’ and…other stuff made sense.
I was game to recreate this, but with the least amount of ingredients, and ones which were easy enough to have on hand! The biggest issue I had was whether or not to include a milk powder or alternative. I tried a coconut based milk powder and it really didn’t work as part of a mix (it did work fine on its own, though!). What did work was powdered creamer and powdered whole milk, but this leaves my vegan/dairy free friends unable to make it.
To rectify this dilemma, I simply made a sugar free hot chocolate/hot cocoa mix, with the option to add the milk/creamer powder (which is also not necessary), BUT instead of adding hot water, you add a warmed milk of choice to it!
Now? Nobody misses out!
This healthy homemade sugar free hot chocolate mix is a quick and easy mix made with three easy ingredients! It is perfect for gifting, for those who want an instant hot beverage, and perfect for the festive holiday and Christmas season (especially for those healthy foodies!). Unlike packaged hot cocoa mixes, this version isn’t based around powdered milk, sugar, artificial ingredients, sweeteners, or fillers. Instead, we’ll be using a combination of cocoa powder, monk fruit sweetener (a granulated stevia blend which doesn’t leave a bitter aftertaste) and a pinch of sea salt to bring out the sweetness! All that is needed is for the person to add their favorite milk/non-dairy beverage and BAM- Hot chocolate in minutes!
For those who enjoy a dark, rich chocolate taste, I’d recommend using a combination of dark cocoa powder and good quality dutch processed cocoa powder. If you are after a simple cocoa taste, stick to just a good quality cocoa powder. Because of the ingredients used, this healthy homemade sugar free hot cocoa mix is completely paleo, vegan, gluten free, grain free, dairy free and low calorie!
HACK! If you can tolerate artificial sweeteners well, you can swap out the monk fruit sweetener with any sucralose based sweetener. Sweeteners based around aspartame won’t be a great option, as the sweetness in them tends to dissipate once heated. Alternatively, you could use a stevia blend (they tend to stay sweet when heated), however, make sure you use one without a bitter aftertaste and/or one you enjoy.
Just saying.
Make this healthy Sugar Free Homemade Hot Chocolate Cocoa Mix using three ingredients and make something to feel good about.
…and send Niki your packaged ones you have left.
ZING.
HACK! Take this homemade hot chocolate up a notch and add a scoop of this 3-ingredient homemade keto vanilla ice cream– It’s low carb and super simple, just see how easy it is in the step-by-step video below!
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Healthy Homemade Sugar Free Hot Chocolate Cocoa Mix
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup cocoa powder I used a mix of dark and standard
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sweetener of choice I used a monk fruit sweetener
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 cup powdered creamer or powdered milk of choice keto or paleo- use powdered coconut milk
Instructions
To make the mix
- Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until combined. Transfer to a jar or airtight container.
To make a single cup of cocoa/hot chocolate
- Add 2 tablespoons of dry mix (non creamer/milk version) to a large mug or cup. Add hot water and mix until completely dissolved. Add heated milk of choice and mix very well. Top with optional whipped topping and enjoy!
Notes
Sugar free hot chocolate cocoa mix needs to be stored in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Have breakfast ready in an instant with this delicious DIY Protein Pancake Mix!
Candied nuts are delicious, even more so when they are completely sugar free too!
When your post workout shake can pass as a hot chocolate bevvy? You know you’ve got a winner!
Make your own vanilla extract instead of the store bought kind!
Use up all the apples and pour in jars and have everyone’s toast covered…literally!
Are you a fan of the ‘just add water’ hot cocoa mixes?
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Niki has a box coming her way…all the way from America! And guess what’s in it? A partially opened box of hot chocolate mix dated 2014. That’s how often I use the stuff! It always sounds so good, but like you I end up finding that it’s way too sweet for my tastes. If I’m craving something hot on a cold afternoon, I usually turn to coffee instead. And if it’s the holidays, then maybe I’ll splurge and add a shot of Bailey’s. Or whiskey. (That depends whether the in-laws are in town. Hah!) Love the sugar-free version you created here, mate. Cheers!
Omg. Bailey’s was my erm..underage drink of choice oops.
Mmmm hot chocolate sounds so good right now. I even have the ingredients that I bought for the brownies I forgot to make! However will I choose….
Haha, I hope they were a boxed brownies with just add egg/milk…or even those crazy water ones which still turn out amazing.
Wait, I just read you had peppermint mocha creamer!!! Have a shot of that 😀
Thank goodness you are including milk in your recipe. The “just add water” powders taste like I’d rather have nothing!
Seriously, those are terrible!
What do you mean when using powedered milk use 3/4 cup milk instead? Do you mean I don’t have to add the T2 boiling water?
Hi Sabrina, you still will need to, but instead of adding a full cup of milk, you only need to add 3/4 cup. 🙂
11/4 cup of sweetener? I have monk fruit extract powder. How would I measure that since I dont have a cup that’s 11/4ths, lol!
or is it 1 & 1/4th? lol!
Hi! It is 1 and 1/4 🙂
What the nutritional facts on this? How many carbs?
Feel free to calculate it using myfitnesspal or similar 🙂
I’ve read some reviews of the Lakanto MONKFRUIT having no sweet flavor or bland.
At the price for a small amount I’ll probably try it with a Stevia blend.
All in all thanks for this because I haven’t seen any prepared sugar free versions anywhere.
Hi there! Yes, I’ve stopped using them, they really aren’t that flavorful!
🙂 You are so welcome!
Is there a way to modify this recipe and make it “just add water” We do lots of winter camping or ski in picnics and bringing in liquid milks just isn’t an option. I would love a healthier hot cocoa mix for my kids though!
Hi Marcie! I think if you add some milk powder to it, that would be okay!
I tried it with Hershey cocoa powder, Stevia and heated Almond milk.
No matter how many packets of Stevia I put in, it tasted bitter with a nasty after taste.
I dunno maybe a different cocoa powder, I didn’t like this.
Hi there- Try another cocoa powder
Do you have a 1 cup version I could try before making this amount? I don’t want to waste all of the ingredients and decide I don’t like it.
Hi! I am wanting to make this (I might have gestational diabetes and I’m looking at a keto diet to keep me off of meds for the duration of my pregnancy) I am wondering if I add the milk powder I would just add water.. and if I don’t add the milk powder I could use my heated milk of choice. Is that correct? I am getting a little confused reading through the recipe. Do you think adding the milk powder and using a heated milk of choice would be overkill?
Absolutely! I actually prefer using the heated milk of choice as I can make it as creamy or thinner as I want 🙂
So good and now I don’t feel left out