Get in the Holiday Spirit with These Hot Chocolate Recipes

The next time you find yourself shivering from the Boston cold, look no further than these hot chocolate recipes. Coffee and tea are great, but there’s nothing more decadent than a homemade hot chocolate, especially around the holidays.

These hot chocolate recipes are all on the lighter side and are suitable for those with a variety of dietary restrictions. Almost all of them can be made with non-dairy milk and contain ingredients like turmeric, cardamom, peanut butter, and peppermint.

Photo via The Busy Baker

1. Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate
via The Busy Baker

Low fat milk and peppermint extract is used to make this classic hot chocolate recipe, while honey provides natural sweetness. With this slow cooker recipe, you can let everything sit in the slow cooker for two hours on high heat.

Photo via The Banana Diaries

2. Healthy Dark Hot Chocolate
via The Banana Diaries

For those that are trying to go low sugar, this is a good option. The chocolate used is 100% dark chocolate and contains no added sugar. It’s also suitable for those who are dairy-free and uses coconut milk or almond milk.

Photo via Moon and Spoon and Yum

3. Hot Cardamom Tahini Cacao
via Moon and Spoon and Yum

Tahini gives this hot chocolate a nutty flavor, and thickens it a bit, while the cardamom gives the hot chocolate a spicy flavor. Top the hot chocolate with a sprinkle of cardamom or cinnamon, or add a cinnamon stick to each mug.

Photo via This Recipes

4. Strawberry White Hot Chocolate
via This Recipes

For a fruity twist on hot chocolate, this white hot chocolate uses real strawberries—fresh or frozen berries both work. Be sure to use full fat coconut milk, not light, to make the hot chocolate as creamy as possible.

Photo via Not Enough Cinnamon

5. Healthier Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
via Not Enough Cinnamon

This hot chocolate recipe is like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in a mug. To make the recipe vegan, use a dairy-free milk and chocolate. Top the hot chocolate with whipped or coconut cream and a drizzle of peanut butter.

Photo via Whole Food Bellies

6. Turmeric Infused Hot Chocolate
via Whole Food Bellies

Ground cinnamon and turmeric give this hot chocolate a spicy twist, while a pinch of black pepper helps the body absorb the turmeric. If you want the hot chocolate to be frothy, put the hot chocolate in a blender and blend for one to two minutes until frothy.

Photo via Bites of Wellness

7. Protein Hot Chocolate
via Bites of Wellness

Made with only three ingredients, this hot chocolate recipe is a great way to get your dessert and protein in at the same time. Since the recipe calls for cocoa powder and vegan protein powder, for a more chocolatey hot chocolate, use chocolate protein and for more of a milk chocolate flavor, use vanilla protein powder.