I’ve been dairy-free for over three years now. For me, it’s been a lifesaver, but before I knew better, I had no clue how much better my health would be. So, I encourage you to let go of dairy. It’s not necessary, it’s not good for you, and it’s really easy to do (if you have a dairy-free milk substitute)!
Keto is a very popular diet that encourages you to cut out all forms of carbohydrates, so that you can eat more fat and proteins. But what’s the point of going keto if you can’t drink hot chocolate? The good news is that you can have yummy dairy free hot chocolate that still provides all the benefits of keto.
Chances are you don’t know what keto is, but you’ve probably seen the word on Instagram and Twitter. It’s an abbreviation of ketogenic diet and it’s a low carb, high fat diet where you’re expected to consume less than 50 grams of carbs or around 20 grams of carbs per day.
We’re often asked what the secret is to our thick, delicious keto-friendly hot chocolate. Well, I’m here to explain you precisely what it is and how you can make it tonight at home! Whether you’re dairy-free or not, this keto hot chocolate made with canned coconut milk will knock your socks off.
Hot Chocolate without Dairy
Sugar-free and gluten-free keto hot chocolate recipes are common, but not dairy-free. We wanted to develop a low-carb, keto-friendly recipe that was thick and delicious like the original. This dairy and gluten-free keto recipe makes a rich and tasty hot chocolate using canned coconut milk.
It has a low carb count and cooks like any other keto-friendly milk. While almond milk may be used, we prefer canned coconut milk since the final result is much more delicious.
Is it possible to eat chocolate on a Keto diet?
Cacao, or the original form of chocolate, is keto-friendly in every way. Cacao is low in carbs but high in bitterness. Dark chocolate is made up mostly of this component. Dark chocolate is keto because it is mostly made up of cacao rather than a mixture of cacao, milk solids, and sugar.
We use a lot of bakers chocolate, which is made entirely of cacao and can be used in a number of keto dishes. You may always add extra stevia to the low carb hot chocolate mix if the bakers chocolate is too bitter for you.
On the Keto Diet, Cocoa Powder
We made care to get 100 percent cocoa powder this time. It’s not to be mistaken with hot cocoa mixes or sweetened baked cocoa. Hershey’s Special Dark and Better Body Foods CACAO powder are two of our faves.
Cacao powder is a non-heated form of unsweetened cocoa powder that contains more antioxidants. It depends on how much money you want to pay, but both unsweetened may be keto.
Chocolate with Low Carbs
There will undoubtedly be a wide range of choices available online, as well as in-store. Depending on how sweet you want your hot chocolate, store-bought alternatives may differ. Use Lily’s dark chocolate bars in a sugar-free hot cocoa recipe for a sweeter cocoa. If you’re looking for a nice dark chocolate choice from the shop, we suggest the 100 percent bakers chocolate or the 90 percent Lindt chocolate bars.
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Hot Chocolate with No Sugar
Our hot chocolate recipe is devoid of dairy and sugar. Because there are currently so many heavy cream hot chocolates on the market, we thought it was important to create a recipe that was both dairy and sugar free. However, this presents its own set of challenges, as we needed to find a dairy-free heavy cream alternative that was both low in sugar and keto-friendly.
We decided on canned coconut milk as the sugar-free hot chocolate base. It has the same thick consistency as heavy cream but is dairy-free. We went with liquid stevia for the sweetener. We find that liquid stevia does an excellent job of sweetening this dish without the addition of anything else.
If you don’t like or don’t have liquid stevia, erythritol or monk fruit may be substituted. Simply double-check that the sweetness ratios in your sugar-free hot chocolate recipe are correct.
Hot Chocolate: Thick vs. Thin
We adore a good cup of hot chocolate. I know a thick keto hot chocolate isn’t for everyone, but I believe it’s the finest. Because it’s almost molten chocolate, it’s also great for dipping cinnamon sugar doughnut holes or churros in (Note: dip as in dip and bite this is not a glaze).
Make this recipe using canned coconut milk or coconut cream instead of almond milk for a richer hot chocolate (the cream on top of canned coconut milk). Because almond milk is thin and watery, the hot chocolate won’t be as thick as it would be if you used heavy whipping cream.
On the other hand, if you like thin hot chocolate, add 1-2 cups of more almond milk. A thinner dairy-free alternative for low carb/keto chocolate may be made using almond milk and coconut milk. The basic recipe yields three servings, but with the addition of milk, you may get four or five. Depending on whatever dairy-free option you select, the carb count and macros will vary.
The Low Carb and Keto Hot Cocoa Macros
We take pleasure in creating delicious keto meals that are sugar-free and gluten-free while tasting authentic. This is one of the most delicious hot chocolate recipes you’ll ever taste, and it’s very simple to prepare.
It only has 2 net carbohydrates, 279 calories, 27 grams of fat, and 1 gram of protein per serving (serving size 1/3 of the recipe). The cocoa powder has 6 total carbohydrates, but 4 grams of fiber, making it 2 net carbs.
Keto Hot Chocolate with a Twist
Anyone who has made keto hot chocolate knows that a spoonful of whipped cream is the ideal finishing touch. However, whipped canned coconut cream is a dairy-free alternative to whipped cream.
This isn’t coconut milk at all. Coconut cream is the thick layer of coconut milk that sits on top of canned coconut milk. If you’re not lactose intolerant, normal heavy whipping cream may be used to make whipped cream for your keto hot chocolate.
Shaved chocolate, cinnamon, and a pinch of Mexican chili powder are other tasty toppings. This creates a low-carb Aztec hot chocolate.
Keto Hot Chocolate: How to Make It
Get out a few ingredients and a saucepan if you’re ready to create our keto hot chocolate recipe. You’ll be finished with this low-carb keto hot chocolate in no time!
Ingredients
Canned coconut milk is the first and most important component in this dairy-free hot chocolate. You may use unsweetened almond milk in place of regular milk in other low-carb recipes, but be aware that it will be considerably thinner. We chose canned coconut milk since its consistency is comparable to that of heavy cream.
You’ll need unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder for the chocolate part. Dark chocolate pieces or a dark chocolate bar are other options. For the lowest carbohydrates, we choose chocolate that is 90-100 percent cocoa.
The other components are liquid stevia (or any other sweetener of your choosing), vanilla extract, and pink salt. Finally, you’ll need almond milk or a nut milk of choice if you want a thinner dairy-free keto hot chocolate recipe.
How to Make Low-Carb Hot Chocolate
In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the cocoa powder, dark chocolate, vanilla essence, salt, and coconut milk. You don’t want any clumps of cocoa or burnt chocolate, so keep mixing until everything is melted and blended.
Start by simmering the hot chocolate, and then, if preferred, add the almond milk. Remove it from the heat and pour it into two or three cups. Top with chocolate shavings and whipped heavy cream or coconut cream.
The Best Keto Hot Chocolate Tips and Tricks
Dairy: We’ve previously shown you how to make this dairy-free by using canned coconut milk, but if you don’t have any on hand and like your dairy (we get it! ), you can substitute heavy cream and get the same thick and wonderful drink.
Sweeteners: You may use whatever sweetener you have on hand instead of liquid stevia concentrate in this recipe. You can easily decide how much and which sweetener to use to sweeten your keto hot chocolate with our sweetener conversion chart!
Add-ins: anything with a chocolate flavor may be added to this hot beverage. If you don’t have a chocolate bar on hand, just add more cocoa powder, lilys chocolate chips, or some of my personal favorites, chocolate MCT powder or chocolate collagen from Perfect Keto!
Microwave or stovetop
We’re often asked whether this recipe can be made in the microwave. We don’t suggest the microwave since it has a few flaws.
- The recipe produces 2 servings; however, depending on how much and which milks you use, this recipe may make up to 3 servings. It’s already much too much volume to fit into a single cup and microwave.
- Uneven heating- The microwave is infamous for cooking and heating food unevenly. More than likely, the chocolate will settle to the bottom of the cup and burn.
- It’s tough to mix- Without additional room in the saucepan, mixing clumps of cocoa powder may be difficult.
These are just a few of the reasons why we believe the microwave fails to properly heat and cook our chocolate. If you do opt to microwave the recipe, be sure to stir well every 30 seconds and allow space for mixing at the top of your cup. However, by the time you’ve cooked three in the microwave, your stovetop pot will be ready.
What Kinds of Hot Drinks Can You Have on a Keto Diet?
People frequently see a keto or low carb diet as being restrictive, however there are so many substitutes available these days that you won’t feel deprived!
Bulletproof coffee is something you may not be acquainted with when you first start out, but you’ll learn to enjoy it. Our tried-and-true formula will convert you in no time and keep you full all morning!
If you like this hot chocolate recipe but want something different, try our keto white hot chocolate recipe and rediscover your passion for white chocolate while remaining low carb!
Keto Desserts Made Simple
We’ve all had those evenings when we really want dessert but don’t want to put in the effort of baking a batch of cookies or brownies. To be honest, that’s how we spend the majority of our evenings.
If you decide to bake anything, I suggest making 2-3 batches at a time and freezing them so you always have something to fall back on. The bulk of our sweets, particularly our chewy chocolate chip cookies, store nicely and taste great straight out of the freezer!
If your freezer stockpile is depleted but you still want something sweet, a mug cake or protein waffles are fast and easy to make. You’ll be able to thank us afterwards!
Keto Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate
This dish is fresh off the press (pun intended) and will satisfy your sweet appetite. It’s a wonderful way to boost your fat intake for the day and finish off the night when you don’t feel like baking. If you’ve never been a fan of hot chocolate, you’ll love this keto version!
Dairy-Free Keto Hot Chocolate
Dark chocolate pieces and canned coconut milk are combined in our Keto Hot Chocolate for a dairy-free twist on a traditional thick hot chocolate dish!
- 10 minutes in total
- 3 person servings
- 279 calories per serving
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan over low heat, combine coconut milk, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, stevia, vanilla essence, and salt.
- Whisk everything together until it’s fully dissolved.
- Bring to a low simmer and, if required, add nut milk to thicken.
- Remove from the heat and divide into two cups. Serve right away.
Notes
- 2g net carbs per serving Yields: 3 servings
- Nutritional Information
- Dairy-Free Keto Hot Chocolate
- Per Serving Amount
- 279 calories 243 calories from fat
- daily value in percent*
- 27g42 percent fat
- Carbohydrates make up 62% of the total.
- 16 percent fiber (4 g)
- 1g2 percent protein
- * Percent Daily Values (%DV) are calculated using a 2000-calorie diet.
- Course:Drinks
Cuisine:American
Keto hot chocolate is a term used to describe a kind of hot chocolate that is
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Keto is all the rage right now, and for good reason. It’s a diet that offers you a ton of health benefits, including weight loss, reversal of diabetes, and other benefits. However if you want to be in ketosis, you need to watch how much dairy you consume.
There are some ways around this, but this is a great dairy-free keto hot chocolate recipe that you can use as a substitute for dairy. Read more about keto connect hot chocolate and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nestle hot chocolate dairy free?
Nestle is not dairy free.
What hot drinks are Keto friendly?
Hot drinks that are keto friendly include coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
Does sugar free hot chocolate have carbs?
Yes, sugar free hot chocolate has carbohydrates.
