Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup bone broth (beef preferred)
- 3/4 cup milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Put the cocoa powder and maple syrup (or honey) in a small saucepan. Whisk them together into a thick paste. This takes about 30 seconds and should look like a smooth chocolate paste with no dry powder visible.
- Add about 2 tablespoons of the milk to the cocoa paste and whisk until smooth. This creates a slurry that prevents lumps when you add the rest of the liquid.
- Pour in the remaining milk and the bone broth. Whisk everything together until fully combined.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until it’s steaming hot but not boiling. This takes about 4-5 minutes. You’ll see small bubbles forming around the edges when it’s ready.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and salt. Taste and add more sweetener if needed. I usually need another teaspoon of maple syrup.
- Pour into your mug and drink immediately. If you’re adding cinnamon or cayenne, sprinkle it on top now.
Notes
- Use bone broth that’s been warmed to room temperature or slightly heated. Cold broth straight from the fridge can make the mixture grainy as it tries to blend with the warmer milk.
- Don’t let it boil. Boiling can make the proteins in the bone broth coagulate and create a weird texture. Keep it at a gentle simmer or just steaming hot.
- Start with less sweetener than you think you need. You can always add more at the end, but you can’t take it out. I find 1 tablespoon is enough for me, but my partner uses 2.
- If you taste the broth flavor coming through, add another splash of vanilla or a tiny bit more cocoa. Both help mask it without making the drink too sweet or too thick.
- Quality matters with bone broth. The cheap stuff in boxes at the grocery store often has a stronger flavor that’s harder to hide. Spend a bit more on a good brand or make your own.
- Whisk frequently while heating. The cocoa wants to settle at the bottom, and the broth can separate from the milk if you don’t keep things moving.
- For a thicker, more decadent drink, add 1 teaspoon of tapioca starch mixed with 1 tablespoon of cold milk at the beginning. This creates a texture closer to drinking chocolate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg