Would you drink hot chocolate with bone broth in it?

Bone broth hot chocolate doesn't exactly sound like the tasty, cozy winter drink we knew from childhood. So why is it going viral now?

Wellness influencers on TikTok and Instagram are touting this unconventional approach to the holiday beverage, dubbing it a more nutritionally-dense alternative to regular hot chocolate. Those who have tried it for themselves promise it doesn't taste as strange as it sounds.

Online food creator Fallon Danae Lee offers her version of the recipe below:

• 1/2 cup of unflavored, unseasoned chicken bone broth

• 1 cup of whole milk, or 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream and 1/2 cup of milk, or 1/2 cup of full fat coconut milk and 1/2 cup of water

• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup

• 1 to 2 tablespoons of cacao powder, "depending on how chocolatey you want it"

• splash of vanilla

• pinch of sea salt

• 1 scoop of collagen, optional

While nutrition experts say there's nothing wrong with indulging in your favorite seasonal treats (sans more nutritional add-ons), here's how drinking bone broth could help you boost your nutrition goals this winter.

What is bone broth?

Bone broth is a clear broth made from boiling animal bones — beef and chicken bone broths are common on grocery store shelves.

"Bone broth may seem like a new fad, but in fact it's been a revered source of nutrition for tens of thousands of years," Dr. William Li, a Harvard-trained doctor, researcher and author of "Eat To Beat Your Diet," previously told USA TODAY. "Why it's become more popular today is there are these New Age health attributes that have been assigned to bone broth and different groups that make marketing claims about their own bone broth."

It contains calcium, magnesium, zinc and more — which health experts say means it's a nutritional option full of numerous benefits.

"You're getting collagen; you get iron, you get protein, so as a base, it does give you a good amount of nutrition," registered dietitian Dalina Soto previously told USA TODAY.

More: Why Gwyneth Paltrow was in hot water over bone broth

What are the downsides of drinking bone broth?

There aren't many inherent downsides of drinking bone broth, but the important thing to remember is that it's meant to be a base to a nutritionally-balanced meal, not the entire thing. In other words, don't pull a Gwyneth Paltrow and claim that having bone broth in the afternoon makes for a complete lunch.

"It's a nutrition-rich version of hot water. By no means is it a sound source of daily calories," Li said. Even for those looking to bone broth as a filling, low-calorie option to aid in weight loss, it still doesn't replace full meals.

If you're looking to incorporate the health benefits of bone broth while still consuming enough carbohydrates, protein, fat, veggies and calories to sustain you until your next meal, Li recommends using broth as the basis for recipes such as the following:

• Tonkotsu ramen

• Vegetable stew

• Bean chili

• Minestrone soup

5 bone broth cocktail recipes that don't taste 'like you're drinking soup'

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is bone broth? Health benefits, downsides