{"id":1737,"date":"2018-12-23T16:06:42","date_gmt":"2018-12-23T16:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.milehighmitts.com\/?p=1737"},"modified":"2022-12-02T19:42:43","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T19:42:43","slug":"peppermint-hot-cocoa-dairy-free-refined-sugar-free-vegan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.milehighmitts.com\/peppermint-hot-cocoa-dairy-free-refined-sugar-free-vegan\/","title":{"rendered":"Peppermint Hot Cocoa (dairy-free, refined sugar-free, vegan)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Homemade Hot Cocoa is made simple and healthier with almond milk, cocoa powder and maple syrup, for a dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and vegan treat<\/em><\/strong>. Add a little peppermint essential oil or peppermint extract for an extra delicious addition!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Did you know that you can make hot cocoa, from scratch, without a store bought packet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not only can you make it yourself, BUT it’s also almost just as easy as using those store bought packets are<\/em><\/strong>. I kid you not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love making homemade versions of everything I can<\/strong> – from jams and jellies, nut butters, muffins and cookies, to hot cocoa. It saves me money and is often healthier made that way, so if I have the tools and the time available then I’m all about healthier homemade alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making everything homemade is something that I was raised on – and even though my Mom didn’t always necessarily make a healthier<\/em> homemade alternative to something, it was homemade nonetheless. Let’s just say, I was raised in the era where corn syrup and cream of chicken were plenty… ya feel me?<\/strong><\/em> \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needless to say, she still made homemade breakfast every week and made dinner every night. My parents didn’t have money to buy takeout, so saving money by making everything at home was the only option at the time. Even though she didn’t always make every recipe healthier, she taught me the value of making things from scratch, and we’ve both learned over time how much healthier you can make things yourself as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Peppermint<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Have you looked at the ingredients lately at the store bought hot cocoa packets?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I hate to be an ingredient snob<\/em>, because sometimes there are no better alternatives, and I would rather have my kids drinking a store bought packet of hot cocoa than have them never ever<\/em> drinking hot cocoa. I love hot cocoa and it’s most definitely a family tradition!<\/strong> However, I also like to educate myself about what food we’re putting into our bodies<\/strong><\/em> and what that food can and can’t do for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, lo and behold, the first two ingredients in my beloved store bought hot cocoa packets? Sugar and corn syrup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, to put this in perspective, one hot cocoa packet is small AND it’s also a treat<\/em>, so you shouldn’t be consuming hot cocoa daily. In my book, a packet of hot cocoa isn’t a deal breaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you can make a simple change, to make something a little healthier, cheaper and homemade, would you?<\/strong> Good, that’s how I feel too! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve traded the sugar, corn syrup and a couple other weird ingredients for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n