Superfood peanut butter hot cocoa! It’s vegan, dairy-free, and just about the most delicious treat we’ve ever had. Hot cocoa is something most of us had in our childhood. It’s the thing we sipped on in the colder months when we wanted to indulge and was definitely not packed with pure organic cacao ;) This recipe is something entirely different than anything you’ve had before. It’s insanely delicious, but also comes backed with vegan collagen-boosting botanicals to support your hair, skin, and nail health.* We’ll have a sip of that!

 

 

Self care is about giving yourself what you need to be at your best and show up as your best self. It’s also recognizing when you need to rest. We go go go so much in our modern culture, that we often forget the beauty and healing powers of slow moments. We love preparing this peanut butter hot cocoa when we want to slow down and re-connect. Watching the steam rise when the hot oat milk is poured, stirring the mixture of Cacao Calm Beauty and the peanut butter together,  and pickup up a warm mug full of chocolatey goodness on a cold day all help us slow down and be more present in the moment.

 

 

The cool thing about this easy drink recipe is that it’s loaded with superfood benefits. Cacao and ashwagandha, both of which are in the Cacao Calm Beauty, are natural mood boosters.

 

 

All about cacao powder

Cacao powder comes from cacao beans which grow from a tree native to South America. Known as “the food of the gods”, cacao has historically been used to boost the mood of the one who consumes it.* Be sure not to confuse cacao powder with cocoa powder. While both cacao and cocoa both come from the sample plant, their processing makes them very different ingredients. Cocoa is typically processed at a very high heat which diminishes its nutritional value. It’s also most often combined with additives including sugar, stabilizers, and milk powder that reduce the benefits of the cacao plant. Cacao powder, on the other hand, is processed at a low heat and is not combined with extra additives. This maintains the cacao and its nutrient benefits in a pure form.

 

 

All about ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a powerful plant whose root has historically been ground up into a powder and used to fight stress in the body and promote a sense of “chill”.* More specifically, it’s been shown to promote calm by blocking stress pathways that regulate chemical signaling in in the nervous system.* Pretty cool!

 

 

Why add peanut butter to a hot cocoa?

Umm why not? Chocolate and peanut butter are the ultimate combination. Think of this as a drinkable peanut butter cup. It’s rich, nutty, creamy, slightly salty, and completely amazing. If you want something lighter, you can totally use hot water instead of the oat or nut milk. If you want to make it even more decadent, we recommend adding some whipped coconut cream and dark chocolate chips.

 

 

When should you enjoy a superfood peanut butter hot cocoa?

Anytime you want to bring something delicious to your day. Have it on its own or add a shot of espresso to it for a caffeinated morning hot cocoa. Sip on its own at night for a calming and soothing drinkable chocolate dessert.

 

 

What makes adding the Cacao Calm Beauty to this drink so amazing are its vegan collagen-boosting benefits.* Each sip is packed with collagen-boosting plant botanicals like organic tremella mushroom extract, bamboo leaf extract, amla berry powder, hyaluronic acid, and grape seed extract that work to help your body produce more collagen on its own.* The result is stronger hair, skin, and nails – all without the use of animal products.*

 

 

Looking for more delicious superfood recipes using cacao powder? Check these out:

 

Calming Ashwagandha Cacao Latte

Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Sea Salt Energy Bites

Chocolate Beauty Popcorn

Chocolate Tahini Banana Muffins

Chocolate Baked Pear Oats