Name: Sugar Free Hot Chocolate
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 7 dates (Medjool); 400 gr dairy-free milk; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 1 tbsp. cocoa powder (or natural cacao); 1 tsp. cinnamon powder (optional); 1 pinch of salt

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This Sugar Free Hot Chocolate is naturally sweetened with dates and high in cacao enabling you to benefit from the superpower this powder contains.

What’s the difference between CACAO and COCOA?

There is often a lot of confusion between the two and if whether one is better than the other.

Below you will find the main difference between cacao and cocoa:

Which Cacao/cocoa Powder should you use?

They are two types of cacao powder:

Natural cacao powder (non-alcalized)
Dutch-processed cocoa powder (alcalized)

Dutch Cocoa Powder

Commonly found in supermarkets, it is made from cacao beans that have been washed to neutralise their acidity. This cocoa is less acidic, deep in flavour and darker in colour as a result of this process. Make sure there isn’t any added sugar and that it is pure cocoa.

Natural Cacao Powder

As the name suggests, natural cacao powder is less processed and more natural. It is lighter in colour and is the product of finely ground roasted cacao beans. Hence, the flavour being stronger, bitter, but also fruitier with a lot of interesting nuances.

In this Sugar Free Hot Chocolate, I have used Dutch-processed cocoa powder which is darker in colour and is less acidic compared to natural cacao powder, making your hot chocolate taste even more chocolatey.

Dates

Dates are a staple in my kitchen! I like to use Medjool Dates although they are a bit more expensive, they are bigger and softer making it a lot easier to blend.

Here are some reasons why you may want to consider including dates into your diet:

#1 They are very high in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, and copper.

#2 They promote a healthy bowel movement thanks to their high fibre content.

#3 Dates are high in antioxidants protecting our bodies against inflammations.

#4 Dates promote a healthy brain.

#5 Dates are sweet and make a great sugar substitute in bakes, although high in fructose they are full of fibres and other nutrients that contributes to your health, unlike sugar.

For more vegan chocolate recipes click here.

Yield: Serves 2

Sugar Free Hot Chocolate

This Sugar Free Hot Chocolate is extremely easy to make, all you need is a blender and 5 minutes to spare.

Prep Time 2 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 7 minutes

Ingredients

7 dates (Medjool)
400 gr dairy-free milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. cocoa powder (or natural cacao)
1 tsp. cinnamon powder (optional)
1 pinch of salt

Instructions

Blend all the ingredients until smooth (about 1 to 2 minutes).
Next, transfer into a pan on the hob at medium heat.
Warm up until it reaches boiling point (this will be smooth and super creamy on top).
Once it has reached boiling point, reduce the heat and leave on the hob for another 30 seconds.
Serve in your favourite cup.

I hope you try and like this Sugar Free Hot Chocolate, if so let me know! Share on Pinterest and tag a photo on Instagram #mimies_delicacies so that I can see your lovely creations as well as helping me reach more of you lovely people. Merci my friends!