Christmas hot cocoa with dates and orange

Christmas hot cocoa made with milk, cocoa powder and gingerbread spice, sweetened with dates and finished with orange zest. Vegetarian and ready in 10 minutes – a hot drink alongside warm juices in Advent.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 5 min
• Cooking time: 5 min
• Total time: 10 min
• Calories: 247 kcal per serving
• Protein: 11 g
• Fat: 10 g
• Carbs: 26 g

Ingredients

• 40g dates
• 500ml milk
• 1 unwaxed orange
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp gingerbread spice
• 1 pinch of salt

Method

You’ll need: saucepan · blender · chopping board · knife · grater · wooden spoon · whisk

1. Stone the dates and roughly chop them.
2. Blend the dates with 100 ml of the milk in a blender until smooth.
3. Heat the remaining milk with the cocoa powder, gingerbread spice and salt in a pan, stirring, until it steams.
4. Stir in the date milk and briefly whisk the cocoa until frothy.
5. Pour the cocoa into two mugs and grate a little orange zest over the top.

Good to know

Lebkuchen in a mug: cocoa, cinnamon, cloves and orange in hot milk. The sweetness comes from dates, which you blend finely with a little milk. That way the cocoa tastes rich with chocolate and spice.

Swaps

Milk → oat milk (vegan). Dates → 1 tbsp maple syrup. Gingerbread spice → cinnamon and a pinch of cloves. Orange → mandarin.

Cooking tips

If the dates are dry, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes first so they blend smoothly. Don't let the milk boil, or it will catch on the bottom.

Storage

Drink fresh, or keep covered in the fridge for 1 day and give it a quick shake before reheating.

Allergens

Contains milk; gluten-free, egg-free and nut-free. Cocoa contains a little caffeine; fine for children and during pregnancy in this amount.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Christmas hot cocoa keep in the fridge?

Drink fresh, or keep covered in the fridge for 1 day and give it a quick shake before reheating.