What is better on a brisk winter day than a cup of piping hot chocolate? This Keto Hot Chocolate gives you that perfect creamy and sweet beverage with a rich chocolate flavor without the carbs. This recipe is made with coconut milk and almond milk, making it deceivingly healthy and surprisingly diary-free.

Ceramic cup of hot chocolate with a spoon in it.

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Ingredient Notes & Possible Substitutions
Nutrition Highlights
Recipe Variations
Recipe Tips
Related Recipes
📖 Recipe

Hot cocoa in front of a warm fireplace on a cold day or kept perfectly hot in a thermos while enjoying a day of sledding or skiing is truly hard to beat. This keto hot chocolate recipe is a great way to partake in this simple pleasure without overdoing it on sugar. Whether you are following a keto diet or just enjoy better quality ingredients and fewer carbs, this recipe is sure to be a hit!

Ingredient Notes & Possible Substitutions

Coconut Milk

You will want to use canned full-fat coconut milk for this recipe to get that thick, velvety texture (I love the organic Thai Kitchen original unsweetened coconut milk because it is SO creamy!). Lite canned coconut milk will work but it will not be quite as thick and creamy. The coconut milk in a carton contains more water and a lot less coconut cream so it should be avoided (unless it is the small carton of Thai Kitchen Unsweetened Coconut Milk which is similar to canned). If you do not need the recipe to be dairy-free, you can use heavy whipping cream in place of the coconut milk. If doing so, adjust the amount of cream to taste because a 1:1 replacement might be a little too creamy.

Almond Milk

Almond milk can be a big contributor to carbohydrates if you do not use an unsweetened variety so be sure to read labels! The almond milk in this recipe is essentially just used to increase the liquid volume and doesn't contribute much to the flavor or creaminess. Any low-carb milk alternative should work fine in this recipe as long as it is unsweetened and has a neutral flavor. I do not recommend replacing the almond milk with water.

Granulated Sweetener

Use a sweetener that measures 1:1 with regular sugar (it will state this on the packaging). I used Whole Earth Monk Fruit Erythritol Blend. I opted for a granulated sweetener in this recipe; however, a powdered sweetener can also be used you just may need to adjust the amount used to get your desired level of sweetness. You could also use pure liquid stevia (I would start with about 10-20 drops and adjust to taste).

Cocoa Powder

Make sure you select unsweetened cocoa powder that is used for baking, not cocoa mix as these will contain sugar. I like Hershey's Special Dark 100% Cacao because it has a really rich flavor and can be found at most grocery stores.

Sea Salt

If using regular table salt you may need to adjust the amount used because it tends to be saltier than sea salt.

Low-Carb Chocolate Chips

If you are vegan or dairy-free, be sure to verify that the brand of chocolate chips used in this recipe does not contain milk or butter fat. I used Lily's Dark Chocolate Chips. The 55% cacao is the only variety under this brand that is dairy-free.

Ingredient shot for keto hot chocolayte.

Nutrition Highlights

This keto hot chocolate is an excellent source of iron (23%), calcium (23%), and vitamin E (27%).

Each serving is also a good source of potassium.

There are 6 grams of fiber in 1 cup of hot chocolate and only 4 grams of net carbs!

_{**Please note all nutrition information is based on specific products and estimations. Some variation can occur.**}

Recipe Variations

Try any of these variations to take your keto hot cocoa to the next level or share your favorite low-carb mix-ins in the comments below!

Peppermint

Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of pure peppermint extract to the saucepan for a delicious subtle mint flavor that pairs so well with the rich chocolate.

Mocha

Mix in 2 tbsp. of a high-quality instant espresso for that classic coffee + chocolate combo, but make it low-carb!

Caramel or Butterscotch

Try substituting the chocolate chips for a low-carb caramel sauce or mix in ¼ cup of Lily's Butterscotch chips (these are not dairy-free).

Toppings

Try 2-ingredient low-carb whipped cream for the perfect topping, drizzle with sugar-free chocolate sauce, or top with keto marshmallows!

Hands holding a cup of keto hot chocolate with a ceramic christmas tree and a bowl of chocolate chips in the frame.

Recipe Tips

If you are struggling to get the lumps of cocoa powder to full dissolve using a whisk, you can always transfer the hot chocolate into a blender and blend for several seconds to get a lighter, more even consistency with no lumps.
Low glycemic sweeteners taste different to different people, because of this, I will always recommend sweetening to taste. If you have a preferred type of sweetener, you can absolutely use it in this recipe!
Chocolate and sea salt are a winning combo; however, if you are sensitive to salt feel free to omit or reduce this ingredient.

Did you try this Keto Hot Chocolate recipe? I would love to see your creations! Take a photo and tag me on Instagram or leave a photo comment on Pinterest.

Feel free to leave a comment and a rating below. Feedback is always appreciated! 😊

📖 Recipe