This 5 Minute Low Carb Hot Chocolate Recipe is creamy, rich, and deeply chocolaty with complex flavor notes of vanilla and coffee.

As a kid, one of the things I looked forward to most about winter - in addition to snow days - was hot chocolate! There was something incredibly magical about spending the better part of the day sledding, coming inside only to thaw out our red cheeks and frozen fingers and drink cocoa, and then heading back out to brave the cold again.

Cocoa vs Cacao

How is Cocoa Different From Cacao?

Cacao refers to the food items derived from the cacao bean that have remained raw. These products include cacao nibs, cacao butter, cacao mass or paste, and most frequently, cacao powder. Raw cacao powder is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans, which retains the living enzymes and removes the cacao butter. Cocoa powder looks the same as cacao powder; however, cocoa powder is the raw cacao that has been roasted at high temperatures. (Read more about the difference between cocoa and cacao on HealthLine and One Green Planet.)

Are Cocoa Powder and Cacao Powder Interchangeable?

In many recipes, cocoa powder and cacao powder are interchangeable, although there might be a slight difference in flavor, texture, and/or appearance. In this 5 Minute Low Carb Hot Chocolate Recipe, you can use either cocoa powder or cacao powder without any major differences in the end result.

Is Cacao Better Than Cocoa?

As a result of roasting, the molecular structure of the cocoa bean changes, lowering the overall nutritional value of cocoa powder compared with cacao powder.

Carbs in Hot Chocolate

According to the USDA Nutrition Database, 2 tablespoons (28g) of hot chocolate mix (not combined with any liquid) has the following nutrition information:

• 100kcals
• 2g protein
• .5g total fat
• 24g total carbohydrates
• 2g fiber
• 22g net carbs

Homemade Sugar Free Hot Chocolate

This 5 Minute Low Carb Hot Chocolate Recipe is sugar free and keto-friendly, but not lacking in flavor!

Can You Make Hot Chocolate with Heavy Cream?

I frequently make hot chocolate with heavy cream for a few different reasons. Firstly, I don’t usually keep milk of any kind on hand (not even almond milk!) unless I need it for a specific recipe. However, I always have heavy cream on hand for my morning coffee. Additionally, heavy cream is much lower in carbs than whole milk, 2% milk, and skim milk. Lastly, I like the richness that heavy cream adds to low carb hot chocolate.

When I make hot chocolate with heavy cream, I like to thin it out with other liquids. In this 5 Minute Low Carb Hot Chocolate Recipe, I use a combination of brewed coffee and water to thin out the cream. If you prefer, you can omit the coffee and use all water. And alternatively, to bump up the coffee flavor, you can use all coffee instead of water.

Ingredients in This 5 Minute Low Carb Hot Chocolate Recipe:

• Heavy whipping cream
• Brewed coffee
• Water
• Unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• Stevia
• Pure vanilla extract
• Salt
• 90% dark chocolate (for garnish)

How to Make Low Carb Hot Chocolate:

This 5 Minute Low Carb Hot Chocolate Recipe is proof that you don’t need a hot cocoa mix to be able to quickly and easily make a cup of hot chocolate! To make this recipe, just mix all ingredients together in a small saucepan and heat it up on the stovetop. Alternatively, you can combine all ingredients in a mug and microwave until warm.

Nutrition Information for This 5 Minute Low Carb Hot Chocolate Recipe:

1 serving of this 5 Minute Low Carb Hot Chocolate Recipe (the whole recipe!) has the following nutrition information:

• 223kcals
• 2g protein
• 22g total fat
• 4g total carbohydrates
• 1g fiber
• 3g net carbs

More Keto Chocolate Recipes:

• Keto Chocolate-Coated Maple Walnut Cheesecake Truffles from An Edible Mosaic
• Keto Chocolate Brownie in a Mug from The Keto Queens
• Keto Chocolate Fudge Haystacks from I Breathe I’m Hungry
• Fudgy Keto Brownie Recipe with Walnuts and Chocolate Frosting from Healthy Sweet Eats

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