Is this healthier than regular hot chocolate?

In short, yes. It's not a healthy drink per se but it's only sweetened with a small amount of maple syrup instead of regular sugar and if you skip the coconut whipped cream, you know exactly how much sugar goes in!

Does peppermint hot chocolate have caffeine?

Very small amounts, but yes, the recipe uses raw cacao powder which naturally contains caffeine. All cacao has caffeine so if you're trying to avoid it, I recommend using carob powder instead.

Where can I find vegan whipped cream?

The one I use is made with coconut milk and I got it at Wholefoods. I'd look at a health food store near you that usually carries healthier or vegan products.

Vegan Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Description

A delicious cup of warming creamy hot chocolate with vegan whipped cream and crushed candy cane.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup almond milk (sub cashew or oat milk)
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp raw cacao powder
1 tbsp dark chocolate chips
¼ tsp peppermint extract
vegan whipped cream (optional, for serving)
1 candy cane, crushed or chopped (optional, for serving)

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Instructions

Pour the almond milk into a small pot and bring to a soft boil over medium-high heat. As soon as it begins to boil, take it off the heat. Add the maple syrup, cacao powder, chocolate chips, and peppermint extract. Whisk or stir until it’s all combined and the chocolate chips are melted.
Bring back to a simmer for 1 minute. This will thicken it slightly. Take off heat and use a handheld milk frother to froth the hot chocolate. Alternatively, you can pour it into a blender and blend for a few seconds to froth (be very careful as it’s very hot).
Pour into a cup, top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Crushed candy cane: Place your candy canes in a ziplock bag and close letting all the air out. Place it on a wooden cutting board and carefully crush it using a kitchen mallet or a small hammer. Be careful, it doesn't take much strength to do this.

Substitutes for maple syrup: coconut sugar, date sugar, agave, stevia, or erythritol

Other optional toppings: vegan marshmallows, cinnamon, chocolate sauce, or whipped cream with chocolate shavings

Keywords: hot chocolate, christmas, hot drink