Affiliate Disclosure

(Originally published 13 Feb 2016 at http://CornFreeHippie.com)

My Mini-Foodies are always ready to enjoy a hot cup of cacao no matter the weather and, as a confessed chocoholic and a professor who has taught several classes and workshops on theobroma cacao, how can I deny them the nutritious delight?

It is true that most hot chocolates on the market are void of nutrition and are filled with sugars and "food product"-style ingredients, so they are clearly not an option for Corn Allergics.

You will find thst I have several cacao beverages here, but this one is different because I have added gelatin for a protein boost as well as for its other nutritional benefits. This is a fabulous way to make a protein drink filled with flavor. Please feel free to tinker with the amounts of ginger and sweetness by adding or decreasing the former and / or omitting the latter. The recipe as is, is well sweetened so I do not recommend adding more dates.

 Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups homemade hemp milk or other safe milk

• 3 - 4 Tbsp. collagen hydrosylatecollagen hydrosylate)

• 3 - 4 pieces crystallized ginger

• 1 Medjool date, pitted

• 1 ½ - 2 Tbsp. cacao powder

Method

1. Place all ingredients in Blendtec*.

2. Use  "Whole Juice" setting.

3. Then use "Hot Soup" setting until desired temperature is reached.  Enjoy!

Note: *I recommend using a high speed blender so that the hot cacao is smooth. I don't use a Vitamix, so if you do, please experiment with the settings & leave a note in the comments letting me & fellow readers who it went for you.