Gut Healthy Hot Cacao
With the chilly weather coming in this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to share this cozy drink—gut-healthy hot cacao with bone broth. I’ll admit, when I first heard about adding chicken broth to hot chocolate, it sounded a little odd. But the more I read about the benefits and learned which type of broth to use, the more curious I became. I finally decided to give it a try, testing the recipe for the first time on Christmas Eve.
Eric opted out of the bone broth in his cup, but I decided to go for it—and was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was. The key is using chicken bone broth, which has a mild, neutral flavor that blends seamlessly into the cacao. This hot cacao strikes a balance between comfort and nourishment, with antioxidants from cacao, blood sugar support from coconut sugar and cinnamon, gut-supportive ingredients like arrowroot, bone broth, collagen, and nutrient-dense maca. The result is a cozy drink that feels indulgent while still supporting overall wellness. Enjoy it with or without bone broth!
HOT CACAO POWDER
Ingredients
1¾ cups organic cacao powder (I used one jar of One Farm by WAAYB Organic Cacao)
1 cup coconut sugar
3 tablespoons arrowroot powder
2 tablespoons maca powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon sea salt
—
Instructions
Combine dry ingredients: Add cacao powder, coconut sugar, arrowroot powder, maca powder, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt to a bowl and whisk until evenly combined. (Alternatively, blend everything in a food processor for a finer texture.)
Store: Keep in an airtight jar in the pantry for up to 2–3 months.
SINGLE SERVE HOT CACAO
Ingredients
1 cup milk of choice
1/2 cup chicken bone broth(optional)
3–4 tablespoons of cacao hot chocolate powder (we use 4 for a richer taste)
1 scoop collagen powder(optional)
—
Instructions
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine milk and bone broth (if using).
Whisk in the cacao powder and heat for about 5 minutes, until steaming and fully dissolved. If using, whisk in the collagen powder.
Pour into a mug and top with frothed milk or marshmallows. Finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Cheers to healthy living!
xx
Victoria and Eric
Tips From Our Kitchen:
Storage Tips: Store your hot cacao powder mix in an airtight container to maintain freshness and flavor. We love using Le Parfait Jars, but any glass jar with a tight-fitting lid works well. Kept at room temperature, it will stay fresh for up to 2-3 months.
Choosing Cacao Powder: Cacao powder is less processed than cocoa powder and retains more naturally occurring antioxidants and minerals. Because cacao has a more intense, slightly bitter flavor, it creates a richer, deeper chocolate taste. We prefer organic cacao powder to avoid unnecessary additives—our go-to is One Farm by WAAYB Organic Cacao.
Bone Broth Matters: If you’re adding bone broth, be sure to use chicken bone broth rather than beef. Chicken bone broth has a mild, neutral flavor that blends seamlessly into the cacao without overpowering it. Look for a broth made with simple ingredients and no added sugars or vague listings like “spices” or “natural flavors,” which can include a range of undisclosed ingredients. Our favorite brand is Kettle & Fire—they make organic broths with clean, fully transparent ingredient lists and no mystery additives. We use their Classic Chicken Bone Broth for this recipe.
Collagen & Heat: Collagen peptides are heat-stable and dissolve well in warm beverages. You can whisk collagen in while heating or stir it in at the end—either works. To avoid clumping, whisk continuously or add it slowly once the liquid is warm.
A note: some links in this post are affiliate links. This never influences what we recommend — we only share products we genuinely use or brands we trust.
