I have to be honest with everyone and admit I am super proud of this recipe! It's really delicious and wholesome, like a hug in a mug! The creaminess results due to the perfect addition of cacao butter, and the bitterness of cacao powder ties in really well for the winter. And all thanks to the star of the recipe, peanut butter, this hot beverage really is a winner. It's honestly likea Reese's peanut butter cup in a hot chocolate form, but much healthier for you!
You really need a good quality peanut butter to make this recipe to work. Forget the crappy peanut butters that are loaded with vegetable oils and sugar and are SUPER bad for you, always go for a brand that is 100% peanuts, maybe with the addition of a little salt. I opt for the Mayver's brand; their peanut butter is genuine, pure and locally made in Victoria. What's not to love! For this recipe you could also alternatively use a different nut butter if you don't have any peanut butter on hand; ABC butter makes a super delicious hot chocolate too!
The second trick to this recipe is using a good quality wholefoods hot chocolate powder (I choose Nib + Noble's Sugar Free Organic Drinking Chocolate), or using plain cacao with a little sweetener if you like. I usually also add extras including maca powder (amazing for hormonal balance) and medicinal mushrooms (adaptogens- fantastic for bringing the body back to homeostasis). Add a little bee pollen on top and you're good to go.
Ingredients
1 cup of preferred good-quality milk/mylk (I love Pure Harvest almond mylk)
1 tablespoon of wholefood hot chocolate powder or 1 tablespoon of cacao powder
1 tablespoon of cacao butter or coconut butter
1 tablespoon of peanut butter
Added extras: I usually add 1 teaspoon of maca powder and 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of medicinal mushrooms
Some bee pollen to sprinkle on top
sweetener as needed (stevia, xylitol, maple syrup, honey, rice malt syrup, date etc.)
Method
Heat the milk/mylk in a saucepan over a cook top until it begins to simmer
Add the hot chocolate powder/cacao powder and cacao butter/coconut butter and allow to melt
Add any added extras and take off the heat
Add the peanut butter and using a stick blender or a good-quality blender (that can withstand hear), blend until well combined and creamy
Enjoy topped with some bee pollen if you have some on hand!