Protein hot chocolate!! There is no denying that a cup of hot chocolate is one of the ultimate cozy drinks come cooler temps. It just hits the spot and feels so homey.
But this hot chocolate recipe is next level. Not only are we adding some protein, but it is ridiculously creamy thanks to a secret ingredient.
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If you have followed me for some time, you know I love blending cashews into sauces, soups, and drinks to make them extra thick and creamy. Their taste is so neutral that you don’t even know they are there, but it creates the best texture.
This healthy hot chocolate takes about 5 minutes to make. Simply heat the mixture on the stovetop so everything softens, and then blend. It’s thick and creamy, packed with protein, lower in sugar, and has some healthy fats.
I opted to use collagen as it blends so well, but most protein powders will work!
Why you’ll love this protein hot chocolate recipe
- a healthy take on a classic treat
- packed with 17 grams of protein!
- SO CREAMY – thanks to blending cashews with our milk, the result is a thick and creamy texture you will love!
- macro-balanced and full of micronutrients – it has a good ratio of carbohydrates, protein, and fat for balanced blood sugar, and to avoid those spikes and crashes that classic hot chocolate can do. It also is full of calcium, copper, manganese, and magnesium.
- customize it to your liking – adjust the ingredients or amounts to fit your nutrition goals.
Is hot chocolate healthy?
Hot chocolate can be loaded with a lot of sugar, carbs, and fat due to the amount of sweetener and liquid used. Hot chocolate mixes can also be full of artificial preservatives and unnecessary ingredients. Of course, they can be enjoyed in moderation, but something to think about if you have specific goals.
But this protein hot chocolate recipe makes a delicious healthy addition to one’s diet! We are naturally sweetening it with a medjool date and adding protein powder and healthy fats to make sure it doesn’t spike your blood sugar.
When making it at home, you have full control over what ingredients you are using.
What is collagen?
Collagen is a very important building block in our bodies. It’s the most abundant protein and is found in bones, muscles, tendons, skin, the digestive system, and blood vessels. It’s also found in hair, and nails, Collagen is basically the “glue” that helps hold the body together.
Unfortunately, as we age, the production of collagen starts to slow down. Supplementing with collagen can help improve your body’s collagen levels. It dissolves in just about anything, the flavor is tasteless (you can buy flavored though), and is easily digested, making it easy to add to your diet.
Look for a high-quality source. I like ones from grass-fed and pasture-raised cows.
High-protein hot chocolate ingredients
- milk – your favorite kind of milk works
- raw cashews – blended to make this hot cocoa SO creamy!
- medjool date – for a little sweetness
- cocoa powder
- cinnamon
- collagen – I’m using chocolate flavored, but unflavored works great too
- salt – to help bring out the flavors
How to make protein hot chocolate
- Add milk, cashews, date, cocoa powder, and cinnamon in a small pot over medium heat. Whisk to combine and let it come to a boil, about 5 minutes.
- Blend. Add mixture to a Vitamix or high-powered blender, along with collagen and salt, and blend until smooth.
- Enjoy! Pour into your favorite mug, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
Best protein powder for hot chocolate
This protein hot cocoa is quite versatile. You can use your favorite protein powder. Here are the pros and cons of each.
- collagen – this is my favorite to use as it dissolves so easily and doesn’t change the texture.
- whey protein powder – whey is another great option to use as it mixes pretty easily in most liquids, especially when using a blender.
- vegan protein powder – in my experience, plant-based protein powders seem to be a little heavier/thicker. Due to that, it makes the hot chocolate a little thicker and sometimes grainy depending on the brand. Feel free to use one if that is your preference, just know it could change the texture some.
Depending on the brand/flavor and sweetness level of your protein powder, it can alter the taste a little. You can use chocolate-flavored, unflavored, or whatever flavor you like.
Substitutions and additions
- milk – any kind of milk will work. Try dairy milk or dairy-free like unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, or or favorite kind. Changing the milk will change the nutrition breakdown.
- raw cashews – almonds or macadamia nuts will work instead. If you don’t have nuts, you can use nut butter. If not using whole nuts, you can add the nut butter when you blend the hot chocolate.
- medjool date – if you don’t have dates, you can use your sweetener of choice. Honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar will work. If not using a date, you can add the sweetener when you blend the hot chocolate.
- cocoa powder – cacao powder will also work.
- cinnamon – leave it out if you don’t like cinnamon.
- collagen – another protein powder will work. See the above section for reference on different kinds.
Here are some additions you can add:
- vanilla extract
- peppermint extract
- spices – nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
More healthy drink recipes
- best golden milk latte
- peanut butter frosty
- coffee protein smoothie
- pumpkin pie milkshake
- chunky monkey protein shake
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Protein Hot Chocolate
equipment
- small saucepan
ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons raw cashews (16 grams)
- 1 small-medium medjool date (15 grams)
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1-2 scoops chocolate protein powder (I used chocolate collagen)
- pinch of sea salt
- optional toppings: whipped cream, marshmallows, cinnamon…
instructions
- Add milk, cashews, date, cocoa, and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine and let it come to a boil, about 5 minutes.
- Blend. Add mixture to a Vitamix or high-powered blender, along with protein powder and salt, and blend until smooth.
- Enjoy! Pour into your favorite mug, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
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We made this for a group of friends after a dinner party and it was such a hit!!! It is the perfect creamy, while not being overly sweet. It was quick, easy and impressive for the guests 🤣!!! Can’t wait to make it again.
Yay! So glad everyone enjoyed it! Thanks Lacey!
This blog about Collagen Hot Chocolate (Paleo/Dairy Free) + Benefits of Collagen has helped me
a lot, is very well written. I used this fat burner product:
https://s96.me/fit and I reached the ideal weight. Kiss you All!
Glad you enjoyed it Bethel!
Hi Kelly, You are remarkable and I am guessing can advise me of how to use Collagen for an evening beverage with out the chocolate. (caffeine-yikes). I want all the benefits, plus learned it can aid in sleep due to glycine. I’d love to use your recipe and not use the cacao, hey I’ll start with that idea. diane
Hi Diane! Thank you for the kind words and glad you are enjoying the content. I would suggest using raw cacao powder and while it does have a little caffeine, it’s not too much (about 12mg per tablespoon). Cacao is a more pure form of chocolate as opposed to processed cocoa. You could also do more cinnamon or a bunch of warming spices (chia spices would be so good) for a spin instead of the chocolate. Hope that helps!
What a great alternative to hot chocolate, when avoiding milk. I love nut milks, but crave the creaminess of something like this. I live in a cold climate year round, and hot chocolate therefore is good anytime! Thank you for sharing!
Yes, the cashews really add to the creaminess! So glad you liked it Millican and thanks for trying it!
This is delicious! I’ve been wondering how I could make/get a good clean hot chocolate recipe, and this hit the spot! I didn’t have any cashew on hand, so I used a splash of Nutpods Hazelnut Coffee Creamer instead. I also added another date because I wanted a bit more sweetness. I’d recommend giving this a try!
Love that addition Katrina! Thanks so much for trying it out!
This is delicious! I’ve done 6 whole30’s and as a non coffee drinker, I struggle. I literally only drink some form of water for 30 days. This has changed whole30 for me!
The cashews make it so so creamy! So glad you liked it Cait!
WOW! This article really useful for me. I confused for choosing the weekend recipes information what would be the best for everything. But review this article my confusion has cleared. Thanks a lot for sharing such an informative article about “how to make collagen hot chocolate” and I’m sure most people can take notes from this article. One thing most people lack experience while aware of weekend recipes. Well, this post will give me much good ideas for healthy chocolate recipes. Thanks Kelly and keep it up…….
This recipe is AMAZING! I’ve been craving hot chocolate but couldn’t bring myself to drink the store bought kind. I made this with macadamia nut milk and it is sooo good. This by far the best and easiest hot chocolate recipe I’ve tried.
Yay! So glad you liked it Katie and I love that you used macadamia nut milk!!