Try our favorite, clean protein powder: See our top pick →
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We have a bone to pick with you… why haven’t you made bone broth hot chocolate yet?! Listen, we totally get it. Bone broth and chocolate is not exactly a peanut butter and jelly combo at first glance. We’d be lying if we didn’t say we were skeptical at first, but this bone broth hot chocolate has won our hearts and our bellies.
Bone broth is generally made from the bones of chickens or cows, but it can be found in other varieties like pig, turkey, and fish. For our hot chocolate recipe, we use and love Kellyann’s Beef Bone Broth.
Bone broth is believed to support gut, skin, and immune health. It is also thought to reduce inflammation with reported weight loss benefits (though no formal research has concluded this).
This collagen-packed source of protein in liquid form can be easily added to other dishes to make them more nutritionally well-rounded.
Like most recipes, the quality of your ingredients determines the health benefits available to you. You can scale up or down on sweeteners and fats to make a recipe that is deemed “healthy” for your dietary needs. We use natural sweeteners and healthy fats to keep this recipe both tasty and nutrient-centric.
Holiday parties and celebrations are often laden with heavy dishes and sugar-drenched desserts. ‘Tis the season! While we love a frosted sugar cookie as much as the next guy, overindulging can wreak havoc on your digestive system. Warm, soothing drinks are undoubtedly comforting and can ease an unsettled stomach.
What better way to nurse yourself back to tip-top tummy function than a healthy bone broth hot cocoa? With non-traditional added ingredients like collagen peptides and beef bone broth, this hot chocolate is both elevated and health-centered.
You’ve probably seen bone broth cited more frequently in savory dishes or as a morning elixir on an influencer’s social media morning routine posts.
What makes bone broth so interesting is that it lends to both savory and sweet recipes. Bone broth can be consumed all on its own, but we like to add it to drinks, soups, and sauces to bring a nutritional boost to recipes we know we already love and enjoy.
It naturally fits in with savory flavors but can also offset overly sweet dishes by bringing a salty, hearty flavor profile.
We suggest adding bone broth to meals you’re familiar with if you’re just getting started in the bone broth game. It’s a simple way to add extra nutritional value to recipes in your weekly rotation or to treats (like hot chocolate) that otherwise don’t pack a ton of satiating nutrients on their own.
Our bone broth hot chocolate recipe is made from whole ingredients like maple syrup and coconut cream. All the fun without the crash!
This recipe can be customized with peppermint extract for ultimate holiday vibes, and sweetness can be turned up or down by tweaking the amount of maple syrup.
Before you decide that the whole bone broth thing isn’t for you, give this bone broth hot chocolate recipe a try. We think you just might have a change of heart.
Here’s some more information about the ingredients in our bone broth hot chocolate:
The star of the show! We love Kellyann’s beef bone broth because she uses grass-fed, free-range, and organic ingredients in her bone broth. The ingredients are clean, using only the bones, organic vegetables and herbs, and filtered water. For our full review of these products, check out our article and find out why this bone broth, in particular, got an A- from the TNI team.
Although we’ve been raving about bone broth, this is still a hot cocoa recipe, after all. Cocoa powder adds a delicate chocolatey flavor to this recipe. You could additionally chop up some dark chocolate and add this into your drink if you want this to have more depth of flavor and be deemed “hot chocolate” rather than “hot cocoa.”
Maple syrup is our natural sweetener of choice for this bone broth hot chocolate recipe. Alternatively, you could use agave or honey; however, honey has a rather distinct taste and may change the overall flavor of your drink.
A little vanilla extract adds a lot of balance to this healthy hot chocolate.
The other dark horse in this bone broth hot cocoa is Ancient Nutrition’s collagen peptides, which can be purchased here. This absorbable powder is beneficial for gut, joint, hair, skin, and nail health. We’re all about sneaking in additional health benefits where we can. Hot cocoa that can strengthen your nails? Yes, please!
Check out our full review on Ancient Nutrition’s collagen peptides (and their other products like protein powders, green powders, and probiotics) here if you’re looking for other ways to add nutrient-dense supplements and powders to your diet.
Bring on the creaminess! While you could certainly use whole milk, coconut cream keeps this recipe dairy-free and adds a luxurious creaminess to this warm and cozy drink.
If you’re the peppermint mocha type, you’ll love this little addition. A little goes a long way—we recommend starting with one-half to one teaspoon and adding more if desired.
If you want to make this extra decadent, you can add chopped chocolate or chocolate chips (as much as you want) to this recipe and allow it to melt in with the rest of the ingredients. Although we are using “hot cocoa” and “hot chocolate” interchangeably, there is technically a difference. We would be remiss to not mention that this recipe without the added chocolate is technically a hot cocoa.
That’s it! Your new go-to healthy holiday drink. Bring a batch to your next holiday party or make a single serving any night you’re craving a feel-good sweet treat. “Bone” appetit!
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