This Homemade Hot Cocoa for Kids (Refined Sugar-Free) is creamy, sweet, and delicious! Add your favorite toppings for a fun and special mug of hot cocoa after playing outside or watching your favorite Christmas movie!
I am a big fan of Belgian hot chocolate and have made it at home several times. Even though it tastes fantastic, the melted chocolate is too rich for kids (at least mine don’t like it!). Try this kid-approved hot cocoa recipe, and you won’t regret it. This is the perfect homemade creamy hot cocoa for kids and adults this holiday season!
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Table of Contents
Hot Chocolate vs Hot Cocoa – What’s the Difference?
Even though the terms hot chocolate and hot cocoa are used interchangeably, they are two different beverages.
Hot chocolate is made by melting chocolate bars or chips into milk, which results in a richer and thicker beverage. While, hot cocoa is primarily made from cocoa powder, sweetener, and milk, and it is a thinner and milder-tasting drink.
Reasons to Love this Healthy Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe
- Refined Sugar-Free: This recipe uses maple syrup as a sweetener, making it suitable for small kids over 2 years of age. You can also sweeten it with agave nectar, date syrup, or honey.
- Easy: This recipe is easy to make and ready in 5 minutes!
- Homemade: Skip all the additional ingredients store-bought hot cocoa packets often have!
- Winter must-have: After playing outside in the snow, this is a delicious way to warm up your little ones this season!
Recipe Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry:
- Milk: I like using whole milk as it is creamier, but any milk of choice will work – low-fat or plant-based.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: I like using this one!
- Vanilla: I love using this non-alcoholic pure vanilla extract in kids’ recipes!
- Corn starch: I use a small amount of corn starch to make a slurry and mix it into the milk while warming up to add some creaminess to the hot chocolate. This is optional! Skip it if you prefer a more liquid hot cocoa. My kids like it a little thicker, as it reminds them of the store-bought chocolate milk, but it’s up to your preference!
- Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup sweetens this homemade hot chocolate. You can also use date syrup, date paste, agave, or your favorite sweetener.
- Sea salt: Optional. Use a little bit of salt to enhance the chocolate flavor.
- Mini Marshmallows: Optional! If you are avoiding offering added sugars, skip it entirely!
- Dye-free sprinkles: Although sprinkles are not part of our routine, I use them on special occasions, and these dye-free sprinkles add a festive twist without all the artificial flavors and coloring.
Step-by-step instructions
Only a few steps are required to make this easy hot cocoa for kids.
- Add 1 tsp cornstarch and 2 tsp milk in a small cup or bowl. Mix until the cornstarch fully dissolves, creating a slurry. This step is optional; it will result in a creamier beverage,
- Add the milk, cornstarch slurry (if using), cocoa powder, vanilla, and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Whisk over medium-low heat until the milk starts to boil.
- Remove from heat immediately, let the hot cocoa cool to your desired temperature, and serve!
See the full recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Tips to Make this Creamy Healthy Hot Chocolate
This hot chocolate recipe is my favorite; everyone loves it. Here are my pro tips that make sure it’s always spot on:
- Make sure to make the cornstarch slurry before adding it to the milk! If you add the powder directly to the milk, it will end up with lumps and won’t taste great!
- When the milk starts to boil, remove the pan from heat quickly to avoid an overflow of hot chocolate. It can pick up very quickly, so do not leave the pan unattended.
- Cool down the hot cocoa when serving to kids to avoid burns.
- Serve cold and call it chocolate milk :).
Tools Needed
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerator: This homemade hot cocoa can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a small saucepan over medium-low heat or microwave in 30-second increments until the desired temperature is reached.
- Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing hot cocoa!
Serving Suggestions and Substitutions
- Serve this homemade chocolate milk with your favorite toppings. Some suggestions are mini marshmallows, dye-free sprinkles, peppermint, dark chocolate chips, shaved chocolate, and whipped cream. To serve adults, try adding some Baileys or Kahlua, and enjoy!
- Enjoy some cozy hot chocolate next time you watch Christmas movies this season.
- Maple syrup: Use your favorite liquid sweetener, or replace it with turbinado sugar for a healthier alternative.
- Milk: Use cow’s or dairy-free milk (almond, cashew, and oat milk are my favorites).
- Vanilla extract: Substitute peppermint extract for a delicious peppermint hot chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whole milk will have a creamy texture, but any milk will work!
Not really. When you buy packages of hot cocoa mix, powdered milk is in the mixture. That’s why you can pour some hot water over and done! When making homemade, use liquid milk, hot water, and powdered milk for best results.
Hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, sweetener, and milk. Hot chocolate is made with melted chocolate and milk, thicker and richer.
Other Recipes That You May Like
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🥣Recipe
Homemade Hot Cocoa for Kids (Refined Sugar-Free)
Equipment
- 1 Sauce pan
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp cornstarch to thicken – optional!
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cacao powder
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup or date syrup, agave
- 1 pinch salt optional
Instructions
- Add 1 tsp cornstarch and 2 tsp milk in a small cup or bowl. Mix until the cornstarch fully dissolves, creating a slurry. This step is optional; it will result in a creamier beverage.
- Add the milk, cornstarch slurry (if using), cocoa powder, vanilla, and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Whisk over medium-low heat until the milk starts to boil.
- Remove from heat immediately, let the hot cocoa cool to your desired temperature, and serve!
Notes
- Make sure to make the corn starch slurry before adding to the milk! If you add the powder directly to the milk it will end up with lumps and won’t taste great!
- When the milk starts to boil, be quick to remove the pan from heat to avoid overflow of hot chocolate. It can pick up very quickly, so do not leave the pan unattended.
- Make sure to cool down the hot chocolate when serving to kids to avoid burns.
Nutrition
Meal Planning Bundle
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My kids loved this recipe, thanks for sharing!