Hot chocolate will taste 100 times better when one secret ingredient is added

There are some little things in life that do a world of good, and one of those things is a nice cup of hot chocolate. Now, the chocolately goodness is one that, despite the weather, many people enjoy, especially as a night-time treat. However, whether you're a hot chocolate made with hot water kind of person, or prefer it made with milk, there isone ingredient that will do absolute wonders to your drink, and needs to be added the next time you treat yourself to one.

Kristen Smith, a herbalist and aromatherapist, shared the secret ingredient on her natural health blog A Better way to Thrive, and will the missing component might seem out of the ordinary, Kristen swears by it.

Before revealing the game-changing ingredient, Kristien shared that she prefers making "real hot chocolate".

She wrote: "I'm an avid label-reader, and partially-hydrogenated soybean oil, artifical favours, and corn syrup are ingredients we strive to avoid as much as possible. Thankfully real hot chocolate is not hard to make at all, and when made from real food ingredients, you don't have to feel guilt drinking it."

The blogger shared her recipe which includes whole milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, unrefined sugar, honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and the secret ingredient - unrefined coconut oil which could make it taste 100 times better.

She added: "I know coconut oil may sound strange to some of you, but you have to trust me!

"It's very good, and coconut oil has wonderful health benefits! I usually keep a spoon handy to keep stirring it into the hot chocolate since it will float to the top. I do enjoy the hot chocolate without it, but it adds a whole new level of flavour that I miss when I don't add it."

Here is how to make Kristien's 'real hot chocolate'

Method:

Step 1

Place milk and cocoa powder in a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. As the milk warms, the cocoa will dissolve into it. Use a fork to break up any cocoa powder clumps.

Step 2

Add the sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla, and stir to dissolve. Give it a taste and add more cocoa or sugar to suit your preferences.

Step 3

Pour the simple goodness into a mug, and stir in your coconut oil. Once it melts, drink and enjoy!