Looking for a way to warm yourself up from the inside out? Champurrado may fit the bill, and in more ways than one. Think decadent hot chocolate kicked up a couple notches. Not only is this beverage served warm to knock off that winter chill, but with the addition of some flavorful spices, you are sure to be feeling cozy from the first sip.

There are many variations of this tasty treat. For example, some are thickened with eggs; others with corn flour or starch. Traditionally this is served as a non-alcoholic beverage, alongside tamales during the Day of the Dead Celebration. Some folks like to liven up the party by adding tequila or rum. Personally, I think the non-alcoholic version is better, but again, that is just personal preference.

I also like to kick up the health factor by adding in our BioTRUST Nutrition Low Carb Protein. For this particular recipe, I used our Low Carb Lite in Chocolate Ice Cream flavor; however, you could potentially use any of our chocolate flavors or even the Café Mocha, which would be amazing. I think this may also work well with our vanilla flavors, too—it just wouldn’t be a hot chocolate anymore. That said, it would definitely be delicious.

I like using cinnamon because it is rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. What’s more, some research indicates cinnamon may help support blood sugar control and promote heart health and healthy levels of inflammation.

The addition of cayenne pepper is another health boost as it provides several antioxidants, such as vitamins A, B, C, and E and potassium and manganese. Cayenne pepper may improve heart health, promote weight loss, improve digestion, improve blood sugar control, and strengthen immunity. Plus, it provides a big kick in flavor.

The active ingredient in chili powder is capsaicin. Capsaicin may help reduce triglycerides, bad cholesterol, and platelet aggregation in the blood. This component also helps prevent the formation of blood clots. In other words, capsaicin appears to have big heart health benefits.