Need a homemade instant hot chocolate mix recipe that’s low carb and dairy free? This recipe for sugar free hot cocoa mix is our favorite.
Now that I’ve cut back significantly on coffee, I’ve been looking for another hot beverage to enjoy after work. I have been drinking a lot more tea, but it’s not as satisfying as coffee. That’s why I turned to my other love… chocolate!
I’ll admit that I used to buy the little instant hot chocolate mix pouches sweetened with Splenda. But, artificial sweeteners are something I avoid these days. And, I haven’t found a good all natural alternative.
There was one key requirement I had for making my own homemade instant hot chocolate mix recipe. It had to be capable of making a decent cup of hot cocoa using only hot water. This is because I wanted to keep a jar of it at my desk at work. I don’t always have heavy cream, coconut milk, or almond milk available there.
Most instant hot cocoa mix recipes call for powdered dry milk. Unfortunately, whole milk powder isn’t that low in carbs. That’s why I chose to use powdered coconut milk instead.
I just happened to have a canister of powdered coconut milk in my pantry cabinet. It was purchased to make my own homemade white chocolate. Each tablespoon serving has only 1g carb which is more like 3g carbs per tablespoon.
The other great thing about using coconut milk is that you get the benefits of coconut oil as well. The brand I buy is 65% virgin coconut oil. The fat in coconut milk is much healthier than dairy fat.
Since I love whipped cream, I’ve started making whipped coconut cream. It’s really easy to make if you have a cream whipper.
I just dump the contents from a can of coconut cream into a bowl and whip in some sweetener and vanilla extract. Then I pour it all into the cream whipper and whip it up with the charger. So simple!
Topping hot coffee or chocolate with whipped coconut cream will add the extra benefit of coconut fat in your diet. Although I’ve seen “cocowhip” sold in natural food stores, the brand I saw was not made with coconut cream. And, there was added sugar.
When making a cup of hot cocoa with this homemade instant hot chocolate mix, I always choose to top it off with whipped cream. Sometimes, I’ll use regular cream, but I prefer using the whipped coconut cream. Of course, those who choose a dairy-free diet will always go for the coconut based one!
It also makes a difference with the cocoa that you use. Regular Hershey’s or store brand might be okay in a pinch, but if you want the best taste, go for a higher quality unsweetened cocoa powder. Organic brands are typically the best and this one has an exceptionally rich flavor.
Another thing that really ups the flavor in this homemade instant hot chocolate mix is using Sukrin Gold. The low carb brown sugar substitute really enhances the flavor of the chocolate. I like the taste much better than using only a plain sweetener like Swerve.
With the cold weather upon us, I’ll be sure to keep this yummy hot cocoa mix ready. Once made, you only need three tablespoons of the mix for each cup of hot water. Then, it’s an instant hot chocolate drink!
I do have an older recipe for hot chocolate that was made with heavy cream. You can find that recipe here. However, I think this recipe tastes better and is easier to make.
Do you make your own low carb instant hot cocoa mix? Do you find it more convenient than making a bigger batch in the crock pot or stove?
Low Carb Homemade Instant Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe – Dairy Free
Homemade Instant Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe - Dairy Free
Ingredients
- 3/4 cups coconut milk powder
- 1/2 cup low carb sweetener or powdered sweetener
- 1/2 cup golden low carb sweetener or other low carb brown sugar replacement
- 3/4 cup cocoa
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Mix all ingredient together.
- Store in a covered container.
- To use: Add 3 Tablespoons mix to one cup hot water and stir well.
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Notes
Nutrition
Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
About Lisa
Lisa has been creating low carb recipes for herself and sharing them with others since 2010. She loves to experiment in the kitchen and find new ways to create low sugar foods that taste like high carb favorites! Her recipes have been featured on popular magazine sites including Fitness, Shape, Country Living, Women's Health, and Men's Health. Lisa lives in Southeastern Connecticut. Connect with her and Low Carb Yum at:
Michelle says
Got the taste right but still seems a bit powdery/grainy even once stirred several times.
Lisa MarcAurele says
I like to use a milk frother to smooth it all out in the cup.
Dora says
Excellent recipes
Patrice Fader says
Not a coconut fan at all. Not the flour , milk any thing that tastes like coconut. Where do I turn? I like Almond flour, milk the coconut oil is ok an I will use it I just need ways to avoid the bold flavored coconut products
Lisa says
You can use powdered MCT oil which doesn’t have the coconut flavor.
Catherine Lierley says
Where do you find coconut milk powder? Amazon Walmart and Krogers do not carry it. Thank you
Lisa says
I bought this one off Amazon.
Megan Mosley says
This recipe says that 1 serving is 5g net carbs. Is this correct? I LOVE hot chocolate, but that’s 1/4 of my daily carb intake so it seems more like a treat rather than a daily thing.
Also, the bulletproof coffee is said to keep alot of ketoers full until dinner time, sometimes longer due to all the fats in it. In your opinion do you think that this recipe might do the same? If so, then 5g net carbs isn’t so bad if it saves me from eating lunch.
Thanks!
Lisa says
I find it filling, but adding coconut oil into it might fill you up longer. There is quite a bit of coconut oil in it already. You may want to stick to coffee with fat to lower carb count.
Joni says
Chocolate rich and coconut cream goodness. Thank you.
Lisa says
And, it’s super convenient at the office!
txgrandma says
I would love to try this but have found that maltodextrin (which seems to be in of all the powdered coconut milks) is very high glycemic and does raise my blood sugar and so will have to try another version of hot cocoa without it. It looks delicious and I love your recipes!
Lisa says
The brand of coconut milk powder I use does not contain that, but it is on the expensive side.
txgrandma says
Thanks for taking the time to address this.
I went to the link for the EnerHealth brand that is linked above and if you check out the questions section, there is a list of the ingredients (since it’s not pictured) and maltodextrin is one of them. If you aren’t watching your blood sugar, it might not matter but those of us who have issues, this is a well known item to cause blood sugar spikes even in small amounts. I then checked out other powdered coconut milks and found that they all have this ingredient as do many other sugar free items. I would be happy to pay more for a product that doesn’t include this but it doesn’t seem to exist at least in my research.
I love your recipes and find many great ones here. I am going to try the other hot chocolate recipe as I do have some chocolate extract in the pantry. Thanks for the hard work!
Lisa says
I have a jar of the EnerHealth and the amount of maltodextrin is only 0.25% which is very tiny. This amount is not enough to have an effect on blood sugar. One rounded tablespoon of the powder has only 0.7g of sugar which is mainly from the coconut sugar in the coconut milk. It’s added to help keep the powder from clumping since it contains 65% virgin coconut oil.
Kathy says
I have a question about your other hot cocoa recipe made with heavy cream on the stove. It calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, which has almost 8 carbs…do you not count those carbs?
Lisa says
It’s more like 6g per cup depending on the cream used. Those carbs do need to be counted which is why I usually use half cream and half water.
Nanci says
Your sukrin gold link goes to cacao powder. :~)
Lisa says
Thanks Nanci. Fixed!
allison Gismondi says
Oh I happen to have coconut milk powder. I have to try this
Lisa says
I love it, especially with whipped cream or coconut cream on top to make it extra creamy.