Dairy-free Hot Chocolate for a Cold, Rainy Day

 By Mer Temple Allen, UC Davis Nutrition Peer Counselor

With the temperatures dropping and the rain pouring down, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate is areat way to enjoy the cold weather (from the comfort of home, of course!). Much store-bought hot chocolate comes with added dairy or other additives you may want to avoid. Additionally, store-bought hot chocolate is often too sweet for my liking, so I prefer to add my sweetener to get my desired level of sweetness. If you are lactose intolerant (like me) and are looking for a simple hot chocolate recipe from home, look no further. 

Ingredients

• 100% unsweetened cocoa powder 
• White sugar (or honey if you prefer) 
• Any milk alternative  

Instructions 

1. Pour a cup full of any milk alternative into a small pot. I prefer oat milk because it has the thickest consistency and tastes similar to cow’s milk. Heat on medium until it begins to steam. 
2. Turn down the heat to low, and add three tablespoons of cocoa powder (this amount can vary depending on how chocolatey you want). Stir in with a whisk. 
3. Add four tablespoons of sugar (or replace with honey) and mix in with a whisk. Feel free to add more sweeteners if it is not sweet enough for your liking. 
4. Pour into a mug and enjoy!