Rich, spiced chocolate goodness.

Tropical storms have brought breezy winds and chilly raindrops to the island of Hawaii this past week.  The puppy and I have been taking morning walks jumping playfully over rain puddles and enjoying a refreshing chill.  I love the changing of the seasons and although I live in a tropical paradise, sometimes I miss the cold weather.  Although cold here in Hawaii means a balmy 65 degrees, I have been taking advantage of every minute adding a scarf to my wardrobe or an extra blanket to the bed.

And now onto hot chocolate—cold weather would not be complete without a creamy, rich cup of hot chocolate!  I absolutely love the smell and taste of cardamom, an Indian spice typically found in chai.  This aromatic spice has a bold, smoky flavor, but is fabulous when combined with something sweet.  I originally set out to make classic hot cocoa, but remembering I had purchased a handful of spices the other day came up with this spiced chai version.  I usually combine cardamom with a citrus fruit as in my orange cardamom bread, but love the addition of rich cacao powder.  Cacao is true chocolate and a powerful superfood—high in antioxidants, promotes weight loss, and acts as a neurotransmitter encouraging brain function and happiness. So go ahead and enjoy this guilt free hot chocolate with a smile on your face.

Spices have been used for centuries for nutrition and provide irreplaceable flavor.  Cardamom, like ginger, can be a healing spice helping with digestion, detoxification, and immunity.  Cardamom is a wonderful spice to have on hand during the winter as it can help relieve a cold or flu and prevent the growth of pathogens.  It is also a wonderful antioxidant helping boost your immunity and remove toxins from your cells.

Adding spices to your daily drink or meal can be a fun and delicious kitchen adventure.  This hot chocolate is very rich, thick and bold in flavor due to limited sweetening.  I added a few scoops to my morning cup of coffee and it was delicious as a creamer.  Enjoy this bold flavored spiced hot chocolate for an cold weather treat!

Cardamom Spiced Hot Chocolate Creamer

serves 2

A refined sugar free rich, spiced hot chocolate using all real ingredients.

Ingredients

• 2 cups coconut milk, raw milk or cream
• 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 2-3 tbsp coconut sugar, depending on your sweetness preference
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cardamom (heaping full)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg and ginger

Directions

• In a small sauce pan, over low heat, whisk together all ingredients.
• Continue stirring to blend and remove any clumps.
• Allow hot milk to lightly simmer for a couple minutes.
• Serve hot with coffee or topped with whipped cream.

Notes: This is a very thick, European style drinking chocolate. If you prefer something less rich, simply add more milk or water to the ingredients or use as a coffee creamer.