This rich, creamy homemade vegan hot chocolate recipe is the perfect drink to warm you up from the cold of winter!
The best vegan hot chocolate
With no dairy and just five ingredients, this may just be the thickest, smoothest, creamiest hot chocolate you ever try.
The recipe is absolutely delicious and super easy to make.
It packs in more chocolate per serving than traditional hot cocoa recipes, resulting in an extra rich and chocolatey flavor.
And you might already have everything in your kitchen pantry needed to whip up a mug at home.
It is the perfect vegan hot cocoa for Christmas morning, Valentine’s Day, chilly snow days, or any time a hot chocolate craving hits.
You may also like these Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
How to make hot chocolate like Starbucks
The biggest advantage to making your own hot chocolate at home is that you get to be in control of all the ingredients. It also saves time and money.
To recreate the Starbucks hot cocoa, I first looked at their ingredients.
Almondmilk [Filtered Water, Almonds, Sugar, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol)], Mocha Sauce [Water, Sugar, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Vanillin].
So basically theirs calls for milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and cocoa processed with alkali. That last ingredient just means they use Dutch cocoa powder.
It sounded pretty easy to recreate at home.
And Starbucks hot chocolate can actually already be vegan when ordered with oat milk or soy milk. This information is good to know if you are ever out running errands and find yourself wishing for a mug of hot chocolate.
Instead of combining water, sugar, and cocoa to make a sauce for my homemade dairy free hot chocolate recipe, I decided to streamline the process. I omitted the water, both for simplicity and to not dilute the flavor of the final product.
All you need to do is whisk all ingredients except the vanilla in a saucepan or microwave safe mug. Slowly bring to a boil or microwave in 30 second increments
Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and whisk to finish dissolving the cocoa. Serve hot, or refrigerate and enjoy cold with ice.
Also try this Healthy Chocolate Cake
Vegan hot chocolate recipe video
Above – watch the step by step video
Easy vegan hot cocoa health benefits
At just 60 calories per large serving, this DIY nondairy hot chocolate recipe can also be gluten free, soy free, nut free, sugar free, egg free, paleo, and keto friendly.
Depending on the milk you choose, it packs in an incredible 36% of the daily value for calcium. And it gives over 20% of the DV for iron, magnesium and potassium.
Antioxidant rich cocoa powder contributes to the healthy hot chocolate recipe’s stellar six grams of fiber and close to five grams of protein in just one cup.
Even if you use full fat coconut milk, the hot chocolate is still under 200 calories.
Serve it hot or cold, for breakfast, snack, or dessert!
Hot Chocolate Flavors
Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Add 1/8 teaspoon pure peppermint extract when you add the vanilla. Or spike it with some peppermint schnapps.
Mocha Hot Chocolate: Instead of using brewed espresso, which could water down the cocoa drink, simply stir in 1/2 teaspoon of regular or decaf instant coffee.
Orange Hot Cocoa: Add the zest from one orange and a tablespoon of the juice.
Nutella Hot Chocolate: Stir in a spoonful of your favorite plant based chocolate hazelnut spread or this vegan Homemade Nutella Recipe.
Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate: Stir in a tablespoon or two of peanut butter before heating the hot chocolate beverage. Or try almond butter or cashew butter.
Gingerbread Hot Cocoa: Use blackstrap or regular molasses to sweeten. And add a pinch each of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
Top your hot cocoa with mini vegan marshmallows or Coconut Whipped Cream.
Crock pot hot cocoa variation
If you want a large size slow cooker hot chocolate recipe to feed a crowd or dinner guests, try the following scaled up version instead of the single serving recipe further down in this post.
4 cups milk of choice, 2 cups full fat canned coconut milk or cashew cream, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup regular or unrefined sugar, pure maple syrup, or agave, 1/4 tsp salt, and 2 tsp pure vanilla extract.
Add everything except the vanilla to the crockpot, and cook on low for 1 1/2 hours. Stir in the vanilla extract and any other extracts or flavors you wish.
Garnish each mug with mini marshmallows or whipped cream.
Ingredients and tips for success
Cocoa powder – Starbucks uses Dutch cocoa, which has a milder and more chocolatey taste than regular unsweetened cocoa powder. The recipe will still taste perfectly delicious with regular cocoa, just not as much like the one from Starbucks.
Milk of choice – I tried numerous different milks in this recipe and found that my favorite was a combination of coconut and almond milk.
If you do not need a low fat recipe, I highly recommend trying it with the coconut milk. The added fat makes the recipe ultra creamy. If you are allergic to coconut, subbing cashew cream or stirring in 2 tablespoons of raw cashew butter works just as well.
Vanilla extract – If you want the best hot chocolate taste, be sure to use pure vanilla extract, not artificial imitation vanilla flavoring.
Sugar – Feel free to go with pure maple syrup, cane sugar, unrefined coconut sugar, or stevia or monk fruit for hot chocolate with no sugar added. The sweetener amount will depend on whether you are using sweetened or unsweetened milk as well as your own personal tastes.
Pinch of salt – Do not forget a pinch of salt. It might be small, but just a little salt heightens the chocolate flavor and adds depth to the recipe. Leaving it out will completely change the results.
Vegan Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup milk of choice
- 1/3 cup coconut milk or additional milk of choice
- 3 tbsp Dutch cocoa powder or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp sweetener of choice
- 1/16 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- optional 2 tbsp peanut butter
Instructions
- For best results, first read through the tips for success above. If you are a visual person, watch the step by step recipe video.To make vegan hot chocolate, first whisk all ingredients together except for the vanilla. Slowly bring to a boil on the stove top. Or microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each, until hot. Turn off the heat, stir in the vanilla, and whisk to finish dissolving the cocoa powder. Serve hot.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
Have you made this recipe?
Tag @chocolatecoveredkatie on Instagram
More Vegan Chocolate Recipes
Nina says
Love this. I had everything in the house. What a wonderful way to start my day.
Jess says
It looks so decadent! Btw L O V E your new shirt!
Debbie Duran says
do you stir your coconut milk or just use the liquid?
Jason Sanford says
I would just shake the can before opening 🙂
Joanna says
This is exactly how I make my hot chocolate, too! Well, besides the pinch of salt. Havent tried that before and will see if it makes a difference.
Amber says
Omg katie even though I’ve been reading and creating recipes from your blog since 2015 I dont think I’ve ever left a comment on any of your recipes! You posted this recipe at a scarily great time because this east coast cold weather has brought my hot chocolate obsession back with vengeance! Ive been looking for a good hot chocolate recipe that wont give me a sugar high but still tastes rich and delicious!! This recipe did not disappoint!!! It was so perfect and tasted like starbucks hot chocolate (better actually)! I even made your marshmallow fluff which rocked my world omg I was so skeptical and freaked out about using the chickpea brine thinking it couldnt possibly taste like marshmallow fluff but IT DID!!! I scooped so much fluff on my hot chocolate and it was true happiness in a cup and is the cure to any bitter cold day!!
Cassie Autumn Tran says
Hot chocolate is actually my FAVORITE holiday beverage of all time–pumpkin spice lattes and apple cider are great but hot chocolate KNOCKS them off, LOL! In all seriousness, this vegan hot chocolate looks absolutely magnificent! Cashew milk, oat milk, flax milk, and almond milk are some of my favorite non-dairy milks to use. But, coconut milk is the BOMB for anything super creamy!
Jason Sanford says
Ha! I agree. Hot chocolate over pumpkin spice lattes any day.
Neha says
this is super tasty!! i used 2 tablespoons of coconut sugar as sweetener, and 1/3 water and 2/3 cashew milk instead of 1 cup plant based milk – it was still super chocolately and thick, except with 1 cup of milk it would’ve been even thicker so I’m very happy how it turned out with this substitution! I used the full 3 tablespoons of dutch cocoa powder, and with all of this I probably should have increased the sweetener – coconut sugar isn’t as sweet as other sugars too. If you like dark dark chocolate, this is perfect. If you like super sweet milk hot chocolate, then add more sugar.
Can we see a snickerdoodle or white hot chocolate latte sometime? 😛
onlinecakebhavna says
Love this recipe..
Alycia says
Katie, my son has a dairy allergy and I am so thankful for your vegan recipes. Now that he is two years old, I’m excited to introduce him to some healthy treats and your blog has been a lifesaver!
Mon says
So thrilled that you’re donating part of the proceeds of the shirts to Doctors Without Borders. True heroes. Thanks for this post. Looking forward to making all the versions at a cookout next week, with my students.
Bettsi says
Big hit here at my house! Just delicious! I did not have any coconut milk on hand so just made it with my oat milk and it is delicious. We’re a little fanatical about Trader Joe’s cocoa powder and it really shines here. Thank you!
Jason Sanford says
Aw I love the photo!
Jason
Meg says
This is SO delicious! I have found that making good vegan hot chocolate is difficult without evaporated milk to give it richness. The peanut butter in this recipes seals the deal. I tried it with soy/lite coconut milk and straight soy milk and I found I didn’t need the coconut milk to make it thick and rich and tasty — the peanut butter did the trick. I also blended all ingredients together in my mini blender before heating it up, and topped it with Miyoko’s cool-whip style whipped cream. This is my hot chocolate recipe forever! Thank you for sharing.
Jason Sanford says
I need to add peanut butter now, that sounds amazing!
Chelsey @ The Heartspace Connect says
Peanut butter in a hot choccy – interesting! I’m curious now 🙂
Nina says
love this recipe!!! I used oat milk for both of the milks, it turned out great!! I made a vegan whipped cream for it as’well worked so good with it. It was so creamy for something vegan even though I did not use coconut milk.
Nina says
I made this recipe for my cuz she can not eat dairy so I’m very glad it was really tasty. would have no idea it’s vegan. really helpful thank you!!
Lisa Smith says
this recipe is identical to the one on the side of the Hershey’s cocoa canister (just with non dairy milk), so i don’t think this was too much effort to come up with! If you use an immersion blender to froth this Hershey’s recipe up it will take it next level.
Molly says
Wow, I never leave reviews on recipes but this was simply fantastic and WAY easier than heaps of other recipes I’ve looked up. I used the steam wand on my espresso machine to heat the milk and mix the ingredients which I would definitely recommend if you’ve got one as it also adds a hearty froth on top!
Sara says
Yum!! It was delicious and easy to make!!
CCK Media Team says
Thank you so much for making it 🙂
Junni says
I’m going to try this because I cannot do pasteurized dairy, and do not have raw milk on hand. I’m hoping it does not taste too much like the Starbucks version because I hate it so hard.
Dan Delmerico says
I noticed that most of your photos show mini-marshmallows floating on top of the hot cocoa. See below:
It really boils down to being all about the mini-marshmallows IN the hot cocoa. If the marshmallows are made out of the marshmallow plant, as they were when marshmallows were first invented (according to legend the inventor was a vegetarian Battle Creek 7th Day Adventist who ran a health spa) 100+ years ago they were Vegan, and Kosher for that matter.
But nowadays, the gelatin which is the fixing agent for the marshmallow’s for holding its shape, but not the flavor (unlike the original “natural” recipe, which does contribute to the flavor) is derived from Beef tallow and other by-products of the slaughtering process; including their hooves & horns. I believe.
SO, if the marshmallows are made using the modern process, then they ARE NOT Vegan….and not Kosher either.
Linda says
Which type of cocoa do you prefer to use ?
Why?
Thank you!!!
P says
Absolutely delicious, thank you!
Anonymous says
I amm loving this hot chocolate. So glad I found the recipe!!
bell says
This is really too good about the vegan hot chocolate recipe.
Pursuit of Art says
This is the best hot chocolate I’ve ever made! I used cacao and cashew butter, and I’m in heaven! Thank you!
CCK Media Team says
Thank you for trying the recipe 🙂
Cam says
Tasty! I added some peppermint extract and marshmallows, and we all enjoyed it!
Becky says
Completely delicious!
Suzanne Lederer says
Katie, how do you stay so thin eating these delicious desserts you make??
Magpie says
This hot cocoa was incredible! And so yummy. Like the best hot cocoa I’ve ever made. The peanut butter addition really intensifies the cocoa flavor.
CCK Media Team says
Thank you so much for trying it 🙂
Linda says
I left out the peanut butter and didn’t use any almond milk, due to allergies in the family. I used 1 cup coconut milk, and 2 tablespoons agave syrup, where appropriate in your recipe. Having some leftover coconut milk in a can from making a carrot-coconut soup, I scraped some leftover coconut cream into my hot chocolate. Best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted! Of course, I added the vanilla and salt in the quantities indicated. Thank you!
Someone says
I LOVED this recipe! I made 4 servings for my family, and I used 1 can of coconut milk and 2 and 1/3 cup of vanilla oatmilk. I topped it with marshmallows, mint chocolate syrup, and coco whip. Delicious!
MC says
This vegan hot chocolate recipe is absolutely delicious!