Sugar Free Hot Chocolate

As someone who hasn’t found a sugar free hot chocolate mix I like, I knew I was going to have to cobble together my own sugar-free hot cocoa recipe.

I knew it would have to be a decadent hot chocolate, rich and satisfying... but still a simple recipe.

I’d gotten in the habit of just making my Protein Hot Chocolate, but sometimes... I don’t really feel the need for extra protein, you know?

While I’ve got some fancier homemade keto hot chocolate mixes (see further down this post for some links!), this sugar free hot cocoa recipe is super basic.

You can make them up as a pre-made mix in little baggies, or just whip a batch up on the spot.

It’s a delicious hot chocolate on its own, or you can flavour it with different extracts if you like.

It’s the recipe I started out with when I started making Low Carb Peppermint Hot Chocolate - another fantastic hot beverage that’s not going to raise your blood sugar!

The best thing?

This easy recipe comes in at just 2 g net carbs for each serving of hot cocoa! Score!

Of course, you can dress up your cup of hot cocoa any way you like - most will ad some carbs, but when you’re starting out with such a low net carb count, you’ve got some room to play!

Anyway, let’s get to that recipe...

Ingredients

While this recipe uses only a few basic ingredients, they’re not necessarily all ones that you can easily find in grocery stores. So, it’s good to plan ahead!

A few notes for you:

Unsweetened Almond Milk

Unsweetened Almond Milk has been my milk of choice for years now. It was a great dairy-free option when I could no longer handle cow’s milk, and it’s a fantastic option for those on a keto diet.

When it comes down to it, though... depending on your macros, there are all kinds of good options that you can use in this recipe.

As far as non dairy milk goes, Oat milk, Cashew Milk, Flax Milk, Macadamia Milk and Coconut Milk are all good options - just definitely check the carb counts, to make sure they’ll fit your plan.

Beyond that, regular milk works, too - just a bit higher carb. You can use whatever you like, but I’d recommend at least 2% fat, for a nice velvety texture for sugar-free hot chocolate. I find 1% / skim milk to be too watery, IMHO.

Sugar Substitute

While you can use your favorite sweetener in this recipe, my sweetener of choice is Brown Allulose.

Allulose in general is a great addition to the pantry for anyone watching their sugar. Like monk fruit sweetener, it’s a good sugar replacement in terms of flavour and - to some degree - behaviour.

It doesn’t have any kind of weird aftertaste, and it doesn’t do the cooling sensation thing that erythritol does.

Anyway, for best results, I recommend using brown allulose. Like regular brown sugar, I find it boosts the chocolate flavor nicely.

You can substitute regular Allulose, in the same amount.

The only thing to keep in mind is that it’s slightly less sweet than real sugar - and any of the “cup for cup” sugar substitutes.

Allulose-Monkfruit Blend is another great option, just a bit harder to find and usually a bit more expensive.

Monkfruit blends tend to be more “cup for cup”, so you’ll use a little less. I would start with 1 ½ Tablespoons, and add a little more if you want it sweeter.

Basically, if your sweeter is a “less sweet” type, use the 2 Tbsp. If it’s something that says it’s as sweet as sugar, start with the 1 ½ Tablespoons and adjust.

Everything Else

Rounding out this recipe, you will need:

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Pure Vanilla Extract
Salt

... Don’t really have anything to add, here.

Optional Toppings

Half the fun of making fancy drinks is dressing the top of the hot chocolate up with your favorite toppings.

Some of my favourite options for this Keto Hot Cocoa recipe:

Whipped Cream (Unsweetened, or with your favourite sugar substitute)
Sugar Free Marshmallows (Chop them up for “mini marshmallows”!)
Sugar Free Mini Chocolate Chips

How to Make Sugar Free Hot Chocolate

The full recipe is in the printable recipe card at the end of this post, here is a walk through with step-by-step photos:

In a small pot, whisk together the cocoa powder, sweetener, and salt.

Add a little almond milk to the dry ingredients , whisking to form a thick paste.

Heat over medium low heat - whisking constantly - until the mixture is steaming hot, but not boiling.

Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract.

Divide hot chocolate into 2 mugs, garnish as desired, and serve immediately.

Leftovers

Leftover sugar free hot chocolate can be cooled to room temperature and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

More Low Carb Hot Beverages!

Looking for more sugar free, low carb drinks - and drink mixes - as a healthier alternative to the coffee shop? I've got you covered, with delicious recipes for all kinds of keto friendly fancy coffee drinks, hot chocolates, and more!

Cappuccino Mix (High Protein)
Chai Latte (High Protein)
Gingerbread Latte (High Protein)
Matcha Latte (High Protein)
Mocha Latte (High Protein)
Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate (High Protein)
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Mocha (High Protein)
Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
Pistachio White Hot Chocolate
Protein Hot Chocolate
Pumpkin Chai Latte (High Protein)
Pumpkin Spice Latte (High Protein)