Turmeric Hot Chocolate
Love hot chocolate but looking for a healthier option? Try turmeric hot chocolate! This golden drink has anti-inflammatory properties and can be enjoyed in 5 minutes.

This turmeric hot chocolate will not only warm you up but also give you a comforting, cozy treat!
Why you should make turmeric hot chocolate:
- Itโs healthy โ turmeric contains curcumin which has anti-inflammatory properties. Check out the possible benefits of curcumin.
- Itโs made from scratch โ nothing is better than a cup of homemade hot chocolate.
- Itโs different โ but if you like trying new things or looking for healthier alternatives, then you should give it a go!
I have a few more refreshing drink ideas for you here:
Ingredients needed to make turmeric hot chocolate:
- Milk
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Ground turmeric
- Coconut oil
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Honey
How to make turmeric hot chocolate
In a saucepan combine the milk, cocoa powder, turmeric and coconut oil. Give it a good whisk and bring it to a boil. Whisk occasionally to get rid of any turmeric or cocoa lumps and to make sure the milk wonโt stick to the bottom of the saucepan.
When you bring it to a boil, turn off the heat and stir in black pepper and cayenne pepper. Now all you have to do is pour this in cups and serve.
Can I substitute some of the ingredients?
Yes. You can substitute some of the ingredients. Just bear in mind that certain ingredients are used in this turmeric hot chocolate on purpose. For example, coconut oil and black pepper help your body absorb the curcuma from turmeric. If you donโt have coconut oil, add some butter instead. I donโt recommend omitting black pepper.
Cayenne pepper can be omitted. Instead of honey, you can use any sweetener of your choice.
As for the milk: I personally havenโt tried using dairy-free milk but I donโt see a reason why it shouldnโt work.
Turmeric Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (250 milliliters)
- 1ยฝ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil , to help absorb the turmeric
- black pepper (a pinch), to help absorb the turmeric
- cayenne pepper (a pinch)
- 2 teaspoons honey
Instructions
- Pour milk into a saucepan. Add cocoa powder, turmeric and coconut oil. Mix everything with a whisk until combined and bring to a boil.
- Turn off the heat, add a pinch of black pepper and cayenne pepper and give it a stir.
- Pour in a mug. Let it cool down a bit before adding honey.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Honey can be substituted with sugar, agave syrup or maple syrup.
- Coconut oil and black pepper are important here as they help your body absorb turmeric.
- Cayenne pepper can be omitted.
This is seriously delicious! I made a few changes to keep it keto. Water and heavy cream instead of milk. Allulose instead of honey. And added cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Yum.
Thanks for your feedback, Mandy! Our readers will definitely appreciate it!
Love it! I feel like I have inflammation a lot. Was looking for some natural help and found your recipe. I think I drank it every night last week – not because I miraculously noticed less inflammation, but because it’s delicious. I used almond milk and I added a pinch of cinnamon. So good. Thank you.
You are welcome, Charlene and thanks so much for finding time to leave feedback and rating!
Substituted flax milk. Did not use any oil, but ate zucchini walnut muffins with hot chocolate beverage. Hoped walnut oil would do the job of the omitted coconut oil. The more you drink it, the more you will like it!
This looks so good! What a great way to sneak in more of the good stuff!
Thanks, Suzanne!
Thanks for sharing! Is one milk better than another for this?
I’d say you can use any milk you like, Vanessa.
This was delicious. Thank you for the recipe
Thanks for the comment and rating, Kay!
This would be good to make for Christmas.
I like drinking turmeric milk for my arthritis and now adding the cacao makes this even better. I use almond milk and maple syrup. So yummy!!
Thanks a lot for your comment and rating, June!
Haven’t tried it yet. Have a question. Can the coconut oil be substituted with any other type of oil
Hi Linda. I have a section in the post “Can I substitute some of the ingredients?” which I recommend having look at. I don’t recommend substituting it with other oil in this recipe. Try using butter.