‘Tis the season for snuggling up by the fire (or at least playing a video of one on your TV) with a cozy drink in hand. Celebrating the onset of winter with a hot toddy, spiced cider, and a steaming mug of hot chocolate is a tradition we all cherish.
When it comes to hot chocolate, everyone has their own preferences. Milk or dark chocolate? Marshmallows, whipped cream, or both? Water or milk? The options are endless. Just when we thought we had seen it all, a new trend emerged on TikTok.
Some TikTok creators have taken a unique approach to their hot chocolate recipe by ditching the traditional water or milk base in favor of something unexpected: bone broth. Advocates of this unconventional twist argue that it offers a more nutritious alternative, boasting high protein content in each serving. And surprisingly, despite the skepticism, it seems that the taste of bone broth remains undetectable in the final concoction.
Responses to this new trend on TikTok have varied from disbelief to outright horror. The debate over whether this innovation is a step too far in the pursuit of protein has ignited conversations. Are enthusiasts of bone broth hot chocolate truly swayed by its nutritional benefits, or is it merely a trend driven by macros? To delve into this culinary curiosity, I decided to try making a batch myself.
Amidst the myriad of TikTok recipes, this one is relatively simple: follow the instructions on your hot chocolate package but substitute water or milk with the bone broth of your choice. Despite being a novice in the realm of bone broth, I opted for chicken broth due to its mild flavor profile.
Preparing bone broth hot chocolate turned out to be a straightforward task. However, the real challenge lay in convincing my colleagues to give it a try.
For the most part, the bone broth hot chocolate looked, smelled, and tasted like the traditional version. Yet, there were subtle nuances that set it apart. Contrary to popular belief, the essence of bone broth is discernible in the drink, albeit not overpowering the chocolate flavor but subtly present with each sip.
Senior Food Director Rob Seixas, however, found the inclusion of bone broth off-putting. He noted a slight “meatiness” and greasy undertone that didn’t sit well with his palate. “It’s peculiar,” he remarked candidly.
Surprisingly, Seixas stood alone in his dislike for the concoction. The remaining tasters were pleasantly surprised, with some even requesting more. Editorial Director Jo Saltz and Test Kitchen Assistant Anya Ptacek appreciated the salty, savory notes the bone broth added. While unconventional, the addition of salt to desserts is a known culinary technique to enhance flavors, a concept that seemed to translate well into hot chocolate.
Bone broth hot chocolate surpassed expectations in taste, yet it doesn’t quite match the luxuriousness of the classic milk-based version. Furthermore, the nutritional disparity between the two isn’t
