Perfect formula for a satisfying vegan hot chocolate recipe made with cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla and your favorite dairy-free milk! Not too chocolate, not too sweet, but just right!
This drink recipe is our holiday tradition to make every year, and I hope it becomes yours too! Making hot chocolate from scratch creates beautiful family holiday memories. Serve it with a plate of Christmas crinkle cookies.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 5 minutes on medium heat
- ⏳ Total Time: 10 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 2 mugs
- ⚡ Calories: 103kcal per mug, per the recipe card
- 🥣 Ingredients: unsweetened almond milk (or any milk), unsweetened cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla extract
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Rich and chocolatey, not too sweet
- ✋ Difficulty: Whisk and warm
Quick Answer
In a small saucepan, slowly add 2 cups unsweetened almond milk, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons maple syrup and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (skip the vanilla if your milk is already flavored). Heat on medium, whisking continuously until the cocoa powder is dissolved and the hot chocolate is warmed through. Pour into two mugs and top with marshmallows, chopped dairy-free chocolate and crushed peppermint. It makes 2 servings.
Jump to:
- Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why Homemade Hot Chocolate Tastes Better
- Why You'll Love This Vegan Hot Chocolate
- Vegan Hot Chocolate Ingredients
- Hot Chocolate Toppings
- How to Make Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate
- Tips
- More Holiday Drinks and Cookies
- Vegan Hot Chocolate FAQs
- More Cozy Holiday Drinks
- Vegan Hot Chocolate Recipe
When I was a kid, every Christmas I always loved going to the nativity scene at our Baptist church. It had live animals and was set outdoors where you walked through the scenes. My siblings and I loved it so much because as a treat we got to sip hot chocolate and hot apple cider along the way! And who doesn't like a warming cup of hot cocoa when it's cold outside?
Why Homemade Hot Chocolate Tastes Better
Click to see why it works
- You control the sugar. Most hot chocolate mixes contain extra processed sugars and preservatives.
- Whisk the whole time. Constant whisking dissolves every cocoa powder chunk.
- Creamy milks. Cashew milk and almond milk give the creamiest taste.
- Vanilla only if needed. Skip it if your milk already has vanilla flavor.
- Medium heat warms it through without scorching.
Why You'll Love This Vegan Hot Chocolate
- Ready in less than 10 minutes and so much more flavorful than any powdered mix.
- Only natural ingredients with no preservatives.
- Dairy-free with your favorite plant based milk.
- A holiday tradition my boys ask for all the time.
- Make it your own with fun toppings.
Vegan Hot Chocolate Ingredients
- Milk - use your favorite plant based milk such as almond milk, cashew milk or coconut milk (not canned). This recipe is best with almond milk or cashew milk.
- Cocoa powder - such as dark cocoa powder or baking cocoa powder that is unsweetened.
- Maple syrup - a natural sugar that has antioxidants and minerals in it with fewer calories than honey.
- Vanilla extract - just a little bit of vanilla complements chocolate. Only use it if the plant-based milk is unflavored.
See recipe card for quantities.
Hot Chocolate Toppings
- Crushed peppermint on top
- Mini chocolate chips
- Chocolate shards
- Marshmallows
- Whipped cream (coconut whipped cream)
That delicious Swiss Miss hot chocolate, I thought was the best hot chocolate drink in the world. Until I started making hot chocolate from scratch and into smoothies. My boys ask for hot chocolate all the time and it has started to be a nightly dessert treat if they finish all their dinner.
How to Make Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate
1Warm the milk. Slowly add the milk to a small saucepan and heat it on medium heat.
2Whisk in the cocoa. Right away add the cocoa powder, vanilla and maple syrup and whisk continually until the hot chocolate is warmed through and no cocoa powder chunks are seen.
3Serve. Serve right away into two mugs and top with marshmallows and sprinkles of dairy-free chocolate and peppermint (optional).
As always, be sure to check out the full recipe details in the recipe card below.
Tips
- Use plain milk. Make sure it is original or plain and without vanilla for this recipe.
- Other sweeteners. Substitute honey, keto syrup sweetener, or ¼ cup of monk fruit. Just heat the monk fruit until it is dissolved.
- Making it with dairy milk? Use ¼ cup cocoa powder and ¼ cup maple syrup, and turn the heat down if it bubbles on the sides so the milk does not curdle.
- Whisk constantly so no cocoa chunks remain.
- Serve right away while it is hot.
More Holiday Drinks and Cookies
More holiday drink recipes: Frozen Hot Chocolate Smoothie, Best Homemade Apple Cider From Scratch, Vegan Eggnog (for the adults) and Party Punch Cranberry Cocktails.
Cookies are always so good in the winter with hot cocoa! Our favorites include vegan beet cookies (colored red with real beets!), vegan gingerbread man cookies, vegan Christmas sugar cookies (colored green with spinach!) and vegan gluten-free soft lemon sandwich cookies.
More to dunk: vegan gluten-free sugar cookies, healthy peanut butter cookies and gluten-free snickerdoodle cookies.
Vegan Hot Chocolate FAQs
Any kind of milk works, but for a really creamy taste cashew milk and almond milk are best. Use original or plain milk without vanilla.
Yes. Substitute honey, a keto syrup sweetener, or ¼ cup of monk fruit heated until dissolved.
Cookies are always good with hot cocoa, like vegan beet cookies, vegan gingerbread man cookies or vegan Christmas sugar cookies.
Yes. Use cow or goat milk with ¼ cup cocoa powder and ¼ cup maple syrup, and lower the heat if it bubbles so the milk does not curdle.
Whisk continuously over medium heat until no cocoa powder chunks remain.
Crushed peppermint, mini chocolate chips, chocolate shards, marshmallows and coconut whipped cream.
More Cozy Holiday Drinks
Warm up with Frozen Hot Chocolate Smoothie, Homemade Apple Cider, Vegan Eggnog and Party Punch Cocktails. If you make this vegan hot chocolate recipe from Delightful Mom Food I would love to see your creations! Merry Christmas and Cheers! Follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for a feature and more recipe inspiration! And don't forget to leave a comment below!
Vegan Hot Chocolate Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 cups almond milk -unsweetened. Can use favorite milk such as cow milk, goat milk, cashew milk or coconut milk (not canned)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder unsweetened
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (only use if the milk is original or unflavored and does not already have vanilla flavor in it)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, slowly add the milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla. Heat on medium heat, whisking continuously until the cocoa powder chunks are dissolved.
- Serve immediately into two mugs and top with marshmallows, chopped dairy-free chocolate and crushed peppermint candy.
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