There is nothing quite as comforting as reaching for a packet of hot chocolate straight out of the box, opening it, and adding hot milk or water while you stir it in your favorite mug. The same simplicity can be achieved with hot chocolate from scratch with healthy ingredients and without sacrificing your taste buds. The dozen ingredients in your traditional box of hot chocolate are not only a mouthful to pronounce but can also wreak havoc on your health.

The main ingredient in most commercial hot chocolate brands contain sugar, followed by high fructose corn syrup. The corn-based sweetener is an “added sugar” used in processed foods. Concerns over corn syrup are linked to unhealthy weight, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Luckily, there are healthier alternatives that you can indulge in guilt-free without putting your taste buds or your health in jeopardy. A 2013 study published in the journal Neurology found consuming just two cups of hot chocolate a day may help ward off dementia later in life by improving blood flow to the brain.

Click “View Gallery” to see five homemade hot chocolate recipes that will help you stay warm and healthy.

Mug with hot chocolate served with chunks of white and dark chocolate and almonds on old wooden table
Indulge in a cup of decadent hot chocolate without the guilt of extra calories. Photo courtesy of