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Peanut Butter Frozen Hot Chocolate

For most of the year, here in Texas, the weather is… weird.

80 degrees one day, 20 degrees the next. Sunny one minute, hail storm the next. They have a saying about Texas: If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. However, when it turns to summer, you can count on our weather to be one thing: oppressively hot!

Luckily, I’m well-prepared for the heat wave… with Frozen Hot Chocolate.

sundae

Remember Erika, with the Healthy Chocolate Cake Batter Milkshake?

She’s slowly warming up to the idea that healthy food can taste incredible. And the concoction I whipped up for her yesterday afternoon certainly didn’t hurt her opinion.

froco1

Peanut Butter Frozen Hot Chocolate

(Makes 1 really big serving)

  • 1 cup milk of choice (at least 1/3 cup as full-fat canned coconut milk if you want a really-rich treat)
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder (10 grams)
  • 1/16th tsp salt (do not omit this)
  • pinch stevia, OR 2 tbsp pure maple syrup or sugar of choice
  • Optional: for an even richer flavor, try adding a little melted chocolate (Serendipity’s recipe calls for this) or chocolate syrup
  • 1-2 tbsp peanut butter

Combine ingredients and whisk together on the stove. Or microwave 30 seconds, stir, then microwave another 30 seconds. Let cool, then pour into an ice-cube tray. If you don’t have one, pour into three or four small containers. (Or pour it all into one container, but be sure to thaw before doing the next step so your blender can handle the one big block of frozen-ness.) Freeze. Once frozen, pop the mixture into a blender and blend! (I used my Vita-Mix.) Do not add ice. I repeat: Do NOT add ice. You will dilute the flavor.

See original fro-co post for Frozen Hot Chocolate Nutrition Information.

sundaehotcocoa

Is the weather warm where you are?
And do you have any summer plans yet?

Published on April 18, 2011

Meet Katie

Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been 
featured on The 
Today Show, CNN, 
Fox, The 
Huffington Post, and 
ABC's 5 O’Clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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148 Comments

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  1. Lisa Fine [lisasfoods] says

    Yum. Chocolate and peanut butter is one of the best combinations ever.

    I’m hoping to set up some kind of camping trip this summer. I’d love to get to the Great Lakes area for a canoeing and camping trip.

    New York City would make a great trip too – I love it there.

  2. radioactivegan says

    That looks amazing! I’m hoping to get a new (permanent) job this summer and move somewhere else. Hopefully somewhere not much hotter and much less humid than Knoxville. A girl has to have goals …

  3. Kat @ Cupcake Kat says

    The weather we have where I live is somewhat similar to what you have in Texas. One day its warm and suny the next we have snow. Right now we have snow.
    I have no plans for summer but I can’t wait for it! Maybe I’ll make this so I can pretend its warm outside

  4. Anonymous says

    The whether was beautiful all weekend, but I woke up to gray skies and rain this morning. Oh well, April showers right.?

  5. Molly says

    I only have almod milk, but I might still give this a try! This summer I am going to Europe with my mom… I can’t wait!!

  6. Carrie (Moves 'N Munchies) says

    your weather sounds like our weather! bipolar!
    aHH this looks AMAZING- you could totally fool someone into thinking that was a bit ol sundae yet this one is nutritious and tastier!!!!!!

    summer plans are unsure of.. college touring.. in da south! and possibly a college course on nutrition somewhere! but still trying to find one!

  7. The Teenage Taste says

    Mmmmm…that looks fabulous! It looks like a hot fudge sundae!
    I’m having the same weather – one day its 70 degrees and sunny and the next its 40 degrees and rainy. I just want the warm summer weather to come and stay! 😀

  8. Jenny says

    Looks so sinfully delicious… Like chocolate ice cream… [Must free up some freezer space to make this. ASAP.]

    Finally getting warmer up here in Canada! I’d love to have hot weather all year-round… That’s how it was when I lived in Manila and in Singapore, and I’d like it again! No idea what 80 degrees Fahrenheit is in terms of Celsius, but if it’s around 40*C, I’d definitely welcome that with [very] open arms! 🙂

    Summer plans… –> Work work work!

  9. Katherine Pennington (Raw Mom) says

    I am from Texas and so miss home during this unpredictable NYC Spring! This looks delicious- plan to make it after my long run today since the weather is nice here today!!!! Thx for the inspiration- the peanut butter is genious for adding protein and I might just throw a little Sun Warrior Chocolate Powder in there as well!!!

  10. Sarah says

    This looks so yummy!! I randomly happen to have coconut milk in my fridge- had a $2 off coupon… so I think it’s fate that I try this soon!
    I wonder how my poor little cheap-o blender will fare… It has an ‘ice crush’ feature so maybe it’ll work out.

  11. Picky Nicky says

    Since getting my wisdom teeth pulled over the weekend, I’m so swollen I can’t even open my mouth enough to fit an olive! LOL, I’ll have to give this a try 🙂 Sounds yummmmeh!

  12. Flurina says

    Woah! Love the photos of the ice cream! 😀

    As one of my favorite foods is ice cream, I’m gonna do the peanutbutter Fro-co and garnish it with some maple syrup!

    Here in Switzerland the weather is around 14°C. In the summer I’ll maybe go hiking in the mountains.

  13. Sarah says

    Do you think almond milk hot chocolate isn’t rich enough, or is it just not rich enough in this recipe? ‘Cause I looove almond milk hot chocolate 🙂

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      It’s a delicious ice milk treat with just almond milk. But as I wrote in my post: “I first made this using only almond milk. I liked it… but my taste-tester friends—some of whom have tasted the real thing from Serendipity—said it was more like frozen ice milk than hot chocolate.” If you’re looking for a dessert that resembles the one at Serendipity, you need to use the higher-fat milk.

  14. Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says

    You are SO right about the weather in Texas! I almost thought, “I better bookmark this for summer,” but then I realized that there isn’t so much of a spring season at all…since we’ve already hit 95 degrees quite a few times. 🙂

  15. Jess @ Keeping It Real Food says

    This recipe makes me wish it was July.

    The weather is warm-er in NYC, but 60 degrees is starting to feel less balmy. I can’t wait for summer—Though I do have class, volunteer stuff, and work and may be moving to a different neighborhood, I have a few weekend trips to look forward to—the Newport Folk Festival, maybe some beach time, and hopefully the National Poetry Slam in Boston! Then the late summer/early fall weddings begin…

  16. Catherine says

    This looks delicious! I just recently tried your mint chocolate-chip ice cream, and loved it. Even my omni husband liked it! I am definitely putting this on the list. Your desserts are so creative and yummy – thank you.

      • Catherine says

        That’s so funny, considering if you buy mint chocolate chip ice cream at Friendly’s or Ben and Jerry’s, it’s probably bright green. But from gross food coloring!

        • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

          LOL so true! I always wonder how people can be grossed out by something like tofu, and yet they are perfectly fine eating flesh and blood… I mean, tofu’s a bean! People are so backwards! (I’m sure I’m backwards in some ways too!)

  17. Holly @ The Runny Egg says

    This looks so delicious — too bad my office is freezing right now so I’m thinking of having HOT chocolate, not frozen hot chocolate!

    This summer — I’m hoping to take Jason out to Washington DC. I know he’d love to see all of the monuments/museums.

  18. Lenna says

    What a pitty I am at work at the moment. I want to make this frozen hot chocolate right now. Even though we have like 0 degrees here:)

  19. Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) says

    I am making this today. No joke. You have just combined my two favourite foods, and I am in heaven just LOOKING at this!!

    And lucky you, going to NYC!! I’m going to HAWAII baby!! 😀

  20. J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says

    That looks soooo good! I think it’s warming up here in NY, just a little bit, though! I’m not in a hurry. I don’t like humidity. 🙂

    Working on summer plans. I would like to do some west coast traveling.

  21. Kelsey @ Unmitigated Grub says

    This may be one of my favorite recipes you’ve ever made–it looks THAT good! 🙂

    LOVE that you call it fro-co. HA!

  22. mariah @ Apples "N" Oats says

    this looks heavenly!!!the weather over here is 93 currently so this WILL be really useful!!!!

  23. Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says

    It is HOT in Florida!!! Forecast says 90 degrees everyday this week! I am going to need lots and lots of towels for tennis practice 🙂

  24. Angelica Garza says

    Yum! This looks right up alley! I’ve never tried anything vegan before, but I love to try new things 🙂 I will definitely give this a shot!
    The weather is def NOT warm here….I’m from Chicago and all we have been getting lately is a mixture of snow and rain! Pah!
    Oh, and I am going to NY this summer too! I lived there for school, and also while I was freelancing for SELF mag. I love it there! 🙂

  25. faith @ lovelyascharged says

    I’m hoping to hit up as many musical festivals as possible (I did one this weekend and it reminded me just how much I love them!) And I may also get to go to atlanta to see my uncle!

  26. Jojo says

    This looks tasty 😛 I wonder if you can just toss this in the ice cream maker… I’ll have to try that!
    I am going to Germany this summer for an 8-week language immersion program. Yay!

  27. Mary @ Bites and Bliss says

    Ohhh my goodness. I used to love McD’s hot chocolate sundaes (I know..) but this beats the pants off of theirs!! Looks so melty, gooey, and delicious.

  28. Laura says

    Do you eat this stuff too? 🙂 Every time you post something especially yummy-looking, I scroll down and you’ve given the good stuff away to someone else!

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      LOL I definitely don’t sit there and eat nothing while my friends devour their chocolate treats! Yesterday, I ate plain fro-co while Erika had pb. I love peanut butter, but just didn’t feel like it for my fro-co that day.

  29. Tricia says

    Hehe, if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. We have the same saying in ohio. The weather’s not as drastic here as where you’re at, but it gets pretty crazy lol.
    Your frozen hot chocolate looks delicious 🙂

  30. The Vegan Ballerina says

    OH EM GEE! This looks absolutely amazing! I wish I could make it, but alas, my blender is incapable of blending anything not soft (sadness). But, on a happier note – I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, and have just created my own blog and today I posted my own fudge baby flavor, so I linked back here, but I’m not sure I did it correctly, and I just wanted to let you know. Thanks for he inspiration 🙂

  31. Maria@La_Piattini says

    Oh my gosh you’re killing me! I gave up chocolate for Lent- now that its so close to Easter I’m going crazy with anticipation of eating chocolate!

  32. Emma says

    Woah! I didn’t realise how crazy the weather is in Texas! That looks gorgeous….can’t wait o feed it to Phil over the easter weekend 🙂 perfect movie-watching treat methinks 🙂 xx

  33. Emilia says

    Yum Katie– this looks absolutely DELISH! And you know it does 🙂 You’re so creative when it comes to dessert and food, too! Sadly the weather is quite cool here right now, but once it starts to warm up, i’ll put this yummy cold treat on my radar. Reminds me of protein ice- cream 🙂

  34. GingerandRice says

    New York is one of the best cities in the world! You MUST see a Broadway show. I was up there recently and saw How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. So good! Daniel Radcliffe is the main actor, and he is a fantastic singer/dancer. It should still be running this summer, so try to get a ticket ahead of time. It was hilarious, and I will remember it forever!

  35. Disturbed says

    Morning’s are freezing here, and then of course it warms up during the day which makes getting dressed appropriately near impossible.
    As for summer plans, I am hoping to go up north to New Hampshire to visit some family friends 🙂

  36. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says

    Anything with PB and Choc has my name all over it!

    You’re going to NYC? FUN!!!!

    Summer plans for me…well, I’m going away for 3 weeks in just a couple weeks, so May. Does that count as summer? 🙂

  37. Jess@HealthyExposures says

    haha, the Texas weather saying is the same as Vermont’s! Out weather is pretty…uh, bipolar, for lack of a better description.
    This looks like the perfect summer treat! Now, I just need sun and heat…

  38. Allison @ Runs A Latte says

    I’m liking this frozen hot cocoa idea! I was pumped to make it literally right now, and then I realized it has to freeze (duh!) and I was instantly bummed. I’m like a child with no patience! 🙂

  39. BroccoliHut says

    It’s feeling like summer here! Highs in the 80s all week…and I love it. However, if I were able to run right now, I’m not so sure I would like the heat wave!

  40. Mihika says

    That looks sumptuous. Chocolate + peanut butter = love. Before I went vegan, my favourite chocolate bar was Snickers. I also loved peanut M&Ms. Since I don’t eat either now, I make vegan chocolate-peanut butter ice cream 😀 Just as good, and no animals harmed!

    While on the subject of stevia, I bought a stevia plant today from the nursery and blogged about it! Katie, it’s BRILLIANT. My grandmother, who is diabetic, was so happy! I also ordered the Nunaturals stevia drops a while ago, and I’m waiting for those to come. Hopefully they’ll be just as good!

  41. Corey @ the runner's cookie says

    Oh this looks so delicious, Katie (as always)! I’ve been to Serendipity and actually tried their PB frozen hot chocolate, so I definitely look forward to making this!!

  42. Veronica says

    Hi Katie! I really enjoy your blog and have bookmarked numerous recipes to try out. Although I’m not a vegan or even vegetarian, I’ve always had a terrible sweet tooth and am a chocoholic. I was on a gluten-free, dairy-free and most sweetener-free diet (except stevia) for almost a year in hopes of improving my very long-term IBS symptoms. Unfortunately, the strict diet did not really help my symptoms and I completely went off my diet (until my next diet experiment ) about a month ago and eating a bit too much chocolate, ice cream, cookies etc. due to my deprivation. I like how your recipes are much healthier versions but still look so decadent. I really want to try this frozen chocolate soon as I have most of ingredients. Do you use coconut milk from a can or from a carton such as So Delicious brand for your recipes? Thanks!

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Hi Veronica! I’m so glad you found me :).
      When I specifically say “coconut milk” in a recipe, I mean the full-fat kind. If I just say “non-dairy milk” you can use so delicious coconut milk or whatever else you choose (I usually use Silk unsweetened almond milk). For the fro-co, you can definitely do it with just nondairy milk (as opposed to full-fat coconut milk). But, as I said in my post, it will be more like ice milk than the stuff called Frozen Hot Chocolate you’ll find on restaurant menus (like Serendipity in NYC).

  43. Catherine says

    Katie, do the frozen cubes of hot chocolate need to thaw a little first? I am having a very hard time getting them to blend in my Vita.

  44. Jillian says

    I just slipped the ice tray filled with luxurious chocolate pools into the freezer. I used Silk (plain) which has some fat in it as I didn’t have coconut milk. I added about a 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (didn’t have syrup) and roasted almond butter as I’m out of peanut butter. OK, so I slipped into my Queen of Substitutions role, but I don’t want to go to the store so I had to improvise and am having chocolate cravings galore! I tasted it (naturally) as I scraped the pan….YUM….I can’t wait to have some later. It’s hot as hammered hell (I believe that’s a Texas expression?) here, so this will be perfect! Thanks, Katie…..will be trying more recipes of yours soon! 😀

      • Anonymous says

        And the verdict is….Delicious! This was such a treat. I hate paying so much for the coconut ice creams and everything I have tried thus far has turned out more like sorbet. I know this was supposed to be frozen hot chocolate, but it could pass for ice cream. Only if that is THE most amazing ice cream on the planet, that is! Thanks so much, Katie! I am a believer in your concoctions! Can’t wait to try more.
        **Side note/question: I’ve always steered clear of canned chickpeas cuz I find they taste canned. I used to make hummus all the time and I’d buy the bag and soak them with a much tastier result. You seem to have some recipes using the canned version. Do you feel it tastes as good in the recipes you’ve tried them in?

        • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

          Honestly, I have not really experimented much with dry beans! I am lazy and just open the can! One thing you should make sure to do, if using canned beans, is to drain and rinse very well. And maybe you’d like organic canned beans better… although they’re more expensive, they have less of a canned taste.

  45. Green Groats says

    Katie!! What an AMAZING recipe! I just made it on Sunday for my family, and they loved it. I used almond butter instead of pb, just because I was out of pb, but it was really great! Thanks a bunch!

  46. Bethany says

    So I live in MN and right now it is so damn hot and humid that the only place the weather guy says it is comparable to is the Amazon. BLECH!!! This recipe has been my favorite way to cool off….it combines my two favorite things: chocolate and peanut butter!

    I threw in some chocolate chips and then discovered after looking at the package they technically aren’t vegan. Oops. I’m new to veganism and I don’t know that I’d go so far as to call myself one….more vegan-ish if anything. But I love that your blog helps me to be healthy and indulge at the same time! What’s life without chocolate??

  47. Kristi says

    Tried this last night. It was so super yummy!! Thanks for posting. I love that your recipes are single-serving or just a few servings. Perfect for a single gal like me 🙂

  48. Jodi Theisen says

    Oh my heavenly Lord Katie!!! I just made this dessert, with my own home-made nut butter and topped it with cashew cream and roast peanuts. I believe that you eat with your eyes so I served it to myself in a beautiful hand-painted bowl from India…. well… if anybody needs me I’ll be in the corner having a love affair with this dessert! I live in Australia and it is a balmy 28*C here today so this is going down smooth as ice! Love your blog!!!

  49. Audrey says

    Is this the post we leave the comments on for the chocolate giveaway? If so, my answer to the question is: I’ll eat the chocolate! That’s how I’ll use it. I also might chop it up for baking or something.

  50. Alexia @ NamasteYoga says

    I just made this recipe and i am amazed that i have never thought about making ice-cream like that before. I have frozen fruit, coconut flesh, raw cheesecake and all kind of things in the freezer but had never thought of making cold hot chocolate. thanks katie- made my day 🙂

  51. Shelly says

    Katie, I have to say this is my favorite recipe of yours that I’ve tried so far! It gives me the ice cream I’m craving without all the sugar and high calorie count. You’re amazing!

  52. Amanda says

    I have hot chocolate in the ice cube tray, in the freezer RIGHT NOW!! Double Choc Fro-co for me tomorrow!!! I have no ABC spread (I had an incident with the jar when I took it camping, resulting in an empty jar and a BIG mess!), so I had to settle for double choc rather than the choc/nut mix hahaha.

    🙂

  53. Erin says

    katie, you are my hero. truly. i have made a decision:
    I am going to be your Julie from Julie and Julia! (: my goal is to make all of your recipes by the end of this summer, and i am SO excited to try it! (so is my family, haha:)) thank you so much! (btw, this is my new favorite ice “cream”) 🙂

  54. Jen says

    You are the best in the world…You saved me thousands of calories and summerlong heartache! Ice cream is my downfall when the weather here in New England gets warm (and it has been very warm already!). This, to me, tastes better than anything at any ice cream place….I hate the sugery sweetness of ice cream/frozen yogurt……this is perfect!

  55. Angea says

    When you use the cans of full-fat coconut milk, do you dump in the entire can, or do you just use the cream that separated from the liquid?

  56. Lisa says

    Has anyone tried making one of these flavours with a spoon of natural flavour whey protein added? Was going to try and make chocolate peanut butter flavour and swap the peanut butter for whey protein…. Also anyone tried this recipe in an ice cream maker?
    Thankyou in advance…
    Katie your recipes are amazing!

  57. Kassie says

    Can you use regular stevia packets, if you don’t have NUnaturals? Thank you, Katie, this looks delicious. Your whole site has my mouth watering!

  58. Erica @ Cult of Kale says

    I just made this and it is absolutely rich and delicious and amazing. I made it without the extra toppings and it’s still perfect. Next time I think I’ll share some with my husband ^_^

  59. Alanna says

    Finally tried this tonight! I used Almond Breeze coconut/almond milk so it was a bit icy, but the flavor was awesome. Can’t believe so few calories in something so delicious and satisfying! 🙂

  60. Kristen says

    Three things:
    1. If you have a crappy blender, like myself, I reccomend making this in Popsicle form.
    2. It may be because I had Culvers earlier today, but the sugar listed is not enough to be like a sweet chocolate taste. If you’re feeding picky people who usually eat full sugar and fat ice cream, I personally reccomend putting about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sweetener in the mix. And marshmallows!
    3. This is super tasty!

  61. Emma says

    Yum! Making this today. I’m gathering up the family to head out to California to visit the grandparents. And the ocean. But mainly the grandparents. 🙂

  62. Emma says

    Hey katie! This recipe is amazing! I’m 12 years old and I love to cook and bake from scratch and I like to modify recipes to be healthy. As a young chef I was wondering at what age you started cooking and baking?

  63. Shannon Clark says

    I made this last night and the flavor was not that great. I used Stevia in the Raw in the green bag, do you think that has a different taste than the Nunaturals?

  64. Bill says

    Here in Vermont we have saying if you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes it will change
    Another is in Vermont we have two seasons winter and two weeks of bad skiing.

    In all seriousness are weather changes rapidly all year long. I have seen it go from blistering hot to seeing your breath in less then ten minutes, and one day from twenty below zero to fifty degrees the next day, and that is not all that strange here.

  65. Gail says

    Hi!

    Making this today for the second time! We found your website about 1 month ago. We have tried at least 6 of your recipes, and have been super satisfied with every one of them! Our oldest even asked for your recipes (one-minute chocolate cake with reese’s pieces frosting) for her birthday!

    Thank you so much! =)

    • Gail says

      Wanted to add that we froze this in an ice cream machine last night, and it was BETTER AND EASIER than the original method. Thank you to the folks who suggested that!
      This is our family’s new favorite CCK recipe! =)

  66. Gerry says

    Is there a nut-free option? My friend’s daughter is allergic to all tree nuts.
    I also wonder how it would be with cashew butter…a friend of mine can’t do peanuts. Any suggestions/recommendations??

  67. Elizabeth (Liz) Reed says

    I love your website and emails. I wonder if you are familiar with PB2? It is a tasty substitute for peanut butter. 2 Tbl=1 pp value! It even comes in chocolate flavor.

  68. Beverley says

    Hi Kate:

    I live in New Brunswick Canada. My Summer plans are family coming down from Ontario and we are going to PEI. Will see Anne of Green Gables Play at Confederation Centre in Charlottetown PEI. We will enjoy the Beaches and maybe have high tea at
    Dalvay Hotel.

    Do you have any suggestions for low calorie trail mixes……..Love your Site and your receipes.

    • Chocolate Covered Katie says

      Thank you! I don’t have a trail mix recipe but would guess that you’d probably want to use more fruit than nuts if trying to keep the calories low. Freeze-dried fruit would be a great thing to add as well. 🙂

  69. Sherry says

    I just made the chocolate peanut butter ice cream from your cookbook, and BOY is it good! One bite in, and I was muttering to myself, “This is really yummy.” LOL.

    I have to admit, I made a mess of myself making it, because some of it (probably because of the peanut butter) got stuck under the blades of my Vitamix and I had to turn everything off and dig it out. By the time I was done and send it through for one more blending, my hands and forearms were streaked in ice cream like a little kid making a mess with a melty ice cream cone. Heee. But it tasted good, so I just kind of laughed and headed over to the sink to wash up so that I could scoop up my ice cream and dig in!

    I had to stick some of it back in the freeze because it was so good, I was afraid I’d eat it all in one sitting!

    Anyway, I look forward to trying the other ice cream flavors from your cookbook. I was thinking I might try the vanilla one, and maybe try your “oreo” recipe and crush ’em up for some “cookies ‘n cream” ice cream. That would be yummy. (In fact one of my favorite DQ Blizzard flavors was mint oreo. It would be awesome to recreate that in a healthier form.)

    Thanks again for the yummy recipes!

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