Beet Hot Chocolate
My daughter and I don’t eat out often, but when we do – we tend to gravitate towards Chick-fil-A. Most times, when we go, I end up getting a coffee and picking off of what my daughter gets – which drives her nuts – but, hey, a little nutty can be a lotta good – right?! 🙂
Now, I have always heard that Chick-fil-A’s customer service was par none; and, up until recently, their employees’ smiley faces and polite replies of “my pleasure” without any eye-rolling (no matter if I asked them for extra sauce or if I could make one extra trip through their kiddie slide) were all the testament I needed.
However, one day, a couple weekends ago, things got dicey… as I was waiting on my daughter at a neighborhood mall, I stopped by a Chick-fil-A to get a cup of coffee. It was around 8.00 pm and I was asked to give them 10 minutes as they brewed a new batch as they had run out – so, I walked off and came back in 10 minutes, only to find that they needed 7 more minutes… aaaand when I came back in 7 minutes – weeeell, there was no coffee yet!
Sensing I was a gal who didn’t need another 10 or 7 minutes of separation from her coffee; another cashier jumped into the conversation I was having with the cashier who promised me my coffee 17 minutes ago. This other cashier (I am thinking this chap was no more than 17 or 18 years old) took over the situation and demonstrated such finesse and charm – I couldn’t help but be bowled over! Not only did he give me my coffee for free, but he even threw in a salad. I was feeling bad to get all these freebies, so I offered to buy some cookies and when I tried to pay, he insisted that they were on the house too! When I got home that night, I sent a quick email to that Chick-fil-A’s store manager with accolades on how professionally this young man had handled an uncomfortable situation. Not only did the store manager write back to thank me for the email, but this past Saturday, I received a letter in the mail with a coupon – for another meal!
I have always been pretty lucky with customer service, but this was just above and beyond anything I have ever experienced before!
Now – in case you happen to be wondering if Chick-fil-A is adding Beet Hot Chocolate to their menu and that’s why I have been going on about them – alas – no, that’s (sadly) not happening- at least, not that I know off. The only link between my ranting and this Beet Hot Chocolate is that this concoction goes above and beyond too! It’s not only a chocolate lover’s dream in taste – but – with those beets sneaked in – it’s a nutrition powerhouse combined with that dark C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E! I know that was a pretty lame segue – so I will just say, whether you love beets or not – y’all have gotta try this – it’s taste just might surprise ya!
[Tweet “Beet Hot Chocolate @RunninSrilankan “]
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post – I was not asked to write this – this is merely my experience and my desire to have y’all all add beets to y’alls hot chocolate!

Ingredients
- 3 cups milk of your choice I used Lactaid
- 6 tablespoons cocoa
- 4 tablespoons beet puree from beets roasted for 45 minutes at 400 degrees
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons honey or sugar to sweeten
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips or bar roughly chopped
- Whipped cream or coconut cream or marshmallows or toppings of your choice
Instructions
- Pour milk into a pan over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil
- Slightly lower flame and add in beet puree and cocoa and stir till well blended
- Add in the salt, sugar/honey and 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips/chopped bar and stir till melted
- Pour into 2 mugs and top with whipped coconut cream or whipped cream and remaining chocolate chips/chopped bar
Free Chick-Fil-A AND sneaking veggies into hot chocolate? You’ve won me over. I’m always a little leery of beets, but this drink sounds like the perfect bedtime treat!
I need to try your approach in handling situations with stores etc. I get a bit pissy at times but I often just keep quite if crap happens. You sent the manager a mail too which is cool. I think feedback is something we forget but it’s important, because otherwise how can a business get better if customers don’t share their concerns.
I want to know know how beetroot goes with chocolate, it looks fantastic Shashi. Happy weekend!
Okay this is just so cool – beet hot chocolate???? I love it! I have so many extra beets on hand right now … I need to make myself some of this!
It always makes my day when you get fantastic customer service!
I bet this is delicious, my daughter loves chick fil a.
Thanks Cheri! My daughter too
🙂
That is seriously good customer service. What a lovely idea of combining beet puree with hot chocolate. It looks wonderful and will taste even better 😀
Thank you so much Merryn!
I love hot chocolate and beets but the combination sounds so unusual. Of course now I’m going to have to make some for myself. Wow I just can’t imagine the two together but from what you describe it must be fantastic. Thanks for sharing that. By the way, I’ve never eaten at a Chick-fil-A.
Thanks Vicki!
When my daughter was younger and I used to make this, I used to strain out the mixture to remove any remaining pulp – in case you don’t happen to like beet pulp 🙂
So creative, Shashi! I adore beets…picked, roasted or just plain juiced…even in baked goods. But! I’ve never had Beet Hot Chocolate before! You could very well call this Old-Fashioned Red Velvet Hot Chocolate because some old-fashioned Red Velvet Cakes were made with mashed beets. Either way, I must try this soon this winter! Thanks for sharing, my friend. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Thanks so much my dear friend!
Oh my – I wish I had thought to name this ” Old-Fashioned Red Velvet Hot Chocolate”! Now that’s a fantastic name! Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend!
maybe the girl at Chick-fil-A didn’t know how to use the coffee machine? well, that’s awesome that you got great customer service!! and love the beet hot chocolate!! did you shape the beet puree on top into hearts? 🙂
Ha! Yes – I put some in a sandwich bag, cut of the end and squirted beet puree in the shape of a heart on the whipped coconut cream – it has a double meaning – it would be perfect for Valentine’s day around the corner – and this hot chocolate is also “heart” healthy 🙂
Thanks Alice!
That really was great customer service. And nice of you to write and let people know how someone made every effort to make things right for you. And speaking of making things right, this is hot chocolate made right. Beets?! I’d never have thought. But it looks wonderful. Thanks.
Thanks so much KR!
That’s great customer service! I love any kind of hot chocolate and would like a mug of this right now please 🙂
Ha – Thanks so much Bianca!
I love when a store or shop goes beyond the call of duty to please the customer for their error. You are so lucky that young man came into the situation when he did, I don’t think the first cashier was much help at all. I believe in calling out errors, as well as congratulating them for their good service. It’s so nice that you did that here. Okay… now onto this fabulous sounding beet hot chocolate… Whaaaat! I am so bowled over and I’m dying to dry it. 🙂 Wish I could get a coupon in the mail for a free hot chocolate. 😉
Thank you and thank you! You are too kind! Come visit and I will make you a tall mug – deal? 🙂
Can you taste the beets? Looks so good! That is very good customer service indeed. I could have used some of that this morning when my usual 45 minute commute took two hours due to delayed trains!
Tara – it’s kinda hard to isolate the beets in this – the cocoa and melted chocolate disguise it well – but, with that said – this doesn’t taste entirely like plain hot chocolate – it tastes somewhat “fruitier” I guess…for lack of a better word…
How do you come up with all these fantastic recipes including beet? Seriously, I’m fascinated! You manage to turn beet into a luscious treat, how cool is this?
Thanks so much Daniela – I have a long history with beets – most of what I post, I have had many many times before – like this beet hot chocolate – this started about 13 or so years ago as I was trying to sneak something healthy into my daughters hot chocolate 🙂
You know how I feel about beets, but I have to admit this is very creative. You’re definitely the Beets Queen Shashi (hope you like this title!)
I sure do know your feelings about beets – Mr. Cauli-King! 🙂 ..hope YOU like THIS TITLE, my friend!
Beet in hot chocolate?! You are on a roll, gal 🙂
Love the outcome on the whole experience at Chick-fil-A. You are right that its not about getting things for free, it’s how they’d handle the situation — with so much poise and dedication to their customers! I’ve got to pay them a visit soon 🙂
Thanks so much Kiran – you hit the nail on the head – poise and dedication go a long way in my books!
I love your Chick-a-Fil anecdote. While food is definitely important at any restaurant, good service can equally make an experience…and personally can sometimes overwrite not-so-yummy food. I also love that you emailed the manager after- a few minutes of our time can really help advance an employee’s career/role.
This is such a creative way to use beets, Shashi- I know they pair well with chocolate but I would have never thought to add ’em to hot chocolate.
Thanks so much Khushboo!
That kid was so awesome – I’ve crossed paths with a lot of teens – when I meet exceptional ones, I like to do whatever I can to give ’em a boost 🙂