How I Make Cacao at Home

I get asked quite a bit how I make our 100% cacao paste into a delicious drink, so I thought I’d share exactly how I do it.

This is my usual recipe for two cups — one for me and one for Matt. Nothing fancy, just cacao, almond milk, honey and a couple of little extras that make it really good.

Cacao for Two

2 cups almond milk
50g 100% cacao paste, chopped with a knife
1 tablespoon honey
A pinch of salt
A good sprinkling of cinnamon

Add the almond milk and chopped cacao paste to a saucepan and warm gently, stirring as the cacao melts.

Once melted, add the honey, salt and cinnamon and whisk until everything is smooth, creamy and lovely and hot.

Pour into two mugs — one for me, one for Matt — and that’s it. 🤎

Make It Your Own

This is how I make our cacao, but there’s definitely no one right way to do it. Once you’ve got the basic recipe, have a play and find the combination you love.

Make it lighter
If you’re new to 100% cacao or prefer a lighter drink, simply use a little less cacao paste. Try 15–20g per cup and go from there.

Change the milk
I use almond milk, but you can use oat, coconut or whatever plant milk you enjoy. You can also use water, or a mix of water and plant milk.

Dairy milk works too, although some research suggests the proteins in dairy may affect how some of cacao’s beneficial plant compounds are absorbed. If getting the most from your cacao is important to you, I’d stick with plant milk or water.

Play with the sweetness
Swap the honey for maple syrup or coconut sugar, use a little more or less, or leave it out completely if you enjoy the natural bitterness of cacao.

Add some spice
Cinnamon is my everyday favourite, but cacao is also delicious with ginger, cardamom or a little cayenne chilli for an extra warming kick.

🌶️ Or skip the chilli altogether and try our Phoenix Cacao — 100% cacao paste already infused with our own homegrown cayenne chillies.

Add vanilla
A splash of vanilla gives cacao a softer, almost dessert-like flavour and is especially nice if you’re just getting used to the richness of 100% cacao.

Make it extra creamy
Use full coconut milk or add a little extra creamy plant milk for a richer cup.

There Really Are No Rules

That’s one of the things I love about cacao. You can make it strong and rich, light and sweet, spicy, creamy — whatever works for you.

Start with the basic recipe, taste as you go, and make it yours.

And if you’ve got a block of KPL cacao sitting in the cupboard wondering what on earth you’re supposed to do with it… now you know. 😂🤎

Shop KPL 100% Cacao Paste and Phoenix Cacao online.