raw vegan hot cacao! (well, as warm as you like)

It began as a quest for comfort on a cold winter's day, with a motherlode of cacao beans I got from a friend "in the biz". I had already been making fresh hemp seed milk for my kids so we could stop buying all those boxes of hemp milk and also so I could ensure that they were getting all the nutritional benefits hemp seed has to offer. So I had been playing around with different milk recipes and decided to try adding some cacao beans. Because the Vitamix has such a powerful motor that it can actually heat up the food, I thought I'd let it run for a while to see if I could make hot cocoa. What I didn't expect was that the Vitamix would whip the cocoa into a frothy, creamy, delicious warm beverage that I enjoy better than any hot cocoa I've ever had.

This drink could probably be made in a regular blender. If your blender doesn't get it warm enough, you could always heat it up. If you want to retain the most nutrients, don't heat it up past 110 degrees. If you want to learn more about Vitamix blenders and how they can change your life for the better, click HERE, or feel free to email me and I will tell you all about it. Since going raw I hardly use any appliances, but the Vitamix gets used 1-2 times a day, every day. When people ask me what they need to get started on a raw diet, that's it: get a Vitamix. Do I sound like a salesperson? Ha ha...I don't care, just get one. Your hot cacao drink will be much better.

So here is the basic recipe which you can adjust to your taste.

2 cups water
2 Tablespoons shelled hemp seed, more or less
about 16 raw cashews
1-2 dates (medjool is large and soft, good for this recipe)
8-10 whole cacao beans, or 1 Tablespoon of cacao nibs (raw is best)
few dashes of salt (I like "real salt")
1-2 Tablespoons of agave nectar, to taste
1/4" piece of vanilla bean, or 1/4 teaspoon extract

optional: cinnamon, and cayenne, to taste (for Mexican cocoa)
I highly recommend it with the cayenne!
You could also throw in a few coffee beans...mmmm...!

Start the blender on low and gradually raise the speed. The Vitamix has a variable speed dial so I just crank it up. You want it running on high for 5-7 minutes so make sure the lid is on tightly. I got mine to a good drinking temperature in about 7 minutes. Drink it right away so you can enjoy the creamy foam that forms on top. Makes two servings.

Now, this recipe could also be made into a cacao milkshake, if you add 1/2 a frozen banana, some ice cubes, and don't let it run longer than it takes to blend thoroughly. I do that for an afternoon snack sometimes. Have fun with it! Great for kids, you can even give this to them for breakfast. It's often an after-dinner treat in our home.