Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Peanut butter and chocolate has always been a favorite treat of mine. When I thought of adding creamy peanut butter to hot chocolate, I was pretty sure it would be an instant new favorite. Guess what? One hundred percent yes!

This recipe is even a little healthier than most hot chocolate recipes. It uses less processed coconut sugar, plus significantly less sugar than many recipes call for. Dark chocolate has less sugar and calories than milk chocolate, and cacao powder has more nutrients than cocoa powder. Although replacing some of the milk with half and half adds an ultra-creamy texture, you could stick with simply using milk to reduce fat and calories.

Cold weekends call for snuggling up with a steaming mug of Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. (Preferably with some marshmallows melting on top 😉) It’s so rich and decadent that you’re gonna kick yourself for not trying it sooner.

Make this an adult treat by adding a shot of peanut butter whiskey to make a Peanut Butter Whiskey Hot Chocolate. Yep, it adds a little extra warmth to the mug.

FAQs:

What’s the difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa?Basically, hot cocoa uses powder while hot chocolate utilizes actual chopped chocolate that is slowly melted into the milk. This recipe combines both methods for an ultra chocolatey drink.

What’s the difference between cocoa powder and cacao powder?Both are derived from the cacao bean, but the main difference is how the two are processed. Cocoa powder is processed at a much higher heat, which removes much of the healthy antioxidants contained in cacao powder. Cacao powder is also sugar free, while cocoa powder often adds sugar to cut the bitterness. See Healthline’s article Cacao vs Cocoa: What’s the Difference? for more nutrition information.

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate:

Whole milk and half and half: Makes this drink more decadent.

Peanut butter: Creamy works best in this recipe.

Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar tastes nothing like coconut. In fact, it’s flavor is closer to brown sugar or turbinado sugar. Although all sugars should be used in moderation, coconut sugar does contain more nutrients than table sugar. It also has a lower glycemic index than white sugar.

Cacao powder: Similar to cocoa powder, but contains more health benefits.

Vanilla and salt: The balance the flavors of the hot chocolate.

How to Prepare Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate:

• Add the milk, half and half, dark chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut sugar to a small saucepan, and heat slowly over medium heat. Whisk continually until chocolate and peanut butter are smooth and fully incorporated.
• Turn the heat down to medium-low, and add the cacao powder, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until ingredients are completely combined.
• Remove from heat, and pour into individual mugs. Top with mini marshmallows or whipped cream if desired.

Serving Suggestions:

• Make it a decadent adult dessert, and add a shot of Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey to each mug. Now you have a Peanut Butter Whiskey Hot Chocolate that will truly warm you up.
• You could also try some different flavors instead of the peanut butter. Consider adding caramel, cinnamon, peppermint or orange extract, or even espresso powder.
• Mix in a bit of cinnamon and chili powder to make a Mexican Hot Chocolate.
• To make this recipe a classic Hot Chocolate, simply omit the peanut butter.

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Ingredient Substitutions:

• Nut allergy—Use Sunbutter instead of peanut butter.
• Dairy-free—Substitute your favorite non-dairy milk. I suggest a combination of coconut milk and almond milk. Make sure your chocolate is also dairy-free. Hu and Enjoy Life are both good choices.
• Coconut sugar—You can also use cane sugar if you prefer.
• Cacao powder—Use cocoa powder if you’d like. Just make sure that it has no added sugar.
• Dark chocolate—Yes, you can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate instead, but the resulting hot chocolate won’t be as rich.

Recipe Notes:

• If you like dark chocolate, you will likely prefer cacao powder over cocoa powder.
• The coconut sugar adds a touch of sweetness to the hot chocolate without being overly sweet.
• Explaore all the Cocktail and Drink recipes from Inspired Fresh Life.

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