Protein Hot Chocolate (Healthy Mix Recipe)
Easy recipe for a creamy, dreamy, protein hot chocolate. Includes a recipe for the dry mix and how to prepare each serving.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 64kcal
Ingredients
For the dry hot chocolate mix:
- 1 cup chocolate whey protein powder 90g
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 32g
- 8 mini scoops stevia powder or sweetener to taste
For one serving prepared hot chocolate:
- 6 oz milk, any kind
Instructions
To prepare the dry mix:
- Add protein powder and sweetener to a bowl. Mix to combine.
- Sift the cocoa powder into the bowl using a flour sifter or fine mesh strainer.
- Mix the ingredients well.
- Spoon mix into a jar or food storage container.
To prepare one serving:
- Microwave the milk for one minute (for a 1000 watt microwave, adjust the time for other wattages) or heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Measure two rounded tablespoons of mix, and stir into your warm milk. Give it a good stir. Use a milk frother for best results. If there are any clumps of powder remaining, let it sit for a couple of minutes and then stir again.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Substitutions
If you want to go with vegan protein powder in this recipe, choose pea protein or a pea protein blend.
Any kind of milk will work here, but keep in mind that something thin like skim milk will give you thin hot chocolate. Creamy milks work the best. I love full fat oat milk in this recipe.
No milk? Just use hot water. It won’t be as creamy, but you’ll still get all the warm feels of drinking healthy hot chocolate.
If you're using cacao powder in place of the cocoa powder, you may need extra protein powder to balance the taste. Cacao can have a stronger, more bitter flavor than cocoa powder.
Variations
Lots of different ways to enjoy this healthy protein cocoa mix!
Caramel protein hot chocolate - (Ad) Add a tablespoon of Naked Collagen Creamer in Caramel as you prepare a cup of protein hot chocolate. Or add ½ cup of the collagen creamer as you prepare the dry mix for 8 servings. So yummy! (Here is the Amazon link: Caramel Naked Collagen Creamer.)
DIY Dunkaccino - Instead of using milk, add the mix to your morning cup of coffee! First prepare your coffee with whatever milk or creamer you prefer, then add a couple of spoonfuls of protein hot chocolate mix. YUM. (btw if you haven't seen this Al Pacino Dunkaccino commercial, click to watch it. You're welcome.)
Mexican hot chocolate -spice it up! Prepare the hot cocoa with milk as above, then mix in dashes of ground cinnamon and chili powder.
If you prefer a liquid sweetener (hello maple syrup!), omit the sweetener from the dry mix and just add sweetener when you prepare the hot chocolate to drink.
To keep it low calorie and low carb, opt for an unsweetened plant-based milk like almond milk or coconut milk.
For a post-workout hot drink with higher carbohydrate counts, use coconut sugar or brown sugar in place of the stevia.
Storage
Keep the dry mix in an airtight container in your pantry. I use a jar, but a meal prep container will also work!
Top Tips
If you don’t like your protein powder as a shake, you’re not going to like it in protein hot chocolate, either. We’re not adding enough ingredients to mask any unpleasant flavors. I love this chocolate whey powder in this recipe.
This recipe will taste the best and have the smoothest mouthfeel with whey protein.
Use a milk frother for the easiest mixing!Nutrition
Serving: 2rounded tablespoons mix | Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 1g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g