This simple turmeric hot chocolate is so bold in flavor and makes for the perfect healthy cozy drink to enjoy on a chilly day. Both the raw cacao powder and turmeric powder bring a boost of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to a classic hot chocolate recipe, plus make your warm drink so much more flavorful. We are obsessed with it!
I am so happy to share this anti-inflammatory hot drink with you guys!
This recipe has such a fun healthy twist on a regular vegan hot chocolate recipe that I hope you will love it too! It is perfect for when you feel like a chocolate treat, but want to get extra nutrients. And it is so tasty!
But what makes it so healthy? It uses raw cacao powder instead of processed chocolate products for a strong dark chocolate taste without any added refined sugar. Plus, it includes some turmeric powder for maximum flavor and a boost in antioxidants.
You can call this recipe "golden milk hot chocolate" or "turmeric cacao latte" too: it really tastes like a hot chocolate with deep cacao flavors and a super creamy consistency.
The harmony of flavors are so on point. Testing this recipe actually made me discover how much chocolate + turmeric = ❤️. They pair so well together! The subtle spiced turmeric hint balances the sweet chocolatey flavor such in a great way. The turmeric leaves the flavor focus to the intense chocolate, but adds a deeper peppery and earthy touch that makes it more unique and interesting.
Plus, look at that beautiful yellow hue. My husband was in awe and drank the whole thing within 2 minutes wondering what made this hot chocolate drink so good. I will definitely be making more of that recipe, probably double or triple batch to have extra, we loved it so much!
Makes for a perfect cozy drink to enjoy on a chilly day that your whole family will love, kids and adults!
Hope you give it a try!
What's to love about this recipe
- Perfect single-portion warm cozy drink
- Great alternative to coffee for an afternoon pick me up warm drink
- Healthy and loaded with valuable antioxidants to help you fight various diseases
- Bold in flavors with prominent dark chocolate taste followed with a background of turmeric spice
- Dairy-free & vegan
- Amazing recipe if you are looking for a healthier drink or want to include more turmeric in your diet
Turmeric hot chocolate health benefits
Turmeric contains an active compound called curcumin. Curcumin is responsible for the typical turmeric yellow color and has been proven to have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and to act as a strong antioxidant as well.
Curcumin is fat soluble, meaning that it is more easily absorbed and available if dissolved in some fats. This is why I recommended to add a little coconut oil to this hot chocolate recipe.
Also, the piperin found in black pepper dramatically enhances curcumin bioavailability, which is also the reason why ground black pepper is included in this recipe. It also adds a nice peppery flavor!
But that's not all! Raw cacao powder provides the amazing dark chocolate flavor, but also, it is super good-for-you! Don't mistake with cocoa powder though, which is more processed than cacao powder which results in loss of important nutrients. Raw cacao powder is loaded with flavonoids that act as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory as well.
Ingredients you'll need
- Plant-based milk: I used Whole Not Milk to make this recipe, but simply use your favorite kind of milk. I also love using oat milk for warm drinks as it gets nice and creamy. A vanilla-flavored milk would also work well.
- Raw cacao powder: cocoa powder would also work to make this recipe, although raw cacao powder is less processed and has a stronger chocolate flavor that we prefer.
- Turmeric powder: you can add as much as you can handle, but for us, ½ teaspoon is the perfect amount so the peppery flavor does not overpower the whole drink and our kids still love it.
- Sweetener: I used maple syrup, but you can definitely use any kind of sweetener, even granulated sugar.
- Coconut oil: brings a little fat that will help the turmeric be absorbed in your blood stream. I also love how the coconut oil help creates that velvety consistency.
- Ground black pepper: to enhance the absorption of turmeric as well.
How to make it
This recipe is SO simple and should be all done within 5 minutes!
Combine
In a small sauce pan, add the milk, cacao powder, turmeric powder, vanilla extract, sweetener, black pepper and coconut oil.
You will need to whisk well to break all the raw cacao clumps, which can take 1-2 minutes, so take your time.
Warm up
Warm up the mixture on medium heat and keep whisking often. Don't boil the flavored milk but instead, simply warm up the drink until steamy and very hot.
Remove from the heat, pour in a large cup and enjoy right away.
Watch how to make it
Tips
- Be careful when warming up the milk on the stove as it can curdle or stick to the bottom/sides. So, make sure to whisk very often and turn down the heat to prevent the milk from cooking.
- Also, milk will overflow quickly if you don't watch carefully!
- The raw cacao powder tends to clump easily once added to the milk. You will have to whisk very well to break them all. You could use a small colander, like the one that I use to make a matcha latte, to sift the cacao in the milk and limit the clumps.
Modifications
You can easily adjust the flavor of your hot drink depending on your taste, this hot chocolate is so versatile!
Add a pinch of cinnamon for a spiced recipe, which would pair so well with the turmeric.
Also, add some cayenne pepper for a warming hot drink. Just a little bit goes a long way! Perfect on a cold day to warm you up.
Feel free to swap the sweetener as well. I love maple syrup in drinks for its flavor, but also as a liquid sweetener it dissolves so easily. In this recipe, because we are warming up the milk, you could also use granulated sugar and stir well until all dissolved.
As a side note, I used regular plant-based milk (Not Milk brand), but if you want your drink to be super creamy and more rich, then you can swap for coconut milk as well. Use the one in the fridge section in a carton opposed to canned coconut milk, though. Coconut milk has more fat too, which would help the turmeric absorb better.
More warm drinks you might like
- Matcha chai latte
- Butterfly pea flower latte
- Lemongrass ginger tea with lemon
- Vanilla matcha latte
- Lavender milk tea
- Pink latte
- Oat milk hot chocolate
Try these turmeric recipes next
- Turmeric vegetable fried rice
- Turmeric bread
- Vegan egg bites
- Ginger turmeric healthy shots
- Turmeric oatmeal
- Aubergine curry with cauliflower
- Breakfast sandwich
- Vegan powdered mac and cheese
- Vegan lemon pie
I hope you like this turmeric hot chocolate as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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Turmeric Hot Chocolate (Dairy-Free)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups plant-based milk
- 2 tbsp raw cacao powder
- ½ tsp turmeric powder - or more
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp sweetener of your choice - I used maple syrup
- 1 tsp refined coconut oil - helps absorb the turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper - helps absorb the turmeric
Instructions
- Pour the milk into a small sauce pan and add the cacao powder, turmeric powder, vanilla extract, sweetener, coconut oil and ground black pepper.
- Whisk well to break all the cacao clumps and turn on the heat to medium. Keep whisking until the mixture becomes steamy hot, but not bubbly. Careful, it overflows quickly!
Video
Notes
- Keep the heat not too high while warming up the hot chocolate or the milk can cook or curdle and get stuck to the bottom easily.
- You can add some cinnamon and/or cayenne pepper for an extra spiced version. You can also use coconut milk (not the can) for a creamier recipe.
Pin it for later!
Can you use water instead of milk?
Hi Andrea, that's a good question, I haven't thought of that. I think water would work, although the texture will be less creamy. Let me know if you try it! 🙂