Nothing is as comforting as a cup of hot chocolate during a cold day. Hands down, however you feel about milk, hot chocolate evokes childhood memories of holidays with families, winter markets and that moment when you’d get home after school on a cold day and dive into a cup of frothy hot chocolate milk.
Although most hot chocolate in the market today is ready-made and comes from a box in powder form, it’s possible to make an easy homemade hot chocolate at home. Getting creative with winter drinks can be fun, and we like having options that don’t limit us to caffeinated beverages, especially if its a cold day and you’re clutching a mug of something to sip on all day while working or spending time at home with your family.
We like the idea of bringing back traditional, thick, syrupy hot chocolate. The kind that makes you swoon with the first sip at the delicious decadence that a few good beans of cocoa can elicit when combined with milk and some sugar. Although hot chocolate powder from a box can taste good and satisfy that craving for something sweet during a cold day, we prefer something that’s healthier, richer and free of preservatives.
Our recipe for an easy homemade hot chocolate includes Egyptian molasses, an ingredient that’s consumed during breakfast in the Middle East and touted as having several health benefits With high levels of iron and selenium, molasses is considered an easy home remedy for those suffering from anemia, or for when you’re feeling weak and tired and need a quick and effective pick-me-up.
For easy homemade hot chocolate with molasses, use the milk that best suits your dietary needs. We like to use coconut milk as a gluten free and dairy free option, but for those that might find the taste of coconut milk too strong, we’d recommend using oat milk. This can be enjoyed by both adults and children alike. Play around with the recipe until you figure out the ratio of molasses and/or sugar that you enjoy the most. For some, the sugar might be too much so feel free to omit the sugar.
