Curling up with a warm beverage is the epitome of winter coziness. That doesn’t mean that smoothie season is over, however. This hot chocolate smoothie hits the spot while still promoting healthy choices.
The Problem: So many warm drinks – especially the chocolate ones – are easy go-to options to warm up in the winter season, but also easy to overindulge one. These drinks can ultimately be dehydrating and hard on overextended sugar quotas.
The Solution: Reach for this smoothie with raw cacao, which promotes heart health and boosts mood. Bananas provide a dose of potassium. Cinnamon has wide-ranging health benefits including boosting mental acuity and helping to manage cholesterol levels. Double down on the antioxidant and digestive benefits by subbing in peppermint tea (non-caffeinated!) for water as the base of this smoothie.
Cozy Hot Chocolate Smoothie
Ingredients
1 ripe banana
1 1/2 tsp raw cacao powder
1 tsp chia seeds
1 vanilla bean, halved and seeded
2 ripe dates, pitted (medjool or halawi work well, or substitute some honey if preferred)
1 cup boiling water, or tea of your choice
1/2 tsp cinnamon, plus a pinch for garnish
Instructions
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Be sure to let boiling water or tea cool slightly, and pour in carefully! Blend until smooth, garnish with the leftover vanilla bean pod and a pinch of cinnamon, and enjoy!
