Recipes From the Chek Kitchen: 3 Versions of Healthy Holiday Hot Chocolate

It’s that time of year when there are so many tempting goodies to eat and drink, but the vast majority of them are not always the healthiest of choices!

Considering hot chocolate is the go-to drink during the holiday season, Penny and I hit the kitchen to put together a base recipe and three easy-to-follow recipes (plus a base recipe) that will satisfy your sweet tooth without over-indulging.

If you don’t like any frills with hot chocolate, this base recipe is a rich and delicious one.

Base recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic nut milk, oat milk, coconut milk or raw cow’s milk
• 2 tablespoons of Organifi Chocolate Gold
• Flavorings (see below)
• Toppings (see below)

Instructions

• Pour milk into a saucepan and add flavorings.
• Heat milk until warm but not boiling.
• In a mug, mix Organifi Chocolate Gold with a small amount of hot milk to create a paste.
• Pour the remaining hot milk into the mug and stir until well combined.
• Top with your selected toppings.
• Eat, drink and be merry!

However, if you like playing with your food in healthier ways, we encourage you to experiment with the following three combinations of hot chocolate. Each recipe has an easy option, a homemade option and an adult option.

Candy Cane Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Flavorings

• Easy option: Add a ¼ teaspoon of organic peppermint extract to the milk while warming.
• Homemade option: Infuse two sprigs of fresh peppermint leaves in the milk while warming.
• Adult option: Add ½ to 1 ounce of peppermint liqueur to the milk once it is warmed.

Toppings

• Organic whipped cream (vegan or regular). There is no need to add sugar to your whipped cream as the hot chocolate is sweet enough.
• Crushed organic candy canes sprinkled on top.
• Mint leaves for garnish.

Festive Orange Hot Chocolate

Flavorings

• Easy option: Add ¼ tsp organic orange extract to the milk while warming.
• Homemade option: Infuse the peel of ¼ orange in the milk while warming. Add 2 teaspoons of fresh-squeezed orange juice to the milk once warm.
• Adult option: Add ½ to 1 oz of Cointreau® to the milk once it is warmed.

Toppings

• Organic whipped cream (vegan or regular). There is no need to add sugar to your whipped cream as the hot chocolate is sweet enough.
• Organic chocolate shavings.
• Orange segment or candied orange peel for garnish.

Dulce de Leche Hot Chocolate

Flavorings

• Easy option: Add a ¼ teaspoon of organic caramel extract or 1 tablespoon of store-bought caramel sauce to the milk while warming.
• Homemade option: Make your own caramel sauce (see below) and add 1 tablespoon to the milk while warming.
• Adult option: Add ½ to 1 ounce of caramel or dulce de leche liqueur to the milk once it is warmed.

Toppings

• Mini organic marshmallows
• Caramel sauce drizzled on top
• Organic chocolate shavings

Here’s how you can make the caramel sauce at home…

Ingredients

• ¼ cup of organic granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons of water
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1/8 cup heavy cream
• A pinch of salt

Instructions

• Stir sugar into water to a small saucepan and warm until the sugar dissolves.
• Continue cooking while swirling the pan (not stirring) until the mixture thickens and turns a deep amber color.
• Add the butter and whisk until completely melted.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and slowly pour in the cream, whisking as you pour, then add the salt.

Love and chi,

Paul (and Penny)

P.S. Check out Organifi’s Chocolate Gold or any other delicious product on their website and save 20 percent when you use the promo code CHEK20. If you’re interested in learning how Organifi creates such delicious, organic and healthy products, check out my recent Living 4D conversation Organifi CEO Mae Steigler!