When Tom and I registered for our wedding we were thoughtful in only registering for things that we both wanted…with two exceptions:

• Tom: OXO Storage Containers
  • I thought the tupperware we had both accumulated over the years was good enough, but Tom really wanted these containers. He was never truly able to articulate why he wanted them so badly…although I have my suspicions that it has something to do with him liking pushing the button on top to make them air-tight…

• Alaina: Keurig Coffee Maker 
  • Although I had already had one, I had lent it to my parents to use since my roommate Birgetta already had one we could use while we lived together. Suffice to say, they loved it so much I never got it back. It was CRUCIAL to me to have a one-cup coffee maker since Tom hates coffee. And since he hates coffee, he had NO desire to register for a coffee maker. 

Luckily, we both got the item that we individually really wanted. Tom got his fun (?) containers and I got the lifeline to my ability to function as a human being in the morning: a COFFEE MAKER.

Beyond registering differences, Tom’s dislike (which is often more like disdain) for coffee frequently arises as a topic for discussion…especially due to the fact that I love it so much I could literally marry it (if I hadn’t married Tom first, of course!)

For instance, when we go out for our beloved donuts, I get coffee…and Tom gets orange juice. When I realize that I will not make it through our #targetrun without some espresso, I get a grande Starbucks latte…and Tom gets a smoothie. On weekday mornings when we’re exhausted, I refuse to leave the house without my mug of coffee…and Tom grabs an energy drink*

{Note: To be fair, Tom is pretty amazing at not drinking much caffeine. He drinks water religiously, he rarely drinks soda, and he powers through most tiredness with a strength that I will never know. His one vice on desperate mornings? Monster energy drinks}

Now for those of you who aren’t new to the blog, you may have picked up on something in the alternatives to coffee that Tom often consumes: they’re all filled with sugar.

THIS is where I found myself struggling this past weekend when we stopped into Starbucks to get my free birthday drink* and I was scouring the menu for something that Tom could get and enjoy that wasn’t filled with sugar. Hot chocolate? 43 grams of sugar. Strawberry lemonade? 32 grams of sugar. Tea? Well…there’s no sugar, but if he doesn’t drink coffee he’s sure as heck not going to like tea. I literally came up with nothing…so he ordered his smoothie and was as content as a clam. But me? I figured that there had to be something better.

{Note: Free birthday drinks at Starbucks are literally one of my favorite things about birthdays. A venti latte with an extra shot? Don’t mind if I do!}

As I thought about the fact that there was literally no beverage that Tom and I could both drink and both enjoy at Starbucks (le sigh), I got to thinking about what we could make at home that’s something we could both enjoy during rushed weekday mornings on-the-go as well as during lazy Saturday trips to the bakery or running errands.

Whatever I came up with, I did know that it had to accomplish at least three things:

• It had to be relatively easy-to-make (for those rushed mornings!)
• It had to have at least a little bit of caffeine (because I will die without it)
• It had to taste good with a donut*

{Note: This is probably the most important part. We love our donuts.}

So…where the compromise?

Here’s our answer:

• Create a warm beverage that can be made from a pre-made mix that can be stirred into warm milk or water to save time on busy mornings
• Utilize cocoa power for both flavor and a tiny kick of caffeine
• Ditch any fake sweeteners or syrups that are commonly found in sugar-free coffees and energy drinks and substitute agave nectar

| Donut-Worthy Hot Cocoa |

Serves: 20 Tom’s or Alaina’s

Ingredients Needed:

For the pre-made mix:

• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup dry non-fat milk
  • This is key to making it super decadent and also give you the versatility to make this mix with water if you don’t have any milk on-hand!
  • Carnation is the most well-known brand, but I recently stumbled upon a Market Pantry version that comes with three pre-measured one cup pouches…#score! 

• 2 tsp cornstarch
  • This makes it so it’s a bit thicker and richer–trust me, add the cornstarch!
• 2 tsp salt

For the cup o’ cocoa:

• 1 cup milk or water
  • Milk is eight million times more delicious, but you can always sub water in if you don’t have any on-hand!
• 1 tsp. light agave nectar

• 1/4 tsp vanilla

For the optional whipped cream:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tbsp. powdered sugar OR 3 tbsp. light agave nectar
• 2 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

First order of business: make your mix!

• In an airtight container that can hold all of your dry mix ingredients, add your cocoa powder, milk powder, cornstarch, and salt
• Closing the container, shake/shake/shake it off until it’s well mixed
• Store in airtight container for up to three months

{Note: Did anyone else get distracted by that music video? I personally took a good five minute break from writing to dance around my living room} 

ANYWAYS…back to that recipe…

Next up, you’re ready to make your delicious cup o’ cocoa!

• In a microwave-safe mug, add one cup or milk or water*
• Warm milk/water in the microwave for 1 minute & thirty seconds
• Add 1 tbsp of mix, agave, and vanilla; stir until mix is dissolved
• Return to microwave for thirty seconds; stir well
• Enjoy!

{*Note: For on-the-go mornings this can be done in any travel mug by adding all the ingredients then adding hot water using the biggest cup setting on your Keurig or any other hot water dispenser}

Finally, if you so desire, you can add some delicious whipped cream…

• Place metal mixing bowl & beaters in freezer for 15-20 minutes
  • FYI: You can use a hand mixer or standing mixer here!
• Once chilled, add heavy cream to the bowl and beat on medium-high until soft peaks form

• Add powdered sugar and vanilla

• Continue to beat on medium-high until stiff peaks form

• Add to cocoa and ENJOY!

To make it so your delectable homemade whipped cream doesn’t go to waste and it’s readily available on weekday mornings…try my Grandma Patty’s trick…

• Scoop tablespoon-sized dollops of whipped cream onto a metal baking sheet lined with parchment paper and/or a silicon baking mat

• Freeze overnight

• Once frozen, use a cookie spatula to remove frozen dollops from baking sheet and store in a freezer-thickness zip-top bag

• Remove dollops of homemade whipped cream anytime you have a need for whipped cream!

Now while that may seem like a lot of steps, the reality is that this diabetic-friendly & Tom-approved hot cocoa is ready in literally three minutes on weekday mornings…and that includes the time it takes to get that delectable whipped cream out of the freezer and pop it on top for an extra-special treat*!

{*Note: You shouldn’t feel that bad about adding the whipped cream–it only adds .8 grams of sugar for a total of 18.8 grams/serving…all of it but .8 coming from the milk (13 grams) & agave (5 grams)! }

This cocoa is truly unlike any other hot chocolate that I’ve ever made. I’ve made “diabetic-friendly” mixes before, but almost every recipe called for some sort of fake sweetener that would give the final product a bit of an off-taste…and it also somewhat freaked me out that I was eating chemicals. This recipe is the exact opposite: the agave adds the perfect touch of natural sweetness without any of the off-flavors.

Even better, this hot cocoa is incredibly rich and chocolatey without being overwhelmingly sweet (I’m looking at you Caribou hot chocolate…bleh!).  The addition of the vanilla adds to the decadent flavor–especially when matched with the base of the slightly sweet milk. The salt rounds out the entire thing, and if you’re feeling crazy and add the dollop of frozen whipped cream? Well…you just may die and go to heaven.

So while I must admit that this cannot completely substitute my need for coffee, it does actually give you a small kick of caffeine (~8 mg) that can sometimes be just enough to get you going. On top of this, it’s so deliciously decadent I usually forget all about coffee after the first sip.

And, for the record, it passes the donut test. Tom and I both love this easy-peasy drink to take on-the-go or enjoy while we’re cuddling on the couch on a Saturday morning watching Shark Tank* and eating our favorite homemade donuts.

{*Note: Yes, we religiously watch the recording of Shark Tank from the night before every Saturday morning. It’s just so good!}

So while Starbucks may not be able to meet all of our warm beverage needs (bummer, I know), it’s nice that we now have a homemade option that we truly both love. And the best part? I finally found a dish that can use both those containers Tom loves so much and the Keurig I can’t live without. A true win-win and a recipe made in wedding registry heaven.

And Tom has a point…pushing those buttons on those containers is pretty fun.

Here’s to making many more culinary compromises…all in the name of love.

xoxo,

alaina