Spicy Hot Chocolate

I know, I know, it is only about 40-something F here in Washington today, but the wind – oh the wind. It feels like the low 30s.  It is perfect weather for hot chocolate. My fabulous friend Shirley, of Gluten-Free Easily, and the newly launched site All Gluten-Free Desserts … All The Time, reminded me of this recipe. It was a staple a couple of winters ago, but last winter was so mild I barely made any hot chocolate.  I had initially written up this recipe for a guest post for Linda of Gluten-Free Homemaker, but it has been almost two years, so I decided to dust it off and repost it here, especially as I keep hearing this is going to be a bad winter.  Time for hot chocolate, clearly. 

Spicy Hot Chocolate (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free)
Makes 2 servings

If you would like to omit the stevia, use an additional tablespoon palm sugar and an additional 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. 

• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk beverage (you can make your own, but I like Whole Foods unsweetened almond milk, which comes in a carton)
• 3 Tbsp gluten-free unsweetened cacao (I usually use Navitas raw cacao or the nuts.com raw cacao)
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp chipotle
• 2 Tbsp coconut palm sugar
• 8 drops liquid vanilla stevia (I like NuNaturals vanilla stevia)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp coconut milk (canned full-fat kind)

Blend all ingredients except coconut milk until fully combined. Reheat gently in a saucepan. Stir coconut milk in just prior to serving.