This creamy and delicious bone broth hot chocolate recipe is gut-healthy, nutrient dense, and made in under 5 minutes. It’s the perfect way to sneak bone broth into your daily routine to reap its healing benefits—especially during the winter time. 

I drink bone broth hot chocolate every afternoon during the cold winter months, topped with my healthy homemade marshmallows as a cozy afternoon pick-me-up. It’s like a warm hug in a mug, filled with nourishing ingredients that support my health.

The Healing Benefits of Bone Broth Hot Chocolate

Though each ingredient in this recipe is nourishing and health-boosting— I’d like to highlight the two superfood stars of this recipe— bone broth and cacao powder.

Bone Broth

Bone broth is the broth made from simmering animal bones and connective tissue— and it’s loaded with health-boosting amino acids, protein, and collagen.

Here’s some of the benefits of drinking bone broth:

• Glowing Skin: Collagen in bone broth improves skin elasticity, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, while replenishing and supporting healthy skin structure.

• Strong Joints, Muscles, & Bones: Bone broth is packed with amino acids that are essential for building and repairing connective tissue, as well as minerals like calcium and phosphorus that support strong bones.

• Improved Gut Health: Gelatin, amino acids, and minerals found in bone broth support digestion, repair the gut lining and help promote a healthy gut microbiome. 

• Reduced Inflammation: Amino acids like glycine and arginine have anti-inflammatory properties that improve wound healing and boost the immune system.

Cacao Powder

Did you know that cacao powder is not the same as cocoa powder? Cacao is the raw form of chocolate— loaded with minerals, flavonoids, and antioxidants. Cocoa powder on the other hand, is cacao that has been roasted at high temperatures, which strips the beans of their nutritional benefits.

Here are some of the benefits of cacao:

• Cardiovascular Health: Cacao is packed with theobromine and flavonols that decrease risk of heart disease, plus minerals like magnesium, potassium, and zinc that are essential in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.

• Anti-Inflammatory: Flavonoids and antioxidants in cacao reduce inflammation, and help to protect against cancer and disease.

• Gut-Healthy: Having a healthy gut microbiome is essential to our overall health. Cacao is prebiotic, which stimulates the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.

• Boosts Mood: Turns out, chocolate does indeed make you feel better. It’s rich in mood-boosting compounds like theobromine, phenylethylamine (known as the “love drug”), and caffeine.

Bone Broth Hot Chocolate Ingredients

• Bone Broth- For this recipe, I recommend making a big batch of my lazy girl bone broth and keeping it on hand. My lazy girl bone broth recipe isn’t made with any savory herbs or vegetables, unlike store-bought broths and commonly found bone broth recipes. This makes it the perfect base for sweet recipes like this bone broth hot chocolate.

• Milk- Opt for whole milk for a rich, creamy, nutrient-dense hot chocolate. I prefer raw milk, as it’s packed with nutrients, enzymes, and beneficial bacteria— but you can substitute with any milk of your choosing.

• Cacao Powder- Choose an organic, pure cacao powder to reap its healing benefits and rich chocolatey flavor. You can substitute with cocoa powder if that’s all you have on hand!

• Maple Syrup- Maple syrup is an unrefined sugar rich in minerals and nutrients. You can also use honey as another nourishing, unrefined sweetener option that tastes just as delicious.

• Butter- When it comes to butter, I always recommend using grass-fed. Butter contains healthy saturated fats and vitamins, and contributes to a thick, creamy hot chocolate. Don’t skip it! 

• Cinnamon- A little cinnamon compliments the cacao— making it even more rich and flavorful. Cinnamon also helps to reduce blood sugar levels. Always opt for Ceylon cinnamon, as other types of cinnamon can contain large amounts of coumarin, a compound that has negative health effects.

• Vanilla Extract- Vanilla extract in a hot chocolate recipe? Yes ma’am! I love adding vanilla extract or a dash of vanilla bean powder to this recipe to create an extra layer of flavor.

• Salt- A pinch of mineral-rich sea salt helps to balance the sweetness and bring out the chocolatey flavor even more.

How to Make Bone Broth Hot Chocolate

1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat. 

2. Whisk well to combine while heating. Allow the mixture to get hot and steamy. Do not boil.

3. Pour into mugs, top with homemade marshmallows, and enjoy!