Spicy Hot Chocolate
This cup of hot cocoa is hot…and I don’t mean just the temperature. Sure, it’s steamy, but it’s also spicy. Like every delicious cup of hot cocoa, it’s sweet, thanks to the chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon but it also provides a spicy kick from the addition of cayenne pepper.
That means you get the best of both worlds in a single scrumptious cup—rich, velvety cocoa (hello, sweet) and fiery heat of heat (hey there, spicy!). And if you prefer a milder cup, try this Almond Hot Cocoa instead. I use almond milk, but any preferred milk work and I’ve shared calorie information for the different options in the notes section below. Whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings nonnegotiable. Trust me, it will be love at first sip.
Try this Chocolate Peppermint Bark!
Spicy Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 3 cups almond milk, or other milk of choice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper*
- ¾ cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- Whipped topping, optional
- Dark chocolate shavings, optional
Instructions
- Add the almond milk, ground cinnamon and cayenne to a small saucepan and whisk to combine. Warm over medium-high heat until the milk begins to gently bubble around the edges.
- Add the chocolate chips, vanilla and salt into the pan, and whisk until the chocolate is completely melted. Adjust the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes.
- Pour the hot cocoa into three mugs. Top each with an optional squirt of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
- For a thicker and richer beverage, make the full recipe ahead of time and stash in the fridge overnight. It’ll start to thicken up. Then, pour into mugs and reheat in the microwave. Or, you can reheat the whole batch in a small pan on stovetop.
Notes
If you choose skim milk, it’s 220 calories per serving. If you opt for 1% milk, it’s 240 calories per serving. If you use 2% milk, it’s 260 calories per serving. And if you go with whole milk, it’s 290 calories per serving.
