Soothing Vegan Hot Cacao with Maca Root

by Steph Sunshine at StephSunshine.com

Yield 1 cup

Prep Time 3 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 8 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
  • 1/2 tbsp. maca root powder (optional)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. vegan sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup non-dairy milk
  • vegan marshmallows, cinnamon stick, and/or chocolate shavings for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat non-dairy milk in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until hot and steaming. Don't over-heat the milk!
  2. Sift cacao and maca root into a mug using a small sieve. Add sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
  3. When the milk is hot, pour about 1/4 of it into the mug. Stir with a spoon, then use a small hand mixer or milk frother to eliminate clumps.
  4. If you'd like foamy hot cacao, pour the remaining milk into a milk frothing pitcher. Use your frother to build up some foam in the remaining milk.
  5. Without pouring the foam, pour the remaining milk into the mug and stir. Then top your drink with the foamed milk.
  6. Add marshmallows, chocolate shavings, or a cinnamon stick, if desired.

Notes & Hints

For a more classic, sweeter version, use 2 tbsp. of sugar.

Some non-dairy milks foam better than others. I like the 365 brand organic unsweetened almond milk. I generally get better foam from the shelf-stable milks, but the refrigerated kind produces adequate foam as well.

StephSunshine