Rethink what it means to end a meal on a sweet note. A sip of something rich, soothing, and soul-satisfying can leave you feeling very relaxed, indeed.

Try one of these 4 easy recipes tonight!

Spiced Hot Dark Chocolate

Serves 4

1 quart almond milk

6 ounces dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao), chopped

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, to taste

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/8 teaspoon coarse salt

Heat all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium-low, whisking constantly, until chocolate has melted and mixture is steaming, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Per Serving: 277 calories, 21g fat (9g saturated fat), 0mg cholesterol, 30g carbohydrates, 4g protein, 4g fiber

Almond Cinnamon Frappe

Serves 1

2 tablespoons almond butter

1 cup almond milk

1 tablespoon honey

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling

Blend all ingredients in a blender until frothy. Serve over ice, sprinkled with cinnamon

Per Serving: 327 calories, 21g fat (2g saturated fat), 0mg cholesterol, 33g carbohydrates, 6g protein, 3g fiber

Chai Tea Latte

Serves 2

2 whole cardamom pods, lightly crushed

1/8 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

2 whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1 piece (1 1/2 inches) fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

2 cups water

2 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar

2 bags black tea, such as Assam or Darjeeling

3/4 cup milk (1% milk, almond, or coconut)

Bring spices, ginger, and the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until fragrant, about 15 minutes. Whisk in brown sugar, then add tea bags; turn off heat, and let steep 3 minutes.

Strain tea mixture through a fine sieve into serving pot. Heat milk over medium until just simmering, then remove from heat and whisk until frothy. Pour into serving pot, stirring to combine. Serve Immediately.

Per Serving: 91 calories, 1g fat (0g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 18g carbohydrates, 3g protein, 0g fiber

Spiced Apple Cider

Serves 4

1 quart unfiltered apple cider

8 allspice berries

4 whole cardamom pods

3 whole cloves

3 strips (about 2 inches wide) orange zest

2 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish (optional)

Heat all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium; simmer until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Cider can be kept warm over very low heat. Strain before serving, and garnish with cinnamon sticks, if desired.

Per Serving: 121 calories, 0g fat (0g saturated fat), 0mg cholesterol, 30g carbohydrates, 0g protein, 0g fiber

Nutrition Data http://nutritiondata.self.com

Information and advice on healthy eating, plus interactive tools for determining the nutritional content of foods

A Clean Slate: The Editors of Martha Stewart Living

Recipes and preparation