Low Calorie Hot Chocolate Recipe With Only 35 Calories

This healthy low calorie hot chocolate recipe is so rich, so creamy, so chocolatey, and so, so decadent. Plus, making it is a breeze. In fact, you only need a few simple ingredients and just about 5 minutes to whip this stuff up. So, if you're looking for a healthy, tasty, and easy recipe for hot chocolate, look no further!

The Best Low Calorie Hot Chocolate

I think we can all agree that the best part of the holidays is indulging in delicious food and drinks with good company!

That being said, I like to have some healthy options that I can turn to while still feeling like I'm indulging. And that's exactly why I love this low calorie hot chocolate recipe so much!

This healthy hot chocolate is every bit as luxurious, warming, and chocolatey as the "regular" kind, but it's significantly lower in calories. I mean, each cup of this sugar free hot chocolate has just 35 calories, and that's less than half the calories of what hot cocoa typically has!

Also, as I mentioned, one of the best parts about this recipe is the fact that it's ready in just 5 minutes. So, it's super clutch for when the hot chocolate cravings hit.

By the way, once you make this low calorie hot chocolate, don't forget to enjoy it with some of my other healthy treats like these low calorie brownies and these low calorie chocolate chip cookies! Both pair pefectly with this stuff.

Ingredients

So, you'll be glad to know all the ingredients for this healthy hot chocolate are basic, easy-to-find staples you probably have at home already!

But, if you don't, it's well worth a trip to the grocery store to stock up on everything so you can enjoy this hot cocoa all winter long.

Anyway, here's everything you'll need for this low calorie hot chocolate recipe:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 ½ tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ tsp. sugar free maple syrup (or around 1 tablespoon of 0 cal sweetener)
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tbsp. sugar free chocolate chips
• ¼ tsp. pure vanilla extract
• Whipped cream

That's it!

Simple, yet so delicious.

Also, you can use a lot of these same ingredients to make this low carb chocolate mug cake recipe and this low carb chocolate pie. So, give those a try if you want to make some more healthy chocolate dessert recipes with them.

Ingredient Substitutions and Suggestions

So, for my low calorie hot chocolate, I like using unsweetened almond milk since it's so low in calories. Not only does it make this recipe dairy free, but it also makes it a vegan hot chocolate recipe as well. Just keep in mind, if you're topping your hot chocolate with whipped cream just make sure to use a dairy free whipped cream to keep this a vegan hot chocolate recipe.

With that said though, you can also use skim milk, or any other unsweetened dairy free milk and this hot cocoa will turn out just as delicious. 

As for the chocolate chips, I recommend using Lily's chocolate chips - since they're sugar free - to keep the calories as low as possible.

Speaking of keeping the calories low, make sure you go with a sugar free maple syrup instead of regular maple syrup. Regular maple syrup is loaded with sugar, carbs, and empty calories. You can avoid all of those empty calories - and macros - by using a sugar free kind.

Also, to that last point about the maple syrup, I have a fantastic sugar free maple syrup recipe that you can make and use for this recipe. It's super popular and people love using it on these low carb pancakes.

Now, if for whatever reason you don't have - or don't want to use - sugar free maple syrup, you can also use any other zero calorie sweetener. Confectioners swerve or powdered monk fruit will work just as well. Just make sure you use about a tablespoon of one of those options, so the hot chocolate has enough sweetness.

How to Make Low Calorie Hot Chocolate

Making this healthy homemade hot chocolate is basically the same thing as making classic hot chocolate! All you have to do is heat the milk, melt the chocolate, and whisk everything together until you have a smooth, creamy consistency.

Anyway, now let's dive into the steps you'll need to follow to make it. 

Step 1: Heat the Milk

First, pour the unsweetened almond milk - or any milk you want to use - into a small saucepan and place it on the stovetop.

Then, turn the stovetop up to medium-heat and let the milk warm up until it starts to simmer.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate

Next, add the cocoa powder, maple syrup, and salt to the pot of milk and give it a good whisk until everything combines. 

Once you have a combined mixture, add the chocolate chips and vanilla extract to the pot.

Now, whisk continuously until the chocolate has completely melted and is fully combined with the simmering milk mixture.

Step 3: Serve

Finally, when you have a smooth hot chocolate conistency going on in the pot you can pour it into two mugs

Then, to finish it off, top it with some whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon - or shaved chocolate - on top.

Enjoy!

How to Store Leftover Hot Chocolate

As I just mentioned, this recipe for low calorie hot chocolate will make 2 cups. So, whoever is home when you're making it is in for a treat!

Now, with that said, I love making a huge batch of this healthy hot chocolate recipe ahead of time so I have it on hand for the week. It's really easy to heat back up and tastes just as delicious - if not more delicious - as it is when it's freshly made.

So, if you make a large batch - like I like to do - and you'd like to store it, just keep it in an airtight container - or sealable glass jar - and it will stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days!

Reheating Hot Chocolate

So, if you have leftover healthy hot chocolate, you'll definitely want to warm it back up! The best way to reheat a big batch of hot chocolate is on the stove.

To do that, put the hot chocolate in a saucepan over medium-high heat and stir until warm and simmering.

Alterantively, if you'd like to heat it up even quicker, you can also warm up individual servings of this hot chocolate in the microwave. Just put the hot chocolate in the microwave in 10-second increments, stirring between each increment, until thoroughly heated.

Wrapping It All Up

Well, that's how to make healthy hot chocolate from scratch!

This hot cocoa is so great to make around the holidays and all throughout the winter. It's just as rich and luxurious as "regular" hot chocolate but it doesn't have all of the calories and sugar the normal stuff does.

So you can feel good about drinking it, and it's so much better to give the kids, so they're not hyped up on sugar. And, honestly, no one will ever be able to tell that this is actually a healthy hot chocolate recipe. You can even say that it's the hot cocoa mix kind.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this low calorie healthy hot chocolate as much as I do. If you make it, be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below.

And for more quick and easy recipes like this, don't forget to follow my Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube channel! I post new recipes all of the time on them.

More Low Calorie Recipes

If you're looking for more low calorie recipes to make, I have a ton on the blog that you can try out next!

Here are some of my most popular ones:

• Low calorie cereal
• Low calorie pancakes
• Low calorie mug cake
• Low calorie pizza
• Low calorie bagels

Also, for all your snacking and drinking needs, check out my list of the best low calorie beer, low calorie wine, low calorie ice creams, and low calorie chips, and low calorie snacks.

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