Nourishing Hot Chocolate
If you're after a cosy winter drink that isn’t full of sugar or addtives, this nourishing hot chocolate is it.
This is a single-serve recipe — perfect for when you haven't made up a batch of my DIY hot chocolate mix yet, or you want to whip up one cup quickly. It takes just a few minutes, uses simple whole food ingredients, and you can completely customise it to suit your taste.
The secret ingredient? Gelatin. It dissolves right into the drink and gives you a gut-loving protein boost without changing the flavour or texture — in fact, it makes it extra creamy and satisfying. You can also add a tablespoon of collagen if you want an extra protein hit.
It's gluten-free, can easily be made completely dairy-free, and is gentle enough to adapt for little ones too.
Nourishing Hot Chocolate
Gluten free, dairy free, nut free, egg free
Makes 1 large cup or 2 small cups
Ingredients:
1 cup milk of choice
1 tbsp cacao powder (adjust to taste)
2 tsp gelatin powder
1 tbsp coconut oil (optional)
1 tbsp butter or ghee (omit for fully dairy-free)
1 tbsp collagen (optional, for extra protein)
Sweetener to taste — coconut sugar, honey or maple syrup all work well
Optional Extras (choose one or a few):
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp maca powder
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp turmeric
Instructions:
Add your milk to a medium saucepan and sprinkle over the gelatin.
Leave for a minute to allow the gelatin to bloom.
Add the remaining ingredients and heat gently, whisking until the gelatin has fully dissolved and your drink has reached your desired temperature.
Pour into a blender and blitz for a few seconds to get everything creamy and combined. Pour into a mug and serve.
Thermomix Instructions:
Add all ingredients to the bowl and heat for 3.5 mins, 65°C, speed 3.
In the last 10 seconds, increase to speed 6 to get it nice and frothy.
Pour into your favourite mug and serve.
Tips:
Adjust the chocolate strength. Start with 1 tablespoon of cacao and add more if you like it richer. Some days call for a stronger hot choc.
Sweeten to taste. I love coconut sugar for a caramel-like warmth, but honey and maple syrup both work beautifully. Start with a small amount and adjust as you go.
Make it spiced. Cinnamon and ginger are my go-to additions in winter. Cardamom and turmeric make it feel a little more special — great if you're after something closer to a golden milk hot choc.
For little ones. Double the milk and split the batch between two cups. This dials back the cacao strength and makes it perfectly gentle for kids.
Collagen vs gelatin. Gelatin works best in warm drinks — it helps the mixture emulsify beautifully. If you're making this as a cold drink or adding it to a smoothie, swap the gelatin for collagen powder instead, which dissolves in cold liquid.
Make It Extra Special:
Top your hot chocolate with one of my homemade coconut sugar marshmallows for an extra treat — they're refined sugar-free and so fun for kids and grown-ups alike.
Batch It
If you find yourself making this regularly, my DIY nourishing hot chocolate mix is worth making up. You simply mix the dry ingredients together once, store in a jar, and your nourishing hot choc is ready in minutes every time — no measuring needed. It's a great one to make at the start of winter.
