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What Are the Different Types of Sugar-Free Cocoa?

Lori Kilchermann
Lori Kilchermann

Most flavors of regular cocoa also are available in sugar-free options, including butterscotch, anise and rum cocoa. Sugar-free cocoas can feature mint, fruit and nut flavorings. Homemade mixes for sugar-free cocoa can be made with a few typical pantry ingredients and assorted flavorings, such as vanilla, coconut and mint extract. Sugar-free cocoa is also available in fat-free, low-fat and organic versions.

Mixes for sugar-free cocoa can be made with a few ingredients, such as baking cocoa, artificial sweetener and powdered milk. A basic recipe for sugar-free cocoa can be made using nonfat, dry milk powder; fat-free, powdered nondairy creamer; and baking cocoa. It is flavored with sugar substitute and ground cinnamon. Another option is combining instant nonfat dry milk and unsweetened cocoa and boiling water. A low-calorie, sugar-free cocoa can be made with unsweetened cocoa powder, artificial sweetener and vanilla extract.

Sugar-free cocoa can be flavored with a variety of mint and citrus extracts. Mint-flavored cocoas include double-mint, spearmint and wintergreen cocoa. Cocoas featuring citrus flavoring include orange cinnamon, tangerine and orange cocoa.

Unsweetened cocoa powder can be used to make sugar-free cocoa.
Unsweetened cocoa powder can be used to make sugar-free cocoa.

Vanilla, fruits and berries are also used to flavor some sugar-free cocoas. Fruit-flavored cocoas include banana, strawberry and cherry. Berry-flavored cocoas include raspberry and blackberry. Vanilla-flavored cocoas include vanilla cocoa, vanilla mint cocoa and vanilla nutmeg cocoa.

Nuts, spices and sweet flavors can be used to make cocoa. Sugar-free cocoa featuring nut flavorings include almond, black walnut and macadamia nut cocoa. Sweet flavoring options for cocoa include peanut butter, butterscotch and caramel cocoa. Spices are often used to flavor sugar-free cocoa, including nutmeg, anise and ginger. Some of the more exotic cocoa flavorings include coconut, lavender and Mexican spice cocoa.

Some cocoa flavors are reminiscent of holidays, while others feature flavors of other beverages. Holiday flavors of sugar-free cocoa include eggnog, cinnamon and pumpkin spice cocoa. Some beverage-flavored cocoas include root beet and rum cocoa. Hazelnut, maple and mocha-flavored sugar-free cocoa are also available. Some cocoa versions also feature various chocolate flavorings, such as Dutch chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate.

Fat-free, sugar-free cocoas are often made by substituting water for milk. A fat-free version of cocoa can be made by blending nonfat, dry milk powder with cocoa and fat-free, sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix. To serve, the mixture can be stirred into hot water. Low-fat, sugar-free cocoas can be made by using a low-fat milk, or a combination of low-fat milk and water.

Discussion Comments

Wisedly33

@Scrbblchick -- I figured that one out a long time ago too. I do still buy some sugar-free cocoa mixes because they really are easy to make, but the homemade kind is about as good as it gets. I also add just a drop or two of vanilla flavoring, and if I'm feeling wicked, a little rum. Warms up a cold day, for sure.

You can also make a peppermint patty by adding some peppermint extract (just a drop!) or a little peppermint schnapps for some kick. That's a great way to fix cocoa. It's one of my favorite variations, anyway.

Scrbblchick

My favorite sugar-free cocoa is easy: 1 teaspoon of cocoa (unsweetened kind for baking), 2 teaspoons artificial sweetener, dash salt. Mix these together and add 2 teaspoons of water. Mix until it's all combined. Add unsweetened almond milk to desired level. Stir. Microwave until warm and stir well. That's it.

There are more sugar-free cocoa options available than ever before, but that's as easy as it gets, and most people have most of these ingredients around. Almond milk has much less sugar than regular milk, as well as a longer shelf life. You can't use it for everything, but it's good for most applications.

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    • Unsweetened cocoa powder can be used to make sugar-free cocoa.
      By: winston
      Unsweetened cocoa powder can be used to make sugar-free cocoa.