Vegan Hot Chocolate
Vegan hot chocolate is a rich, decadent drink that’s served hot with your favorite toppings like whipped coconut cream and cinnamon sticks.
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Serve this yummy drink with your favorite toppings like whipped coconut cream and cinnamon sticks. Imagine you’re in a Paris cafe sipping dairy-free hot chocolate!
I like my comfort food, and this homemade vegan hot chocolate is the crème de la crème of comfort. Hot chocolate actually has melted chocolate in it, whereas hot cocoa is made only with cocoa powder. This recipe combines both, making it easy to make and absolutely delicious too.
Reader Reviews
★★★★★
Kelly
I love a cup of hot cocoa with my bagel and this one is perfect. Smooth and creamy. Thanks!
Ingredients & Substitutions
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- Cocoa powder — You can use either natural or Dutch-process cocoa powder.
- Sugar — Use granulated sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar, or even your favorite zero-calorie sweetener.
- Plant-based milk — I recommend using creamy plant-based milk like soy milk or cashew milk. If you use one that’s vanilla-flavored, that’s a plus too.
- Chocolate Chips — We’ll add dairy-free chocolate chips to this drink to add even more chocolate flavor and silky smoothness. You could also chop up a semi-sweet chocolate bar.
- Garnishes — Add these optional toppings: vegan marshmallows, coconut whipped cream, steamed soy milk, a sprinkle of nutmeg, or a cinnamon stick for stirring.
Notes from the Kitchen
- Adding both cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips means this recipe is easy to make, rich, and creamy
- Using minimal sugar lets the flavor of the chocolate be the star
- Adding favorite toppings like whipped cream, vegan marshmallows, or even cinnamon sticks makes this beverage beautiful and delightful
How to Make Vegan Hot Chocolate
- Stir together cocoa powder and sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Pour in the milk and continue cooking and stirring until the liquid becomes warm.
- Stir in the chocolate chips until melted.
- Remove from heat and pour hot chocolate into two mugs.
- Add your favorite toppings and serve warm.
Marly’s Tips
Most of the cocoa powder will break down in the saucepan with the heat and stirring. However, if yours has lumps, simply use an immersion blender or transfer the liquid to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. This adds even more foam to the finished cocoa drink, too.
Serving Suggestions
Serve vegan hot cocoa with any of the following:
- Dairy-free whipped topping
- Vegan Marshmallows
- Steamed Soy Milk — To top your cocoa with steamed plant-based milk, heat the milk until hot (but not boiling) and use a whisking tool to froth it. I talk more about steaming soy milk in my green tea hot chocolate recipe.
- Drizzles of Vegan chocolate syrup
- Vegan caramel sauce
- Cinnamon sticks.
- Vegan Biscotti Cookies add a nice touch to any hot beverage!
Make It Healthy
For a lower-calorie and reduced-carb hot chocolate, replace the sugar with your favorite zero-calorie sweetener.
Based on using stevia, the nutrition estimate is 173 calories, 16g carbs, 9g protein, 9g fat, 3g fiber.
Storage Tips
Transfer any leftover drinking chocolate to a lidded, airtight container, like a mason jar. This will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to serve, simply stir it, pour it into a mug, and heat it in the microwave.
I hope you like this recipe for hot chocolate as much as we do!
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Vegan Hot Cocoa
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (see note)
- 2 cups plant-based milk (See note)
- 2 tablespoons dairy-free chocolate chips
- Optional Toppings: vegan marshmallows, coconut whipped cream, steamed soy milk, a sprinkle of nutmeg, or a cinnamon stick for stirring.
Instructions
- Add the cocoa powder and sugar to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the milk and continue cooking until the liquid becomes warm.
- Stir in the chocolate chips until melted. Remove from heat and pour it into 2 cups.
- Add your favorite toppings and serve.
Recommended Equipment
(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)
Notes
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
More Beverages
If you love this vegan hot cocoa mix, here are even more vegan beverages to try:
About the Author
Hi! I’m Marly McMillen. I’m the founding editor, author, recipe developer, vegan home chef, and food stylist behind Namely Marly. I’m so grateful to you and every member of my audience for your support and dedication. More about Namely Marly ›
One Response to Vegan Hot Chocolate
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I’m with you Kelly! So glad you liked it!