Low Calorie Instant Pot Hot Chocolate is a delicious treat perfect for chilly evenings and holiday gatherings. With the help of your Instant Pot, this recipe is incredibly easy to make and requires minimal effort. Stovetop instructions included!
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Check out my Double Chocolate Chip Frappe and my Low Calorie Protein Shake for more delicious drink recipes.
Low calorie Instant Pot hot chocolate is a delicious beverage that is perfect for any occasion.
It's a great way to warm up on a cold winter day. It can be customized to suit your personal taste preferences, whether you prefer creamy or with a hint of spice.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This recipe is incredibly easy to make with the help of your Instant Pot.
- This recipe is perfect for entertaining guests, whether it's a holiday gathering or just a cozy night in with friends.
- This recipe can be easily customized to suit your personal taste preferences.
- The combination of cocoa powder, sweetener, cinnamon, and nutmeg creates a rich and indulgent flavor.
Ingredients You'll Need
- 72% Cocoa Bar of Chocolate: Chocolate bars with 72% cocoa content have a higher percentage of cocoa solids and less added sugar, resulting in a richer and more intense chocolate flavor.
- Skim Milk: A low-fat milk that is used in this recipe to create a creamy and rich texture.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Adds a deep chocolate flavor to the hot chocolate and helps to thicken the mixture.
- Water: Added to help dissolve the cocoa powder and sweetener and create a smooth consistency.
- Granulated Sweetener (I like Monk Fruit Sweetener or Swerve Granular): Used to sweeten the hot chocolate and balance out the bitterness of the cocoa powder and chocolate.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds a warm and spicy flavor.
- Ground Nutmeg: Adds a slightly sweet and nutty flavor.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Press the sauté button on the Instant Pot. Chop the chocolate bar and place into the Instant Pot. Once it starts to melt, stir fast and pour in the milk.
Step 2: Mix together the cocoa powder with the water until it becomes a liquid paste. The consistency should be similar to chocolate syrup. If the mix is too thick, add a little more water. Add this into the Instant Pot and stir well.
Step 3: Whisk in the sweetener. I suggest starting at 1 cup of sweetener and tasting it.
Step 4: Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg until well combined.
Step 5: Close the Instant Pot lid and set it to "Manual" mode for 5 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure and carefully open the Instant Pot lid.
Step 6: Serve hot with whipped topping (if desired).
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Using a high-quality chocolate bar with a high percentage of cocoa solids will give your hot chocolate a rich and intense flavor. Look for chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content.
- The amount of sweetener in this recipe is adjustable to your taste preferences. If you prefer a sweeter hot chocolate, add more, and if you prefer a less sweet drink, reduce the amount.
- If you're making this hot chocolate for a gathering, you can keep it warm in the Instant Pot on the "Keep Warm" setting. Just be sure to stir occasionally to prevent any skin from forming on the top of the hot chocolate.
Variations
- Mexican: Add a pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper to the recipe to give it a spicy kick. You can also sprinkle some cinnamon on top before serving.
- Peppermint: Add a few drops of peppermint extract to the recipe.
- Mocha: Add a shot of espresso or a tablespoon of instant coffee to the recipe for a delicious mocha flavor.
Stovetop Hot Chocolate
- Chop the 3.5-ounce chocolate bar into smaller pieces. You can use a knife or a grater to do this.
- In a saucepan, add the chopped chocolate pieces and pour in the gallon of skim milk.
- Place the saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir continuously as the chocolate melts into the milk. Make sure to stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
- In a separate bowl, mix the ⅔ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder with the 3 tablespoons of water until it forms a liquid paste. Be sure the paste has a consistency similar to chocolate syrup. If it's too thick, add a little more water and mix.
- Add the cocoa paste into the saucepan with the melted chocolate and milk. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Whisk in the 1 ½ cups of granulated sweetener to sweeten the hot chocolate. Start with 1 cup of sweetener, and adjust the sweetness to your taste preferences.
- Add the ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a small pinch of nutmeg to the mixture. Stir until they are well incorporated.
- Continue to heat the hot chocolate on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to let it boil.
- Once the hot chocolate is hot and well-blended, remove it from the heat.
Storing
You can store leftover hot chocolate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, warm it up slowly in a pot on the stovetop, or reheat it in the Instant Pot on the "Keep Warm" setting. Be sure to stir the hot chocolate occasionally to prevent it from scorching or forming a skin on top.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can make this recipe on the stovetop by heating the milk and other ingredients in a pot over medium heat. Be sure to stir the mixture frequently to prevent scorching.
It's not recommended to freeze leftover hot chocolate, as the texture may change upon thawing and reheating. It's best to store it in the refrigerator and enjoy it within a few days.
More Instant Pot Recipes
See more at The Sunshine Bite.
Low Calorie Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
Special Equipment
Ingredients
- 3.5 ounce chocolate bar 72% cocoa chocolate
- 1 gallon skim milk
- ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 ½ cups granulated sweetener I like Monk Fruit Sweetener or Swerve Granular
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Small pinch nutmeg
- Whipped topping optional
Instructions
- Press the sauté button on the Instant Pot. Chop the chocolate bar and place into the Instant Pot. Once it starts to melt, stir fast and pour in the milk.
- Mix together the cocoa powder with the water until it becomes a liquid paste. The consistency should be similar to chocolate syrup. If the mix is too thick, add a little more water. Add this into the Instant Pot and stir well.
- Whisk in the sweetener. I suggest starting at 1 cup and tasting it.
- Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg until well combined.
- Close the Instant Pot lid and set it to "Manual" mode for 5 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure and carefully open the Instant Pot lid.
- Serve hot with whipped topping (if desired).
Notes
- Using a high-quality chocolate bar with a high percentage of cocoa solids will give your hot chocolate a rich and intense flavor. Look for chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content.
- The amount of sugar in this recipe is adjustable to your taste preferences. If you prefer a sweeter hot chocolate, add more sugar, and if you prefer a less sweet drink, reduce the amount of sugar.
- If you're making this hot chocolate for a party or gathering, you can keep it warm in the Instant Pot on the "Keep Warm" setting. Just be sure to stir occasionally to prevent any skin from forming on the top of the hot chocolate.
- Storing: You can store leftover Instant Pot hot chocolate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, warm it up slowly in a pot on the stovetop, or reheat it in the Instant Pot on the "Keep Warm" setting. Be sure to stir the hot chocolate occasionally to prevent it from scorching or forming a skin on top.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
veenaazmanov
Love your instant description to making this Hot Chocolate in the Instant Pot. Very interesting and perfect to get going this weekend for my family.
Jessica Formicola
I've never thought to make hot chocolate in the Instant Pot! What a great idea! I need to try this asap!
sarah johnson
I never thought to make hot chocolate in an instant pot. What a great Idea!