(Paleo) Rich ‘n Creamy Hot Chocolate

Is it too early for hot chocolate?

The answer is who cares, hot chocolate is forever.

OK, OK, OK...I know it's still summer. Hot, humid, sweaty, smelly, glorious summer — with temperatures sitting firmly planted near the triple digits.
But I woke up last Saturday morning and needed hot chocolate.
If I crave something, I make it, and eat it (or drink it in this case). It.Just.Has.To.Happen.

Here is how mom taught me to make hot chocolate: heat some milk in a saucepan, add a bit of cocoa and sugar and whisk. Whisk for dear life.
But no matter how much I whisk, lumps form every single time.
Try again. This time sifting cocoa and whisking slowly.
Heat mixture until warm and drink merrily, all the while trying to ignore the floating islands of partially stirred cocoa that dissolve in my mouth in unpleasant lumps of powder.

But then came this thing called the caveman diet, and I learned that you can use coconut milk as a dairy-free option and get a great, creamy texture. I also learned that dark chocolate is not only OK to eat, but it’s the king of Paleo indulgences.
When you combine the richness of coconut milk with dark chocolate you’re in for a really good, and really decadent hot chocolate with no lumps. Say what?

This (Paleo) Rich ‘n Creamy Hot Chocolate is so indulgent a little cup goes a long way.
It’s also a breeze to make and you can think of it as a blank canvas.
Add more chocolate if you like it extra chocolaty, or a couple of drops peppermint extract for a peppermint hot chocolate, some pumpkin spice for a pumpkin spice hot chocolate, and similarly for cinnamon.
It’s full of good fats from the coconut milk and antioxidants from the high-quality dark chocolate - for once you can have hot chocolate and not feel guilty about it.

And then, well, I probably should pretend this heaping pile of mini marshmallows was for 7-year old Niece. Because only 7-year old Niece would so shamelessly use a cup of rich and creamy hot chocolate as a vehicle for marshmallow consumption, right?
But we all know the truth.
The truth is I also made homemade (paleo) marshmallow and I couldn’t wait to show ‘em to you.
This is the truth.
What were you thinking?

(Paleo) Rich ‘n Creamy Hot Chocolate                                                      Print this recipe!

Ingredients
Serves 4

1 can (13.5oz) can full fat coconut milk
1.5 oz / 42 gr good quality dark chocolate, chopped
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of fine grain sea salt

Directions

In a saucepan over medium heat the coconut milk until it starts to simmer, don't let it boil though. Simmer on low for about 8 to 10 minutes until it starts to thicken.
Add in the chocolate, vanilla extract, and salt, and stir until fully melted.
Serve hot!

Nutrition facts

One serving yields 214 calories, 21 grams of fat, 8 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of protein.