An easy Christmas hot chocolate recipe! Learn how to make gingerbread hot chocolate in just 5 minutes with 5 ingredients. This homemade hot chocolate recipe is vegan and includes options for paleo hot chocolate, keto hot chocolate, and spiked hot chocolate.
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Homemade gingerbread hot chocolate – Easy Christmas hot chocolate recipe
I don’tknow about you, but it wouldn’t be December without healthy holiday hotchocolate drinks. Especially gingerbread hot chocolate. And when you have thissuper easy and delicious Christmas hot chocolate recipe, there’s no reason to buyIHOP or Starbucks gingerbread hot chocolate. This homemade hot chocolate is healthier,cheaper and tastes better, too.
And formore hot chocolate recipes, check out my peppermintwhite hot chocolate, which is another dairy-free festive hot cocoa and agreat homemade hot chocolate for Christmas.
Gingerbread hot chocolate ingredients
This gingerbreadhot chocolate recipe is both vegan and paleo, meaning the hot cocoa recipe isdairy-free, gluten-free and refined sugar-free. Here are the ingredients weneed to make this delicious homemade Christmas hot cocoa:
- unsweetenedalmond milk or any other non-dairy milk
- dairy-freechocolate chips or chopped chocolate bark
- unsweetenedcocoa
- coconutsugar
- 1tbsp gingerbread spice
- coconutwhipped cream (optional, for serving)
Paleo gingerbread hot chocolate
Lookingat the hot cocoa ingredient list, you can see that I chose paleo-approved wholefoods for this Christmas hot chocolate. When buying hot chocolate chips, besure to buy a paleo-friendly product. Many chocolate chips contain soy lecithin,which isn’t suitable for the paleo diet.
These chocolate chips are vegan and paleo. I also foundthese chocolate chips from Enjoy Life,which only cost half. They are dairy-free and don’t contain soy or any of the other8 most common allergens. They are, however, sweetened with cane syrup. Since onlya small amount is used, they are still okay if you aren’t super strict.
Low carb keto gingerbread hot chocolate
The hot chocolaterecipe can easily be transformed into gingerbread keto hot chocolate. You onlyneed to make the following two substitutions:
Sugar-free chocolate
Preparethe recipe with sugar-free chocolate. You have a few options:
- Unsweetenedbaker’s chocolate doesn’t contain any sugar or sweetener.
- Stevia-sweetenedchocolate chips are sweetened with stevia and low carb. Or try these sugar-freechocolate chips from Hershey’s.
Low carb sweetener
Theother substitution is to swap the coconut sugar for a low carb sweetener.Again, you have several options for how to make keto hot chocolate. For thebest flavour, I recommend Monkfruit Golden, but erythritol or liquid steviawould also work.
How to make gingerbread hot chocolate
How doyou make gingerbread hot chocolate? This recipe for gingerbread hot chocolate canbe whipped up in minutes. You won’t believe how easy it is to make Christmashot chocolate and you will make it again and again!
All you need to do to make homemade gingerbread hot cocoa is:
- Place the almond milk, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, gingerbread spice, and coconut sugar in a medium, heavy-bottom saucepan.
- Stirring constantly, warm the ingredients over medium heat until the chocolate chips have melted, for about 5 minutes.
- Whisk well to combine.
- Divide the homemade hot chocolate between 4 mugs.
- Optionally, garnish with whipped coconut cream, a dash of gingerbread spice and a gingerbread cookie.
Tip: Instead of coconut whip and acookie, you can use other hot chocolate toppings such as marshmallows,chocolate shavings, and cinnamon stick. Dependingon your diet, try these vegan marshmallowsor these keto-friendly, sugar-free marshmallows.
Spiked hot chocolate – How to make boozy hot chocolate
While Idon’t drink alcohol, my husband and some of my friends do, and they love spikedhot chocolate. My homemade hot chocolate tastes delicious just as it’s writtenbut also can easily be made into boozy hot chocolate.
Gingerbreadhot chocolate pairs beautifully with one of the following liquors:
- Kahlua
- chocolateliqueur
- whiskey
- bourbon
- (spiced)rum
Forspiked gingerbread hot chocolate, add 2 to 4 tablespoons alcohol when cookingthe hot chocolate recipe. And if you have more ideas for spiked hot chocolate,drop a comment and tell me more!
Can you make this gingerbread hot chocolate recipe in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can make slow cooker hot chocolate. The trick for crock pot hot cocoa is to set your slow cooker to low so that all of the ingredients warm up together, but the milk doesn’t actually cook. You can easily double the recipe if making hot chocolate for a crowd.
Here is how to make hot chocolate in the slow cooker or crock pot:
- Combineall hot chocolate ingredients in the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Coverwith a lid. Heat on low until everything is melted, for about 2 hours on low.Stir occasionally.
- Ifdesired, garnish with marshmallows, coconut whipped cream, gingerbread cookiesand a sprinkling of gingerbread spice.
How long does homemade Christmas hot chocolate last?
Everytime I make this Christmas hot chocolate recipe, it tends to disappear reallyfast. However, if you have any left over, gingerbread hot chocolate will keepfor about three days in the refrigerator.
How to store gingerbread hot chocolate
Keepleftover dairy-free Christmas hot chocolate in the refrigerator. A lidded pitcher, jug or container is best.
When youreheat this easy hot chocolate recipe, the coconut whipped cream will melt, butthe hot cocoa is still perfectly good to drink. It might not look as pretty, justgive it a quick stir.
Gingerbread Hot Chocolate - Christmas Hot Chocolate Recipe
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
An easy Christmas hot chocolate recipe! Learn how to make gingerbread hot chocolate in just 5 minutes with 5 ingredients. This homemade hot chocolate recipe is vegan and includes options for paleo hot chocolate, keto hot chocolate, and spiked hot chocolate.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups / 600 ml / 20 fl oz unsweetened almond milk (can sub for other non-dairy milk)
- 1 cup / 175 g / 6.2 oz dairy-free chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bark
- 1/2 cup / 50 g / 1.8 oz unsweetened cocoa
- 3/4 cup / 75 g / 2.6 oz coconut sugar (can sub for other sweeteners)
- 1 tbsp gingerbread spice, plus extra for serving
- coconut whipped cream (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Place the almond milk, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, gingerbread spice, and coconut sugar in a medium, heavy-bottom saucepan.
- Stirring constantly, warm the ingredients over medium heat until the chocolate chips have melted, for about 5 minutes.
- Whisk well to combine.
- Divide the homemade hot chocolate between 4 mugs.
- Optionally, garnish with whipped coconut cream and a dash of gingerbread spice.
Notes
How long does homemade gingerbread hot chocolate last?
Every time I make this Christmas hot chocolate recipe, it tends to disappear really fast. However, if you have any left over, gingerbread hot chocolate will keep for about three days in the refrigerator.
How to store gingerbread hot chocolate
Keep leftover dairy-free Christmas hot chocolate in the refrigerator. A lidded pitcher, jug or container is best.
When you reheat this easy hot chocolate recipe, the coconut whipped cream will melt, but the hot cocoa is still perfectly good to drink. It might not look as pretty, just give it a quick stir.
Can you make this gingerbread hot chocolate recipe in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can make gingerbread slow cooker hot chocolate. The trick for
crock pot hot cocoa is to set your slow cooker to low so that all of the ingredients warm up together, but the milk doesn’t actually cook. You can easily double the recipe if making hot chocolate for a crowd.
Here is how to make gingerbread hot chocolate in the slow cooker or crock pot:
- Combine all hot chocolate ingredients in the slow cooker and stir to mix.
- Cover with a lid. Heat on low until everything is melted, for about 2 hours on low. Stir occasionally.
- If desired, garnish with marshmallows, coconut whipped cream, gingerbread cookies and a sprinkling of gingerbread spice
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