Having a stressful day? Here’s a tasty treat that’ll give you a big boost for just 42 little calories.
Of course, it involves chocolate. (Was there any question?)
Specifically, chocolate in the form of creamy, rich, satisfying almond milk hot cocoa. With an optional kick of coffee if you need a turbocharge.
I love this hot chocolate so much that I drink it every day. And sometimes twice a day, if things get stressful. What’s more, I can’t tell you how many times making a cup of this has kept me from going straight off the nutrition rails. You baked-goods addicts know what I’m talking about—one minute you’re feeling stressed or sad, and the next minute you’re at the bakery, buying a donut, with no recollection of how you got there.
(Okay, maybe you remember how you got there, but you get my point.)
Anyway, this hot chocolate is extremely good at preventing that. Just make a cup when cravings strike and watch them melt away as you bliss out. It’s right up there with my healthy chocolate frosting (you’ll never guess the secret ingredient) for being a great low-cal way to satisfy chocolate cravings.
In fact, I’ve actually been trying to figure out why I haven’t posted this hot cocoa before. Maybe because it’s so easy it doesn’t feel like a recipe? I mean, it only has 4 main ingredients and takes all of 3 minutes to make. Which is exactly why I should have posted it sooner. Whoops.
So without further ado, here it is: mood-soothing, energy-boosting hot chocolate that’ll keep you out of the bakery—and in your favorite jeans.
- ¼ c water
- 1 Tbsp cocoa powder (heaping)
- 2-4 packets no-calorie sweetener to taste (SEE NOTE)
- pinch of instant coffee (optional)
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- ¾ c unsweetened almond milk (I use unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze).
- In a mug, microwave ¼ c water for 30 seconds.
- Add the cocoa powder, Truvia,* instant coffee, and vanilla extract to the hot water. Whisk with a fork for 5-10 seconds until everything has dissolved.
- Add the almond milk and mix until smooth.
- Microwave for 1-1½ minutes. Give it a final stir and enjoy!
-A heaping teaspoon of So Delicious CocoWhip Light swirled on top dresses up this hot cocoa for just 10 more calories.
More Low-Cal Treats!
Calorie Chocolate Silk Pie – 107 calories
No-Bake Red Velvet Cookies – 91 calories
Healthy Chocolate Frosting – 73 calories
Shared on the Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party, Tasty Tuesday, Allergy Free Wednesday, Bloggers’ Spotlight Party, Plant-Based Potluck Party, Gluten Free Fridays, Real Food Fridays, and Healthy Vegan Fridays.
Your turn:
- In your fantasy world, what dessert would have no calories at all?
- What’s your favorite low-cal dessert?
- Have you ever healthi-fied a downright deadly recipe? What was it?
I'm Lee, an RD thriving on a healthy plant based diet.
Yum yum! And so lovely too. I will make a carob version. 🙂
I make it with carob after dinner sometimes, and that’s good too! I hardly use any sweetener when I make it with carob, though, since carob is so naturally sweet. I still add the smidge of instant coffee, though–although I stick to decaf in the pm. It brings out the flavor of carob, too!
I have not tried carob yet. Does it dissolve like cocoa powder? I like the addition of coffee in this recipe. Nice idea!
Hi Jennifer, yup, carob actually dissolves more easily than cocoa powder. (Side note: The timing on this is impeccable–it’s 9pm right now, and I’m drinking a cup of carob “cocoa” as I type!)
Maria, I’m trying to curb my caffeine use (abuse?) and exposure, but I know next to nothing about carob. Can you please tell me in a recipe such as this one, should I use roasted or raw unsweetened carob powder? Which do you recommend and why?
I thought it tasted like marshmallows!!!
Oh, yum! Glad you liked it! 🙂
Super easy and SUPER YUM!
Aw, thanks Mom! (Although I’m pretty sure you’re required by law to like my recipes, right? 😉 ) Anyway, I swear I couldn’t have made it through finals last year without this stuff, and it’s definitely getting me through my internship applications. Let’s hear it for a healthy chocolate fix!
I could totally go for one of these tonight, it’s strangely cold here! I love how easy and healthy this hot chocolate is 🙂
Thanks Kyra, sometimes a cool night during the summer can be lovely! Hope the hot chocolate makes it even nicer. 🙂
Wondering if the cocoa powder you use is baking cocoa powder, or? Would love to try this recipe, trying to get the right ingredients. 🙂
Hi Katie, I use plain baking cocoa powder. Both Hershey’s and Ghirardelli work well. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I love hot chocolate! I recently tried blending in some pumpkin for thickness, which worked out really well. 🙂
Lauren, what a great idea! I can’t believe I haven’t tried that yet. Such a great way to work in some awesome nutrition while making the cocoa extra creamy. I’ll let you know how it goes!
I wonder if blending in some steamed cauliflower would work as well as Lauren’s pumpkin. Hmm . . .
Mae, OTP in the ATL
Mae, that’s ingenious. I think it might actually work, but I nominate you to try it first, lol! You HAVE to let me know how it goes!
Hi Lee,
Hot chocolate is always a wonderful tasty treat on a cold Winter’s day. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Tweeted & pinned.
So good! I made mine with sweetened vanilla almond milk and didn’t need any added sweetener. If you don’t mind the sweetener in the almond milk (my brand uses cane juice) and the extra calories, hen it’s yummy that way too!
Hi Kara, I’m so glad you liked the hot chocolate! I’m also delighted to know that it works with regular sweetened almond milk. One less thing to add works for me! 🙂
“What’s more, I can’t tell you how many times making a cup of this has kept me from going straight off the nutrition rails.”
Yes! I have been looking for something to help stave off my treat craving attacks. This sounds like the perfect thing. Yum! Good for cravings and a good energy boost =)
Yay, I hope this cocoa helps kick your cravings, too! Honestly, it’s has been my salvation since New Year’s and weaning myself off the not-so-healthy treats I’d been indulging in.
What a delectable low calorie treat! I am so delighted that you shared your yummy 42-Calorie Almond Milk Hot Chocolate with us at the Plant-Based Potluck Party!Thank you so much for sharing your gems and for your support! I’m Pinning and sharing All the best, Deborah
Thanks Deborah, sharing on your wonderful blog party was my pleasure!
Thanks Deborah! Great party, as always! 🙂
Thanks so much for linking up at the Bloggers Spotlight Link Party, I pinned this to our group board.
Thanks Hil, I appreciate the pin!
This is a delicious pick-me-up particularly between snow clearing efforts!
So much snow!!! (Gah, Snowzilla!) Thank goodness for slightly turbocharged hot cocoa. 😉
Would this still taste good with cashew milk?
Hi Haley! Yup, I’ve made it with cashew milk, still good! It’s also great with hazelnut milk, but I haven’t been able to find any that’s unsweetened, so that version doesn’t exactly make the 42-calorie cutoff. (Did I mention it tastes amazing, though?) 😉
I just made this with cacao & raw honey to sweeten. Satisfied my chocolate craving & warmed me up. Put in my nutribullet & I was good to go. Thank you for your recipe. 🙂
Hi Lisa, glad to know it was good with raw cacao too! And smart thinking on the Nutribullet; I bet it was perfectly smooth. Thanks for your kind comment–it made my day!
going to make right now!! Sounds super yummmmmy!!
Thanks Kelly! Let me know how it goes. 😀
This blends easily if you do your first step and then heat in mircowave for 10 seconds then stir. Super easy and awesome recipe. Thanks!
Hi Robin, great suggestion! I’ll have to try making it that way so I can shave off a little more time. So glad you like the recipe, too–hearing it makes my day!
Thank you for sharing this recipe-I just made it and its absolutely delicious! What a great site this is! Thank you.
Hi Ellen, so delighted you like the site! Your comment made my day. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again soon! (I’ve got a bunch of recipes coming up that cost less than $1 a serving, but still taste great and are healthy, too. Stop by to check them out–they’ll be rolling out starting next week!)
Hi, just tried your cocoa recipe for hot chocolate and I was pleasantly surprised! It really is good and rich and very,very good. Thank you
Hi Lou, so glad you liked it! 🙂 I keep cocoa powder and Truvia at my desk at work, and almond milk in the fridge, so I can make it for myself every day. Because chocolate.
I was wondering where the 16 carbs come from.
Hi Eileen, thanks for catching that! My recipe analysis software appears to have been counting the 4 packets of Truvia (3 grams each) as carb, even though its main component, erythritol, is a sugar alcohol that isn’t metabolized, but rather excreted. So I have updated the numbers to reflect that.
Would this work with soy milk? We already have a carton and we are going to set up our Christmas decorations tonight!
You bet–tastes great with soy milk, too!
Delicious. So thick and creamy. Perfect for those times when I need more than a piece of chocolate. Made with soy milk on stovetop for family size serving.
Hi Erin–so glad you liked it! It’s my go-to daily treat, and has been for years. You’d think I’d get sick of it, but… chocolate. 😉
Lee I could hug you! 😉 I’m diabetic n can’t drink milk lactose intolerance grrr. But this has made my day n can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing this recipe because I used to be the homemade hot chocolate queen. Till I discovered it made me sick but this is such a great alternative. Hugs to you God bless
Hi Cathy, I’m so glad this helped, yay!! Don’t forget to try the pumpkin pie version once the weather turns cool. Or in August, if you’re like me and want to get a jump on pumpkin season. 🙂
Hi! Would I just add a bit of peppermint extract if I wanted a peppermint hot chocolate? Excited to try this!
Wowsers this was so yummy! I added a squirt of agave and used erythritol instead of truvia. This may dangerously become my go to hot choc!!! The agave really finished this off for an extra 15 cals (which i didnt mind). Thanks so much!
This was so delicious. I substituted 2 Medjola dates with a teaspoon of water ground up in my coffee bean grinder for the Truvia. There were some chunks in my hot chocolate like pulp in orange juice. Overall, it soothes my sore throat & my chocolate craving. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Hi, really yummy, but I have a quick question! Which cocoa do you use? I have regular baking cocoa at home and I tbsp is about 50 cals, so there goes the 42 cal hot chocolate 😓
Open to any and all suggestions! Thank you.
Hi Chantal, I use plain old Hershey’s cocoa powder. Make sure it’s plain cocoa powder with no added sugar and you should be good to go on the calorie front.
What!? I am in utter disbelief of how good this is! I used 2 packets of equal sweetener instead of truvia and topped with whipped cream. Came to 100 calories. Thanks for such a great recipe!