Gluten-Free Carob Hot Cocoa

5-Ingredient Gluten-Free Carob Hot Cocoa is an excellent option for those who cannot have caffeine or lots of chocolate but want that same chocolate taste.  Made with a delicious mix of carob powder, plant-based milk, cinnamon, stevia, and a dash of raw cocoa powder.  Gluten-free, vegan, paleo, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free!

Sometimes I just want to curl up in P.J.'s with fuzzy slippers and a blanket on the couch and watch a marathon of Law and Order with a nice cup of hot cocoa, especially in the Manhattan Winter.  Don't you?!  The problem is I cannot have a lot of caffeine, and sometimes I can't have caffeine at all which means little to no chocolate.  Especially at night.

Since sleep is a self-care practice and falling asleep for many is a difficult task the idea of how to make hot cocoa without cocoa came into my thoughts.

Then sugar did.  Sugar at night isn't a great option.  Not only does it keep you up but it also gives you a crash and a hangover and no one needs that before bed or upon awakening because you couldn't fall asleep.  That's why I created my favorite traditional drink with gluten-free carob.

Enter Gluten-free Carob Hot Cocoa.

WHAT CAFFEINE DOES TO YOUR BODY IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM AUTOIMMUNE, SIBO, ADRENAL FATIGUE & LEAKY GUT 

• Keeps you over alerted
• Makes you moody
• Messes with your adrenals overworking them turning your adrenal fatigue into chronic fatigue
• Causes extra discomfort to your Leaky Gut
• Gets in the way of your healing
• Creates acid reflux
• Messes with your digestion
• Gets in the way of your sleep cycle
• Irritates your already diagnosed food sensitivities
• Adds migraines to your routine

MY PERSONAL HEALING STORY

For the last two years, I have been sugar-free, dairy-free, soy-free, banana-free, nut-free, duh on the gluten-free, and lots of other free's.  In the beginning when all these food sensitivities were emerging because of unrepaired Leaky Gut and the inflammation from SIBO, Candida, and Celiac Disease - I'll admit - finding a diet lifestyle I enjoyed was really hard.  I was crying all the time.  So angry and frustrated that I couldn't just go back to the way I used to be, where eating anything (other than gluten of course) didn't bother me.

The more I experienced this lifestyle and realized this way of life was here to stay and needed to stay based on the medical issues I was having (and still have), I realized fighting city hall on this was not the way.  My frustration and inability to go with the flow just made everything so much worse.  I was fighting the flow.  I was fighting God's path for me.

And that is how this recipe creation of Gluten-Free Carob Hot Cocoa came to flourish.  The same way I started to see my life from a different perspective was the same way my recipes began to take a different turn.  Delicious of course, because I honestly wouldn't have it any other way, but elimination diet-friendly.  Rather than give up and handing over the white flag, I choose to accept this challenge so that I could create recipes that would remain in my life.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CAROB POWDER FOR A MINUTE

• Unsweetened carob powder and sweetened carob powder are different, don't be fooled
• Most carob powders are not gluten-free as many contain barley malt for flavoring
• Chatfield's IS gluten-free and that is what I used in this recipe
• Chatfield's is made in a dedicated gluten-free facility, nut-free facility and it's vegan
• Carob powder that is gluten-free is often hard to find.  Search Amazon, Thrive Market, Whole Foods, and specialty health food stores
• Always read labels to make sure your carob is gluten-free
• The taste is different, be prepared
• Cocoa which comes from a Cacao bean is different than Carob which comes from the Carob plant

I'll be honest, I am not a carob lover.  Alone, I don't enjoy the taste.  But with a tad bit of cocoa powder and cinnamon, it makes all the difference.  And those spices turn this Gluten-Free Carob Hot Cocoa into a delightfully hot, warming, soothing drink.  With just one teaspoon of cocoa powder, I felt as if I was drinking liquid chocolate!

Ready to gather your ingredients?

Print Recipe

Gluten-Free Carob Hot Cocoa

5-Ingredient Gluten-Free Carob Hot Cocoa is an excellent option for those who cannot have caffeine but want that same chocolate taste.  Made with a delicious mix of carob powder, plant-based milk, cinnamon, stevia, and a dash of raw cocoa powder.  Gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and refined sugar-free!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time2 mins

Total Time7 mins

Course: Dessert, Drinks, Snack

Cuisine: American, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Paleo, Vegan

Keyword: carob, carob hot chocolate, comfort food, creamy, hot chocolate, hot cocoa

Servings: 2 people

Author: Julie Rosenthal

Equipment

• microwave
• blender

Ingredients

• 1 cup Lite coconut milk, canned
• 1 ½ cup spring water
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ tablespoon gluten-free carob powder
• 1 teaspoon raw cacao or cocoa powder
• 3-5 drops chocolate flavored liquid stevia optional

Instructions

• In a high-speed blender, blast on high all ingredients for 1-2 minutes. The longer you do it the frothier it gets.
• Pour mixture into a mug and microwave for 2 minutes.
• Let cool and enjoy.

Notes

• I love Nu Naturals chocolate flavored liquid stevia for this recipe.
• If you cannot tolerate coconut milk use any plant-based milk of choices such as almond, hemp milk, soy milk, pistachio milk, cashew or macadamia milk, or dairy milk 2%.
• Adding any other sweetener to this drink will make this drink not suitable for those with Candida, or on sugar-free diets.
• But, if a little sweetener is what you need to try pure grade maple syrup, honey, or brown rice syrup.

Looking for more hot chocolate drinks?  Try these!  They'll warm your heart instantly.

• Paleo Bone Broth Hot Chocolate
• Paleo Beetroot Red Velvet Hot Cocoa
• Easy Superfood Hot Cocoa 3 Ways

Love, hot carob cocoa, and comfort,