Throughout my childhood, my parents loaded duffle bags, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, pillows, ice chests, and a tent into our minivan, checked to make sure my brother and I seatbelted ourselves in, and drove up to the mountains for summer weekend getaways. We switched off between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe as our final destinations, but we loved both equally for their beautiful scenery and numerous hiking trails.
As soon as we eased to a stop in the campground, we unloaded the tent from the car first. After helping our parents hammer in the stakes and snap all of the poles into place, we started carrying the duffles and sleeping bags over to the tent, making sure we took off our shoes before slipping inside to minimize the amount of dirt that crept in.
We had that whole routine down to a science!
As little kids, my brother and I often woke up really early, right around 6 am and well before most of the other visitors in the campground even stirred. But our incredibly smart mom knew how to keep us quiet…
She invited us to sit at the wooden picnic table in our campsite, and she opened up the small gas-powered stove. After lighting it, she put a pot of water on the burner to bring it to a boil, and she handed each of us two coffee mugs.
While waiting for the water to boil, we each ripped open two paper packets: one of instant hot chocolate mix (complete with mini marshmallows!), and one of flavored oatmeal (I loved the apple cinnamon the most!). We dumped those into our two coffee mugs, and once the water was hot enough, Mom poured in just enough for us.
We each grabbed two spoons, stirred our mugs to mix their contents with the water, and waited for a few minutes for the instant hot chocolate and oatmeal to work their magic. (And because we hated burning our tongues too!)
While at the grocery store last week picking up more coffee, I spotted a box of those same instant hot chocolate packages from my childhood. I smiled, but I left them on the shelves… And I made this Healthy Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate back at home instead!
It’s smooth, rich, and chocolaty (and tastes better than those hot chocolate packets!), and it’s so simple to make. Plus I love the way those cozy pumpkin spices taste with the decadent chocolate flavor!
Bonus: This healthy homemade hot chocolate is only 40 calories!
Let’s quickly go over how to make this healthy homemade pumpkin spice hot chocolate!
To start, you’ll need milk. I actually prefer unsweetened cashew milk for my healthy homemade hot chocolate! It’s much thicker than almond milk or nonfat milk, and it has a similar thickness to whole milk or light cream. That texture makes this healthy homemade pumpkin spice hot chocolate seem much more indulgent than it actually is!
Next, you’ll need pumpkin purée. Remember to buy the regular kind, not pumpkin pie mix! The latter contains spices and added refined sugar, which we’re avoiding in this healthy recipe.
Instead, you’ll add your own sweetener and spices to your healthy homemade pumpkin spice hot chocolate! For the spices, you’ll need cinnamon, along with a teensy pinch of both nutmeg and ginger. I actually prefer a stronger spice flavor in my hot chocolate, so I usually add a little bit extra!
For the sweetener, I used liquid stevia. Stevia is a plant-based, no-calorie sweetener that contains nothing refined or artificial (aka it’s clean eating friendly!). It’s also really concentrated! This is the kind I use because I don’t notice any strange aftertaste like with some other stevia products, and I buy it online here because that’s the best price I’ve found. (You’ll use it in all of these recipes of mine, too!)
Of course, we can’t forget the unsweetened cocoa powder! We definitely need a chocolate component to make this healthy homemade pumpkin spice hot chocolate. ? I prefer using the regular kind, instead of Dutched or special dark cocoa powder. The latter two end up tasting more muted and not as rich as regular unsweetened cocoa powder!
However, one quick note… The cocoa powder easily overpowers the pumpkin flavor. I don’t mind that at all—I love the flavor combination of rich chocolate and the cozy pumpkin spices!—but if you want a stronger pumpkin flavor, then just reduce the amount of cocoa powder that you use.
Now all that’s left to do is whisk those ingredients together in a pot, cook them over medium-low heat until warmed through, and…
Enjoy your festive fall drink! And when you make your own, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees I’ll see your picture! ?) I’d love to see your healthy pumpkin spice hot chocolate!
| Healthy Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate | | Print |
- 2 cups (480mL) unsweetened cashew milk
- 2 tbsp (10g) unsweetened cocoa powder (measured like this)
- 2 tbsp (30g) pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie mix!)
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- tiny pinch ground nutmeg
- tiny pinch ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp liquid stevia (or adjusted to taste!)
- Add all of the ingredients to a small pot, and whisk until the cocoa powder is fully dissolved. Place the pot over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the milk is thoroughly warmed through (about 2-3 minutes). Pour into two mugs and serve immediately.
I actually recommend against using Dutched or special dark cocoa powder in this recipe. Both of those have a more muted flavor that isn’t nearly as rich as regular unsweetened cocoa powder.
As written, this hot chocolate has a prominent chocolate flavor, and it’s very hard to detect the pumpkin. If you prefer a stronger pumpkin flavor, reduce the cocoa powder to 2-3 teaspoons instead.
I actually prefer a stronger spice flavor, so I typically use almost double the amount of each of the three spices!
Any sweetener may be substituted for the liquid stevia. (Although it’s one of my favorite ingredients! I buy it online here because that’s the best price I’ve found, and you’ll use it in all of these recipes of mine, too!) Adjust the amount of your preferred sweetener to suit your tastes.
{gluten-free, vegan, clean eating, low fat, paleo, sugar free, low carb}
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
You may also like Amy’s other recipes…
♡ The Ultimate Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
♡ Healthy Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
♡ The Ultimate Healthy Hot Chocolate
♡ Healthy Peppermint Mocha
♡ Healthy Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Latte
This is absolutely delicious! I’m OBSESSED with fall, but hot chocolate can be so unhealthy at times. This was incredible, and I’ll definitely be making this a lot more! I added whipped cream and a little pumpkin pie spice on top. 🙂 Thanks for this lovely healthier alternative!
I’m so glad you loved this hot chocolate, Kayley! That’s the BEST kind of compliment if you already think you’ll be making it a lot more this fall. Thank you for taking the time to let me know — that just made my entire day!! 🙂
i’m wondering, can you use almond milk as a sub for cashew milk?
I’ve actually covered the answer to this exact question in the Notes section of the recipe (located directly underneath the Instructions!). I know it can be easy to miss! 😉 I’d love to hear what you think of this hot chocolate if you try making it!
it was sooo delicous! great recipie for fall!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! 🙂
Oh Amy! ….. this is delicious! I had everything in my cupboard and decided I needed a treat. It was just what I needed to face the day. Every time I see pumpkin I now can’t help think of you …. I saw a bottle of Pumpkin Spiced Gin (very pretty bottle) and thought “Hmm, Amy would l-o-v-e that!” – have a great day lovely lady x
Oh my goodness — you’re just the sweetest, Sally!! I’m so honored that you think of me whenever you spot something pumpkin-flavored! ♡ I must have quite the reputation… 😉 I’m so glad you enjoyed this hot chocolate too! Thank you for taking the time to let me know; your kind comments always make my day!
Have you tried this with the cacao powder instead of cocoa powder? I’m trying to switch to this less sweet version but it doesn’t always work out.
I’m honored by your interest in my recipe, Nancy! I haven’t tried making this hot chocolate with cacao powder, so I’m not personally sure. However, the recipe is very forgiving, so you can easily add more sweetener if you try that substitution and it doesn’t taste quite sweet enough to you! 🙂 I’d love to hear what you think of this hot chocolate if you decide to try making it!