Hot Cacao

Hot Cacao

Frosty mornings. A glowing fire in the fireplace. A good book. A robe in which to wrap yourself ... All that's missing is a mug of hot chocolate, right? But for those of us who are trying to cut down on sugar and/or dairy, such a drink can be problematic. The answer? Hot Cocao with oat milk. (Scroll down for the recipe.)

Cacao instead of cocoa powder
Cacao power is low in carbs and can be part of a keto diet.
​From Masterclass.com:

• Taste. Cacao is more bitter than cocoa, although both still taste chocolatey.
• Processing. Cocoa is processed at higher temperatures.
• Health benefits. Raw cacao beans are superfoods, packed full of antioxidants that protect cells from damage by free radicals; and flavanols that improve the functioning of blood vessels. The high heats of cocoa processing change the beans’ molecular structure, however, so some of this nutritional value is lost. That makes cacao a healthier choice than cocoa.​ 

Monkfruit instead of sugar
Although cacao is "more bitter than cocoa," that doesn't mean we need to add sugar. I was so happy when I discovered monkfruit, a natural sweetner with no calories. Here's an article that describes the benefits of monkfruit: Why You Should Ditch Sugar for Monkfruit Sweetener

Oat milk instead of dairy milk
If you have a dairy allergy, oat milk is definitely better for you. Low-fat oat milk also has less calroies than low-fat cow's milk as well as less fat and sugars. (And I think it's delicious!) Follow this link for more info: Is Oat Milk Healthy?

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Cup of Hot Cacao

Ingredients
1 tablespoon cacao powder
2 teaspoons monk fruit (or to taste)
​1 cup non-fat oat milk 
Optional: a drop or two of vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon.

Directions
Add the cacao powder and monkfruit to a small pan. Slowly add the oat milk into the pan stirring with a whip to remove lumps. Heat to desired temperature. Pour into a mug and enjoy.

Personal note: I use this drink as means of taking powdered collagen. I simply add it to the dry ingredients before adding the liquid.

I hope you enjoy my recipes. Let me know if you've tried any of them and how they turned out. Good cooking to you!

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