This vegan hot chocolate recipe is quick and easy to make in just minutes. Make up a jar of the hot chocolate mix to have ready to go whenever you want a creamy, warm hot cocoa, or place it in a pretty jar for a homemade holiday gift. Drink it plain or top with vegan whipped cream or vegan marshmallows for a fancy treat.
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. 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!
You'll love this hot cocoa because it's
- dairy-free, gluten-free, and easily made soy-free too.
- rich and creamy.
- easy to make up the mix ahead of time to make it quick and easy.
- 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, cashew, coconut, or oat milk work best for a rich and creamy hot chocolate since they are thicker and creamier. You could also use water, but it won't be nearly as creamy.
For the 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 that you would like. Brown sugar, coconut sugar, or Sucanat also work well.
- Salt - for a flavor enhancer. (optional)
- Cinnamon - for flavor. (optional)
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.
- Chocolate Syrup - many brands of chocolate syrup are dairy-free, just 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 or you can look for Dandies brand marshmallows at specialty stores or Amazon. You can also make homemade vegan marshmallows.
- Candy Canes - you can add a candy cane as a stir stick or you can crush it up into little pieces and add it to the mix.
How to make vegan hot chocolate mix
I like to make up a large portion of hot chocolate mix and keep it in a big 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 all of the clumps of cocoa powder break up and you have a smooth powder.
- 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 it is 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.
Pro Tips
- The cocoa powder will only dissolve 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.
Vegan hot cocoa mix for a gift
My kids and I make a homemade gift every year for teachers, neighbors, and relatives. There are usually about 30 people on the list, so I try to make it something that will cost us less than a dollar or 2 per gift. We gave out 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 drink, try my easy homemade vegan eggnog!
Subscribe to my email list to get my free eBook “The Beginner’s Guide to Homemade Vegan Staples” or if you are ready to fully dive into making your own vegan cheese and other vegan staples, check out my cookbooks.
An easy dairy-free hot cholate mix made from simple ingredients. Easy to mix up ahead of time and have ready to make vegan hot chocolate whenever you wish.
- 1 cup vegan sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1 cup plant-based milk mixed with 2 tablespoons of the mix for each serving.
-
I like to make up a large portion of hot chocolate mix and keep it in a big 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 all of the clumps of cocoa powder break up and you have a smooth powder.
-
Store in a glass jar with a tight lid until you are ready to use.
-
Heat your vegan milk of choice in a saucepan until it is 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.
-
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.
- The cocoa powder will only dissolve 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.
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! 🙂