Protein Hot Chocolate You’ll Love!

This healthful and tasty protein hot chocolate provides a rich, chocolatey flavor without the sugar crash (or the guilt)!

While traditional hot chocolate is absolutely delicious and brings up fond memories, it’s something I rarely drink because it immediately makes me feel lousy afterwards from the sugar crash.

(Warning: if you add too much whipped cream and shaved chocolate to garnish this, the same result could ensue . . . ahem.)

In addition, while most of us grew up enjoying chocolate in all its forms, it can be hard to tune out the insidious voice of diet culture telling us that things like this are “empty calories.”

Enter: protein hot chocolate! First, you get the protein from whatever milk you choose. Then, this recipe features a hefty dose of protein powder.

For this reason, it can double as a quick meal replacement or a pre-workout or post-workout drink.

Attention gym folk: if your usual cool, refreshing protein shake (great in the heat of summer) cools you down a bit too much during the colder winter months, feel free to bookmark this recipe for colder days!

Pin it for later!

Now in all fairness, this does not taste exactly like traditional hot chocolate. It tastes much more like a protein shake, since it is one.

That being said, it is still really tasty and a much better fit for various health-conscious demographics.

Optional Mix-ins and Toppings/Serving Suggestions

• Peanut butter – add a tablespoon for peanut butter chocolate goodness!
• Peppermint extract – peppermint hot cocoa anyone?
• Cinnamon and cayenne – now you have Mexican hot chocolate!
• Vegan marshmallows – or regular marshmallows, just note they are not, strictly speaking, vegetarian.
• Whipped cream – you can whip coconut cream if you are vegan or get Reddi-wip almond
• Shaved chocolate or peppermint bark
• Try a splash of coffee (or use coffee instead of milk) for a protein mocha

Protein Powder in Hot Chocolate? Let’s talk ingredients

Protein powder for a creamy protein hot chocolate

I have had bad experiences in the past with whey protein powder clumping, so I used a vegan protein powder with pea protein and brown rice protein.

While it still didn’t stir together very easily, once I brought out the high-speed blender, it worked just fine.

If you have whey protein powder:

Make sure you blend the protein powder in thoroughly while everything is still cold. It will stay clumpy if you try to mix it into a hot drink.

Also:

Make sure you don’t boil this protein hot chocolate. I don’t think you are supposed to boil any protein powder, especially whey protein powder.

When you boil protein, or heat it above 160°F or so, it denatures. This means the amino acid chains unfold and the structure changes.

This happens anyway when you digest it, so it still is fine to drink and provides the same health benefits.

However, it looks like it curdles, so it’s not very appetizing.

We want our protein hot chocolate warm to hot, but not boiling hot.

Flavor:

I used vanilla, but you can use chocolate for an extra chocolatey drink. Alternatively, you could use a chocolate peanut butter or other fun protein powder flavor like cookies and cream.

Color:

Just be aware that some protein powders (like Vega) have a greenish color, which will impact the color of your protein hot chocolate.

Milk

I used almond milk, but feel free to use any plant-based milk (or dairy milk if you are not vegan) of your choice. Some milks will be creamier than others.

Cocoa

I used dark cocoa, but feel free to use regular cocoa, Dutch cocoa, or whatever you have handy. The color may vary, but they will all taste good.

Dutch cocoa is less bitter, so you may not need as much sweetener.

Vanilla extract

Optional but delicious!

Maple syrup

Of course, you can use any sweetener you like, or none at all.

Try your drink first before adding. Some protein powders are sweeter than others, so you may not need any additional sweetener.

The one I used had a little erythritol and a little stevia. However, when I tried it before adding the maple syrup, it tasted extremely . . . healthy.

If you are following a keto diet, you can try sugar-free maple syrup. Some are sweetened with sucralose or other zero calorie sweeteners.

Frequently asked questions

Why make homemade protein hot chocolate when mixes exist?

By making it at home, you can control the ingredients and how sweet it is. Your ingredients in your kitchen are often better than something that is intended to have a very long shelf life (think vanilla extract versus a powdered version).

Can you make your own homemade protein hot chocolate powder mix?

Yes, if you’d like to, simply 10x the dry ingredients and store them in an airtight container. You may wish to use a crystalized sweetener in this case.

If you layer the dry ingredients in a clear jar, it would also make a nice gift!

Is maple syrup paleo?

Yes, but use in moderation to maintain a paleo diet.

How do I make the whipped cream?

If you want to add whipped cream, you will need:

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (use coconut cream if vegan)
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• Optional splash of vanilla extract

It will whip faster if you put the bowl and beater(s) in the freezer for 10 minutes first, but if you forget you will just need to whip it longer.

(When using canned coconut cream, put it in the fridge the night before.)

1. Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to whip all the ingredients until the whipped cream forms stiff peaks.

(If you don’t own a mixer and are feeling athletic, you can also dump everything in a mason jar and shake it until the texture looks right, but it will take some time. However, if you are the kind of person who drinks protein hot chocolate, you probably won’t mind the arm workout.)

If you found this article helpful, please consider joining my email newsletter community for new recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

Looking for more high protein recipes?

• Broccoli frittata muffins
• Silken tofu scramble
• Crustless tomato pie
• Vegan corned beef (homemade seitan recipe – season to your preference)

Other drink/smoothie recipes you may enjoy

• Vegan hot chocolate bombs
• Pink latte (with beetroot powder)
• Strawberry banana smoothie bowl
• Pomegranate green tea (includes homemade grenadine recipe)
• Turkish coffee and its benefits

Protein Hot Chocolate Ingredients

Edible Ingredients

• 1 cup almond milk
• 3 Tbsp protein powder
• 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• 2 tsp maple syrup

Tools and Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons
• A high-speed blender or a milk frother
• A microwave or a saucepan on the stovetop

How to make protein hot chocolate

1. To begin, measure out all of your ingredients and pour them into a high speed-blender. Blend until thoroughly combined. (You can use a milk frother if preferred.)
2. Once your protein hot chocolate is combined, warm it up in a microwave-safe cup, or in a saucepan over the stove. Do not let it boil or get above 160°F to ensure good texture and appearance.
3. Serve with any toppings you’d like, such as whipped cream and shaved chocolate, and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed this simple recipe for protein hot chocolate!