Homemade Keto Hot Cocoa Mix
A jar of rich, sugar-free cocoa mix with finely chopped chocolate, ready to whisk into hot almond milk for a creamy mug in two minutes. It keeps for months in the pantry and makes a lovely gift.
Nutrition per serving
1 mug (3 tbsp mix + 1 cup milk)- Net carbs
- 5.6g
- Calories
- 177kcal
- Protein
- 3.5g
- Fat
- 16g
- Total carbs
- 22 g
- Fiber
- 4.4 g
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient (optional ingredients excluded). Brands vary — check your labels if you track closely.
Ingredients
Dairy-free & nut-free: Carton coconut milk and canned coconut milk make each mug creamy without dairy or nuts. Check that your chocolate chips are dairy-free.
- Heat the two coconut milks together and whisk in the mix as directed. Canned coconut milk can separate if it boils, so keep it at a gentle steam.
High-protein (with whey): Unflavored whey whisked into the mix adds about 12 g of protein per mug, so a cup of cocoa can stand in for a light breakfast.
- Whisk the whey into the dry mix. Use about 5 tablespoons of mix per mug, and whisk it into the milk once it is warm rather than steaming, because whey can clump in very hot liquid.
Mocha: Hot coffee replaces the almond milk for a quick, sugar-free mocha, and the cream keeps it smooth.
- Whisk 3 tablespoons of the mix and 2 tablespoons of cream into a cup of hot coffee until the chocolate melts.
- Cocoa mix (about 2¼ cups)
- To make the mugs
- Cocoa mix (about 2¼ cups)
- To make the mugs
- Cocoa mix (about 2¼ cups)
- To make the mugs
- Also add
- Cocoa mix (about 2¼ cups)
- To make the mugs
Estimated cost $14.51 for 12 servings ($1.21 each) · how we estimate
Instructions
-
Sift the cocoa powder and powdered sweetener into a bowl to break up any lumps, then whisk in the chopped chocolate and salt until evenly mixed.
-
Spoon into a clean, dry jar with a tight lid. It makes about 2¼ cups, enough for 12 mugs.
-
To make one mug, heat 1 cup of almond milk and 2 tablespoons of cream in a small saucepan (or in a large mug in the microwave, about 2 minutes) until steaming but not boiling.
-
Whisk in 3 heaping tablespoons of the mix and keep whisking about 30 seconds, until the chocolate melts and the cocoa dissolves. Froth it with a handheld frother for a café-style top, if you like.
Tips for success
-
Use powdered sweetener, not granulated, so it dissolves instantly in the hot milk instead of sitting gritty at the bottom of the mug. - Shake or stir the jar before each use, because the chopped chocolate settles to the bottom.
- For a richer, from-scratch stovetop version, try our rich keto hot chocolate.
Nice to have, not needed
- A handheld frother dissolves the mix quickly and gives a foamy top — a small whisk works fine.
- A swirl of whipped cream or a few sugar-free marshmallows make it feel like a treat — not needed.
Storage & meal prepMeal-prep friendly
- Keeps 3 days in the fridge
- Doesn’t freeze well
Reheat: Rewarm made cocoa gently over low heat, whisking. The dry mix keeps 6 months in a sealed jar at room temperature.
Prep tip: Fill small jars with the mix for gifts and tie the mug directions to the lid.
Store the dry mix in an airtight jar at room temperature up to 6 months. Refrigerate leftover made cocoa up to 3 days.
Variations
3 variations, each with its own ingredients and macrosDairy-free & nut-free
DietCarton coconut milk and canned coconut milk make each mug creamy without dairy or nuts. Check that your chocolate chips are dairy-free.
- unsweetened almond milk → unsweetened coconut milk (carton)
- heavy cream → full-fat canned coconut milk
4 g net · 143 kcal · 2.3 g protein · 14 g fat · ≈$1.11 per serving (−1.6 g net carbs vs the original)
High-protein (with whey)
FlavorUnflavored whey whisked into the mix adds about 12 g of protein per mug, so a cup of cocoa can stand in for a light breakfast.
- + 6 scoops unflavored whey protein isolate
6.1 g net · 233 kcal · 16 g protein · 16 g fat · ≈$1.74 per serving (+0.5 g net carbs vs the original)
Mocha
SwapHot coffee replaces the almond milk for a quick, sugar-free mocha, and the cream keeps it smooth.
- unsweetened almond milk → hot brewed coffee
3 g net · 143 kcal · 2.9 g protein · 14 g fat · ≈$1.06 per serving (−2.6 g net carbs vs the original)
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Pin this recipe to your keto board so it’s there when you plan next week.
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