Mexican Hot Chocolate: your guiltless winter beverage

Picture this: you're sitting by the fireplace (or by the computer, pretending a YouTube video of one is real... #collegelife) on a cold winter night. You're sipping on a mug of Mexican hot chocolate— spicy, sweet... sugar-free and nutritious. You read that right. A warm cup of guilt-free deliciousness. This chocolaty beverage could be in your hands in just a matter of minutes, sending an indulgent sizzle from your tastebuds down to your belly.

To turn this inviting thought into a feasible reality, you'll need:

- 1 cup skim milk (you could also try out a dairy-free milk, such as soy or almond)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 packet stevia
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of cinnamon
- A pinch of cayenne powder (I recommend using a very small pinch to start; you can always add more after a taste test if you'd like a spicier flavor. If you don't like spicy foods, you can always omit the cayenne to make regular hot cocoa.)

Pour the milk into a medium-sized pot and set the stove to medium-low heat. Begin adding the cocoa powder into the pot, adding a little at a time and stirring slowly as you go to avoid clumping. Then add the remaining ingredients into the pot, continuing to stir until all is clump-free. Once ready, pour into a mug and enjoy!




For the original recipe and a few other healthy hot cocoa concoctions from Mother Nature Network, click the link here!