Healthy Hot Chocolate Exists And We Have The Recipe

Our cravings for all things sweet tend to multiply during the holidays. And who can blame us? Our favorite pies, cookies, and warm drinks come out to play and we go along for the ride.

Click here for 10 Surprising Health Benefits of Hot Chocolate slideshow.

If you are adventurous when it comes to healthy food, you know that unhealthy dishes can always be modified to be healthier through eliminating bad ingredients, swapping unhealthy ingredients with healthy ingredients, and adding a touch of nutritious ingredients. The good news is that when you modify your hot chocolate, you won't be taking out the chocolate. After all, dark chocolate is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods out there.

For a healthy spin on this classic recipe, we put our brains and taste buds to the test. We combined one cup of almond milk, 3 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon raw sugar, a generous sprinkle of cinnamon, and half teaspoon of vanilla extract to make the most delicious and frothy hot chocolate.

Start by warming up the milk and the vanilla extract on the stove. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl. Once the milk is hot (but not boiling), add in the rest of the ingredients. You can garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and you will never go back to boxed hot chocolate again.

The accompanying slideshow is provided by special contributor Jess Novak.