Warm up the cold winter days with this low-calorie hot chocolate recipe

Winter season is simply not complete without hot chocolate. On a chilly day, it can truly feel like comfort in a cup. During the festive season, we can have endless conversations with our loved ones while sharing the warmth of hot chocolate.

A steaming cup of the deliciously creamy beverage is, no doubt, the solution we need to satiate our sweet tooth in the winter. But you cannot deny that it is also a cup full of calories. So, a lot of people have to abstain from the ultimate winter beverage to lower the number of calories consumed. But, we don’t want you to leave yourself out in the cold in order to maintain your health.

Hot chocolate can be healthy too, as long as we use ingredients that are low in calories. Hence, we searched for the perfect hot chocolate recipe for you that ensures you’re sticking to your diet plan without having to compromise on taste.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this low-calorie hot chocolate recipe:

1 cup almond milk
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp stevia
1 tsp vanilla essence
Cinnamon powder, optional

Also, read: This Christmas, cut down on sugar and calories with this jowar plum cake recipe

Here’s how to prepare your cup of low-calorie hot chocolate

Step 1: The thing with hot chocolate is that even though it is a beverage, the consistency is slightly thick and creamy. To get the consistency right, start by whisking the unsweetened cocoa powder, stevia, and one tablespoon of almond milk in a pan. You can use a hand-held whisking tool or an electric one.

Step 2: When the mixture becomes slightly thick, add the remaining almond milk and the vanilla essence. Keep whisking and ensure there are no cocoa powder lumps in the mixture. Whisk till the consistency becomes slightly thick. At this point, you can add just a pinch of cinnamon powder to enhance the aroma and flavour. 

Step 3: Next up, place the pan over a low flame. Heat for 5-7 minutes before increasing the flame to medium. Continue heating the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes more.

Step 4: Pour the steaming hot chocolate in your favourite mug and sip on!

For this recipe, we’ve replaced milk with almond milk which contains only about 60 calories for each cup. In addition, comes with its own kind of nutty creaminess which adds to the consistency of hot chocolate. The unsweetened cocoa powder ensures you’re cutting down on extra sugar content and stevia adds healthy sweetness to the beverage.

Don’t worry about the calorie count and drink hot chocolate without any guilt this winter season!