Vegan Hot Chocolate (Powdered Mix)
This vegan hot chocolate recipe is quick and easy to make in just minutes. Make a jar of the hot chocolate mix to have ready whenever you want creamy, warm hot cocoa, or place it in a pretty jar for a homemade holiday gift.
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Drink it plain or top it with vegan whipped cream or vegan marshmallows for a fancy treat. You can also drizzle it with vegan caramel, peanut butter caramel, or vegan butterscotch sauce.
Hot chocolate is a winter necessity. There isn’t much cozier than a cup of hot cocoa by the fire, and without hot chocolate, I may never be able to bribe my children to go out and play in the cold. The dairy-free hot chocolate mix is hard to find and expensive if you do, so I always just make my own. It’s so much easier than you would think, and it tastes better, too!
This recipe is
- dairy-free, gluten-free, and easily made soy-free too.
- Rich and creamy.
- Easy to mix in advance for quick preparation.
- Great to give as homemade Christmas gifts.
Ingredients and substitutions
For the base
- Dairy-Free Milk – you can use any plant-based milk that you want. I find that soy milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, or oat milk works best for rich, creamy hot chocolate because they are thicker and creamier. You could also use almond milk or water, but it won’t be nearly as creamy.
- Vanilla Extract – optional for more flavor.
For the hot chocolate powder mix
- Cocoa Powder – This is just simple baking cocoa. A good-quality cocoa powder will give you a great-tasting hot chocolate.
- Sugar: You can use any granulated vegan sweetener you prefer. Brown sugar, coconut sugar, or Sucanat also work well. (If you will be mixing it directly with milk, you can use maple syrup instead of granulated sugar.)
- Salt: a pinch for flavor enhancement. (optional)
- Cinnamon: just a sprinkle for flavor. (optional)
Vegan hot chocolate add-ins
- Vegan Whipped Cream – you can find dairy-free whipped cream at many grocery stores, even Trader Joe’s and Aldi frequently carry it. You can also easily make your own homemade vegan whipped cream from aquafaba – the liquid from a can of beans. For a super-rich and creamy vegan whipped cream, use my vegan whipped cream frosting.
- Chocolate Syrup: Many brands are dairy-free; be sure to read the label. I also have a great recipe in my Homemade Vegan Staples Cookbook.
- Vegan Marshmallow – the marshmallows at Trader Joe’s are vegan (they have mini marshmallows in the winter), or you can look for Dandies brand marshmallows at specialty stores or on Amazon. You can also make homemade vegan marshmallows.
- Candy Canes: You can use a candy cane as a stirrer, or crush it into small pieces and add it to the mix.
- Peppermint Extract – just a drop to turn it into peppermint hot chocolate.
Instructions for vegan hot chocolate powder
I like to make a large batch of hot chocolate mix and keep it in a large glass jar to have it on hand for quickly whipping up hot chocolate after the kids come in from playing in the snow. The mix will keep well in the pantry if sealed tightly in a jar for up to 6 months.
- Measure 1 cup of sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon into a mixing bowl.
- Stir the ingredients together with a whisk until the clumps of cocoa powder break up and the mixture is smooth.
- Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid until ready to use.
Instructions for preparing hot chocolate
- Heat your plant-based milk of choice in a saucepan until hot but not boiling.
- Mix in 2 tablespoons of hot chocolate mix for every 1 cup of plant-based milk.
- Stir with a whisk until fully dissolved.
- Pour into mugs and serve with vegan marshmallows or vegan whipped cream.
How to make a single cup
If you’re in the mood for a cup of hot cocoa and I don’t have any mix on hand, you can easily make a single glass too.
- To make an individual serving, add 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder, and a small dash of salt and cinnamon to 1 cup of hot vegan milk.
Pro Tips
- Cocoa powder dissolves only in hot milk or water. If you try to mix it before it’s hot enough, it will just float to the top. You can’t make cold chocolate milk with this mix.
- Any non-dairy milk will work, but plant-based milk with higher fat and protein, such as soy or oat, will give you creamier hot cocoa.
- If cooking on a stovetop, watch and stir frequently and avoid scalding the milk.
How to use hot chocolate mix for a gift
My kids and I make homemade gifts every year for teachers, neighbors, and relatives. There are usually about 30 people on the list, so I try to keep costs to under $1–$ 2 per gift. We gave out a hot chocolate mix last year, and it worked perfectly. The biggest expense was the glass jars, and the kids loved the fact that they could do it all themselves.
If you want another festive holiday beverage, try my easy homemade vegan eggnog!
Vegan hot chocolate recipe
Vegan Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
For the hot chocolate mix
- 1 cup vegan sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, (optional)
For the cup of hot cocoa
- 1 cup plant-based milk, mixed with 2 tablespoons of the mix for each serving.
Instructions
How to make vegan hot chocolate mix
- I like to make up a large batch of hot chocolate mix and keep it in a big glass jar so I can quickly whip up hot chocolate after the kids come in from playing in the snow. The mix will keep well in the pantry if sealed tightly in a jar for up to 6 months.
- Measure 1 cup of sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon into a mixing bowl.
- Stir the ingredients together with a whisk until the clumps of cocoa powder break up and you have a smooth mixture.
- Store in a glass jar with a tight lid until you are ready to use.
How to make vegan hot chocolate
- Heat your vegan milk of choice in a saucepan until hot but not boiling.
- Mix in 2 tablespoons of hot chocolate mix for every 1 cup of plant-based milk.
- Stir with a whisk until it all dissolves.
- Pour into mugs and serve with vegan marshmallows or vegan whipped cream.
How to make a single cup of vegan hot chocolate
- If you're in the mood for a cup of hot cocoa and I don't have any mix on hand, you can easily make a single glass too.
- To make an individual serving, add 1 1/2 tablespoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder, and a small dash of salt and cinnamon to 1 cup of hot vegan milk.
Notes
- Cocoa powder only dissolves in hot milk or water. If you try to mix it before it’s hot enough, it will just float to the top. You can’t make cold chocolate milk with this mix.
- Any non-dairy milk will work, but the plant milk with more fat and protein, like soy or oat, will give you creamier hot cocoa.
- If cooking on a stovetop, watch and stir frequently and avoid scalding the milk.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review below!📌 Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for new vegan recipes!
Can you us Cacao powder instead of cocoa powder?
Yes you can, but it may not dissolve as well.
Just made this tonight,Taste wonderful.
Great recipe thank you
I’m so happy that you liked it! 🙂
What kind of hot chocolate do you have?
I’m not sure what you are asking. Do you want to know the type of cocoa powder I use? If so, I usually use the Trader Joe’s brand, but you can use any type.
To make cold chocolate from a mix like this, two ways:
1. Heat some water, add your mix to bottom of cup (optional, stir it with a tablespoon of oat flour first), add 1-2 tbls of the hot water to the cup, mix or whisk thoroughly. Add your choice of cold milk, stirring as you go.
2. Add your mix to bottom of cup (optional, stir in a tbls of oat flour, makes it extra creamy), add only 1-2 tbls of cold milk of choice, whisk thoroughly. Repeat (or add nut butter, whisk in, then repeat). Once it is thinned out you can add remaining cold milk and stir to combine.
You can also throw a little turmeric spice mix into the cup with the chocolate mix, just stir before adding liquid.
For dark chocolate use more cocoa and less sugar, or start with half of each, and finagle to your liking. 🙂
Great recipe! Glad I found your site!
Merry Christmas! 🙂
Very nice Monica, thanks for the recipe.
You’re welcome! I hope that you enjoy some yummy hot chocolate this winter! 🙂