Coconut Whipped Cream Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate With Coconut Whipped Cream
Oh yes, it is the perfect time of the year for hot chocolate! I love hot chocolate so much, especially the healthy version I make… and the holiday season simply doesn’t feel like the holiday season without a cup of hot chocolate! I just love snuggling by the fire with my dogs, wrapped up in a blanket and wonderfully tasting and sipping a nice, warm cup of hot chocolate.
Hot chocolate brings on a lot of memories from my childhood… family traditions and the warmth of my home. Winter in Poland could be really cold, but I remember that I used to play outside all the time. I was the kind of child who couldn’t sit still and wanted to be outdoors pretty much all the time. I always knew, though, that when I came back in, a piping-hot mug of hot chocolate would be waiting for me! It was such a great treat!
Of course, this healthy hot chocolate, in particular, wasn’t the healthiest recipe in the world, but it sure did taste delicious! I came up with a more robust version (and a great recipe!) that is both nostalgic and yummy!
I can hear you asking why I suggest drinking hot chocolate. My clients are always surprised when I recommend doing so. I suggest a square of chocolate or decadent hot chocolate as a treat. I only use raw cacao, which is the purest cacao you can consume. It is less processed than the cacao you can buy in the regular store.
‘Cocoa’ is the term used to refer to the ‘heated form’ of cacao – the kind you likely grew up buying at the store, in the form of cocoa powder. Cacao contains high levels of antioxidants (it is the best source of flavonoids), which support anti-aging. Cacao contains high levels of magnesium, which helps us with hormone balance, stress relief, and sleep. High-flavanol cacao can help reduce stress, aid in insulin control and increase endorphins, our ‘feel-good’ hormones.
Cacao is rich in fiber, protein and natural carbohydrates. It is cholesterol-free and contains monounsaturated fats and minerals (including iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, copper, calcium and manganese). Chocolate, in its raw form, is the most delicious food on earth (in my humble opinion!)
I know that cravings have a bad reputation, but they are telling you what your body needs. Women usually crave chocolate a week before their period, because their levels of iron and magnesium drop rapidly. Your body is so smart and it knows that it needs more iron and magnesium, so it craves it in the form of chocolate (Thank you, body!) Every time I crave something I know I must be missing those nutrients from my diet. Listen to your body, it will always tell you what you need.
We always feel good after eating chocolate. That is all because chocolate contains anandamide, which is a neurotransmitter that elevates your mood. Eating chocolate before your period serves as an antidepressant and improves your mood (uhm, yes please!) Chocolate contains phytochemicals such as flavonoids, which are compound
substances produced by plants and beneficial to human health. Isoflavones, called phytoestrogens, are similar to estrogen. Consuming chocolate can boost your estrogen levels… so that will be helpful if you have an estrogen deficiency, especially during menopause.
Don’t feel guilty about chocolate. It is one of the healthiest desserts you can have! Just make sure that it doesn’t have a lot of sugar… and remember, the darker the chocolate, the better it is for you!
Enjoy and let’s chat… I can help you balance your hormones so you will feel energetic and vibrant!
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Ingredients
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 2 tbsp unsweetened raw cacao powder
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 can (14 oz.) chilled coconut cream
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar
Instructions
- Heat milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in cocoa and vanilla, until well combined. Pour into a mug and voila!
- Chill the can of coconut cream in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours beforehand.
That is the only way the coconut cream can be ‘whipped’. Take the coconut cream
from the refrigerator, transfer to a medium bowl and whisk with an electric mixer.
Add coconut sugar and stir everything together.