Montmorency tart cherries may help aid in muscle recovery and sleep. A mug of this creamy, decadent tart cherry hot chocolate is not only delicious but a nutritiously smart winter treat!

*Happy to partner with the Cherry Marketing Institute again this year who is the sponsor for this Tart Cherry Hot Chocolate recipe. All content and opinions are my own.

I know it’s normal to go through lulls with your workouts but the last quarter of 2017 might’ve been one of the longest, least motivated stretches I’ve experienced in quite a few years.

When I did show up to the gym, I’d half ass it, not push myself and do just enough to get by and maintain some sort of fitness.

I don’t know if it’s the New Year or maybe just the thought of a bikini wearing vacation at the end of the month but I finally feel like I’m making my way out of that workout lull and finding some mental energy to get back in the game at the gym.

I’m sick of knowing I can perform better than I am and ready to make some progress again instead of pretending like I don’t care.

We started a new squat cycle program too helping drive the motivation factor a bit (and hopefully my flatter than normal winter boo-tay) but it’s also proving to be a bit much for my under-trained leg muscles.

Holy soreness.

Between sets they feel like jello, all wobbly and weak and when I get out of bed the next morning, it’s like the lower half of me got run over by a train.

I’m no stranger to feeling sore (that happens weekly in CrossFit) but this is a consistent kind of new level pain forcing me to think about ways outside of mobility and stretching I can help alleviate it a bit.

Would you believe me if I told you this tart cherry hot chocolate is one way?

Besides the fact that it’s absolutely frigid in New York right now and hot chocolate is the perfect winter treat for beating these frosty temps, this tart cherry hot chocolate made with Montmorency tart cherry concentrate can also be helpful in recovering my aching leg muscles from this brutal squat program.

Montmorency tart cherries have been found to not only contain anti-inflammatory properties but they may also ease muscle soreness after exercise thanks to the concentrated amounts of anthocyanins found in the fruit.

Adding the tart cherry concentrate to this decadent and creamy hot chocolate brings a hint of tartness and a lovely subtle cherry undertone to the drink.

With its deliciousness and recovery aiding properties, there have been a few less chocolate protein oat bran bowls and a few more mugs of hot chocolate in my post workout nutrition lately.

Can’t say it’s a switch I mind too much.

And as an added bonus, tart cherries are also a natural source of melatonin which helps bolster a restful night’s sleep. So drinking this luscious cup of hot chocolate before bed just makes sense!

Follow it up with a tart cherry sleep gummy and snooze away!

Love this tart cherry hot chocolate recipe?

Here are more recipes with tart cherry concentrate: tart cherry glazed salmon, cinnamon ginger kabocha squash soup with tart cherry drizzle and tart cherry chocolate granola.