The Best Vegan Hot Chocolate.

Cozy up to a cup of the best vegan hot chocolate…it’s rich, chocolatey, and perfect for a winter time treat! You won’t miss the dairy with this simple hot chocolate recipe.

Okay, it’s a cold fall morning…you’re chilly, and want a warm drink, maybe hot cocoa…but, oh no! You’re on a dairy free or plant-based diet. Now what?

Never fear, I have a super simple recipe for the best dairy free, vegan hot chocolate.  

I LOVE hot cocoa. I don’t drink coffee, and hot cocoa was a staple item for me in the winter time. I would so look forward to hot chocolate from the coffee shop, but once I stopped eating dairy, that was no longer a part of my winter routine.

So I had to figure out how to make vegan hot chocolate at home. Thankfully, it’s surprisingly easy! Using just sugar, cocoa powder, and a non-dairy milk results in a delicious cup of vegan hot chocolate. And if you’re feeling extra festive, go ahead and add some vegan marshmallows or a candy cane thrown in just for fun.

Is there a dairy free hot chocolate?

Yes, you can go ahead and make hot chocolate with a non-dairy milk – it will be delicious.

Can you heat coconut milk or almond milk?

Yes, you can heat non-dairy milk the same way that you can heat regular milk.

How do you make vegan hot chocolate?

1. Simply heat non-dairy milk in a pan on the stove until it’s steaming.
2. Add the cocoa powder and sugar, and stir well until it’s smooth and combined.
3. Pour into cups, and top with vegan marshmallows or coconut whipped cream if desired.

Can you make vegan hot cocoa in the microwave?

Yes, you can make a cup of vegan hot cocoa in the microwave. Simply microwave a cup of non-dairy milk, then stir in a heaping tablespoon of cocoa powder and a tablespoon of sugar. Top with marshmallows and enjoy!

Are marshmallows vegan?

Many marshmallows contain gelatin, which is an animal product, so they aren’t vegan. Dandies brand marshmallows are vegan, and there are a few other brands that are vegan. Read more about it here.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

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The Best Vegan Hot Chocolate.

This vegan hot chocolate is rich and warming, and a wonderful treat on a chilly day!

Course Beverage

Cuisine Dairy Free, gluten free, vegan.

Keyword dairy free drinks, vegan hot chocolate

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 3

Calories 190 kcal

Author Kelly Roenicke

Ingredients

• 3 cups non-dairy milk Use any non-dairy milk that suits your dietary needs.
• 5 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• vegan marshmallows optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Heat the non-dairy milk in a heavy bottomed sauce pan over medium heat until hot, but not boiling. You do not want to boil it.

2. Whisk in your cocoa powder, and then your sugar. Whisk until it is smooth without any lumps.

3. Pour into mugs and top with vegan marshmallows if desired. 

Recipe Notes

You can use any non-dairy milk that works for your dietary needs. Try soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, hemp milk, or coconut milk.

We like to use So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk beverage.

 

Nutrition Facts

The Best Vegan Hot Chocolate.

Amount Per Serving

Calories 190 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 123mg5%

Potassium 469mg13%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 22g24%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin A 955IU19%

Vitamin C 17.5mg21%

Calcium 351mg35%

Iron 2.3mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Of course, you can use any kind of dairy free milk that works for your diet. I used to prefer almond milk, because it has a nice creamy texture, but now we have nut allergies to deal with.

Thankfully, any non-dairy milk will work in this recipe. You can try coconut milk, soy milk, hemp milk – any plant-based milk will be fine. 

If you would rather use a different sweetener, that would be just fine. You can make this recipe with date sugar, coconut sugar, or brown sugar. You could even make this vegan hot cocoa with maple syrup or agave syrup if you wish. I haven’t tried it with sugar substitutes, so if you try that, let me know how it works for you.

This vegan hot cocoa is:

• simple to make
• delicious and rich
• perfect for warming up after playing in the snow

Enjoy this hot cocoa with a sweet treat like these toasted coconut chocolate chip cookies). 

This post is part of my series, 31 Days of Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Egg Free Comfort Food.