Warm up with this creamy sugar-free hot chocolate! It's an easy, dairy-free recipe that contains only 3.1g net carbs.
It's getting cold outside and I've started to swap out my keto chocolate milkshake for hot cocoa.
A simple way to make keto-friendly hot chocolate is to replace the sugar with sweetener and the milk with heavy cream. Also, you could use coconut cream for a dairy-free version.
However, I don't enjoy drinking pure hot cream - whether it's with chocolate or without.
In my recipe, I am using only a little coconut cream - just enough to add that creamy taste.
And I am adding a surprise ingredient that adds velvety thickness plus extra nutritional benefits as well.
Ingredients
Here is what I use to make a thick and creamy sugar-free hot chocolate without all the fat:
- Almond milk - contains much less natural sugars than dairy milk
- Coconut cream - you can use heavy cream instead
- Cocoa powder - make sure it's unsweetened
- Collagen peptides - my secret ingredient! Thickens the drink and makes it taste creamy. Plus, it adds protein and is great for joints and gut health. Read more about the benefits of collagen. You can replace it with whey protein powder.
- Powdered sweetener - I recommend using allulose, but any other sweetener works as well. Ideally, use a powdered variety.
- Sea salt - Just a pinch to lift the taste
- Vanilla extract - adds additional warm flavour.
Instructions
As for the recipe method, there's not much to it!
Step 1: Heat the almond milk in a saucepan. Stir so it does not burn.
Or, heat it in the microwave.
Step 2: Pour the milk into a jug with high sides and add the other ingredients. Blend with an immersion blender until frothy. Don't blend in the pan - it will squirt everywhere and burn you.
Alternatively, use a high speed blender.
Toppings
I normally drink this sugar-free hot chocolate without toppings. But it does taste lovely with sugar free whipped cream or with whipped coconut cream.
You can also top it with homemade sugar free chocolate chips or a square of dark chocolate.
Or, drizzle over keto caramel sauce!
Variations
Caramel hot chocolate: Add 1 tablespoon of maca powder.
Pumpkin spice hot chocolate: Heat 1-2 tablespoons pumpkin puree and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mix with the almond milk.
Mexican hot chocolate: add a pinch of chili powder and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Mocha: add 1 teaspoon of instant coffee or a shot of espresso.
FAQ
Cocoa powder contains 1.1 grams of net carbs (source: USDA), which makes it perfectly suitable for keto diets. Of course, you have to make sure you're using unsweetened cocoa powder and not a box mix!
Mix together 2 tablespoons heavy cream powder or coconut milk powder, 1.5 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1-2 teaspoons powdered sweetener and pour over 200 ml or a generous ¾ cup of almond milk. You can make larger amounts and store the mix in a mason jar in your pantry for up to 3 months.
Storage
I've given you a single portion for this hot cocoa because I prefer it fresh and frothy.
However, you can store any leftovers in the fridge for a few days. Whisk once you have re-heated it so it is frothy.
Related recipes
Recipe
Keto Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup almond milk 180ml
- 1 tablespoon coconut cream or heavy cream
- 1 ½ tbsp / 9g cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp / 14g grass-fed collagen powder or whey protein powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon powdered sweetener or more, to taste
- pinch sea salt
To serve
- optional whipped cream or coconut cream
- square of dark chocolate or chocolate shavings 85% cocoa solids minimum
Instructions
- Heat the almond milk and coconut cream in a saucepan or in the microwave (90 seconds on high).
- Pour into a jug, add the collagen, cocoa powder, sweetener, salt and vanilla. Blend with an immersion blender until frothy. Alternatively, blend in a high speed blender.
jillian
This is lovely! I seldom drink hot chocolate, but made a cup, added almond milk and cream and then a spoon of choc zero chocolate hazelnut spread. Very simple and flavorful.
Molly
If I want to add 2tbs double cream, what would be the amount of almond milk or doesn't that matter?
Katrin Nürnberger
To stick with the same intensity of chocolate, you'd reduce the amount of almond milk by 2 tbsp. But it's all up to individual taste - maybe you like your hot chocolate a little milkier!
Vinnie
I love collagen in my hot chocolate! Thank you for the tip
Katrin Nürnberger
I try to have collagen every day, and it's just great for making thick and comforting drinks 🙂
I k o
It's looks so yummyyy !!!
I really wanna go to supermarket, buy all ingredients, dan make this.
Thankyou for sharing this recipes
Jo
I also really love the Plenish Hazelnut milk - theirs is the only one I can regularly find that isn't a combination of rice and hazelnuts OR filled with sugar! I've been making a similar thing with it, but hadn't thought to add xanthan for creaminess, I'll do that next time.
Karen de Wet
Thank you for the recipe and the valuable additional information. Do you explain nutritional values and how you use carbs and net carbs somewhere on the site? I'm struggling to get my head around the recipe (for 1) indicating it is 2.5g net carbs, but the nutritional value directly below indicates 6.9 g carbs. Please?
Katrin Nürnberger
Hi Karen, the nutrition panel shows the total carbs (6.9g). When you deduct the fibre, you get the net carbs (2.5g). Hope this helps! 🙂