Learn how to make the Best Vegan Hot Chocolate EVER! Even readers agree! Just 6 ingredients and ready in 5 minutes! This is better than the dairy versions I used to drink. Semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder are what gives a rich chocolate flavor!
Today I’m sharing the absolute best hot chocolate I’ve ever had, vegan or not! It is so creamy, so rich and so decadent and nobody would guess it’s vegan. The same goes for my Homemade Vegan Chocolate Milk.
This recipe is the dairy-free chocolate of my dreams and very exciting to share today.
I haven’t posted here in about a month and I don’t think I’ve ever done that since I started this blog in 2013. However, I had been working nonstop and posting new recipes weekly and was feeling a bit tired. Then I got into a really bad car wreck and got pretty bruised up and really sore. I’m completely healed and fine now, but my car was totaled. I’m truly the most thankful that my daughter was in school and not in the car with me!
I also am back with this delicious best vegan hot chocolate recipe! This dairy-free hot chocolate recipe was a creation from last year and shared a snap of it on this Instagram. I never got around to sharing it on my blog, but now that the weather is cold again and I’m drinking it again, now is the time.
WHY THIS IS THE BEST VEGAN HOT CHOCOLATE
I’m very, very picky when it comes to hot chocolate. Too many recipes are too watery, too bland, not chocolatey enough or sweet enough for me. I’ve tried so many. I don’t want my hot chocolate cloyingly sweet, but I don’t like it too bitter either.
Well, this dairy-free hot chocolate is my favorite ever.
It’s rich, creamy and a rich, decadent chocolate flavor, as well as perfectly sweetened. It’s not too thick, in other words, it’s not a French hot chocolate, haha. I’ve had a French hot chocolate in Paris many years ago and it’s VERY thick and rich and like drinking straight chocolate. Yummy, yes, but a bit too much for when I want to sit down and enjoy a full cup of hot chocolate.
THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR VEGAN HOT CHOCOLATE
So, to achieve my perfect Vegan Hot Chocolate, I used:
- semi-sweet chocolate
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- maple syrup
- canned “lite” coconut milk (forget almond milk, not creamy enough and too strong of a flavor)
- ground espresso
- vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Lite coconut milk leaves no flavor whatsoever of coconut, but is the perfect creamy base for this.
The need for chocolate chips is because they contain cocoa butter and that is what helps make this a rich chocolate flavor, as well as thicken it up when it heats up. My favorite brand is Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips, because they are vegan. Just cocoa powder is hot cocoa, but this is hot chocolate. It should be richer and creamier. I see many often get them confused, but they are definitely different.
See those delicious cookies in the photos? They are my DOUBLE CHOCOLATE FUDGE CRINKLE COOKIES and are to die for! Get them here!
The Best Vegan Hot Chocolate!
Ingredients
- One 13.5 oz can "lite" coconut milk (this truly is the best milk to make hot chocolate, I would advise against subbing as others I've tried were not good. Lite leaves NO coconut taste!)
- 2 tablespoons (12g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 heaping tablespoons (40g) semi-sweet dairy-free chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life)
- 1-2 tablespoons (20g) maple syrup, depending on your sweet-o-meter, I did 2
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground espresso or instant coffee
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Optional: whipped cream, shaved chocolate, marshmallows, etc.
NOTE
- I recommend Thai Kitchen brand for the lite coconut milk. It is amazing and always so smooth and creamy, not watery. Many brands can be rather watery and not smooth.
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend for a few minutes on high until completely smooth and frothy.
- Add the mixture to a pot over medium heat. Once it begins to bubble, whisk continuously for about 4 minutes until well heated, the chocolate has completely melted and has thickened just a bit. You don't want to overcook it, or it will get too thick.
- I found this to be the perfect level of sweetness, but if you want yours a tad sweeter, add a little more maple syrup. Remove and pour into mugs and add whipped cream, shaved chocolate, marshmallows, cinnamon, etc. Enjoy!
- This makes enough for 2 mugs. If you are just wanting 1 serving, then place the rest in the fridge and when you are ready to use it, give it a good whisk and reheat on low.
Notes
Nutrition
Sadly, this recipe keeps getting stolen and posted on other sites. If you make this recipe, please do not re-post it on your site, please link to me instead giving proper credit. If you are inspired by this recipe, again, please give proper credit and do not simply post it on your site.
So sorry to hear about your accident..time and unforseen occurrences befall us all….unfortunately….but continue to get better each day….Love your recipe..
Thank you very much Linda. Yes, I completely agree with you 🙂
Oh car accidents are scary and it takes a while to get back to your happy place. Glad you are alright.
This recipe is a keeper.
Thank you Catt, so glad you like the recipe!
So glad you are ok. Healing myself from spinal fusion in my neck. Down time is good for healing. Looking forward to some hot chocolate as soon as this neck brace comes off!
Oh my gosh, Linda, I’m so sorry to hear about that and your neck! I pray you heal well and quickly!
Who doesn’t love a huge cup of amazing hot chocolate! Looks so indulgent and good. And I love that mug!! I’m putting my suit on and going in for a dip!
Thanks! It really is so indulgent and good!
Glad you are back! This looks wonderful. Hope you continue to feel better and better.
Thank you so much Laurel!
Sorry to hear of what happened to you. Good to know that you are back on track. Love your recipes. Is it possible to use Carob instead of cocoa, just to avoid the caffeine?
Thank you Jeyam for your kind words! I’m afraid I am not sure of how carob would work. I’ve never tried it like this and since there is 3 tbsp of chocolate chips in addition to the cocoa powder, which is needed for the thickness and richness of the hot chocolate, I don’t know how you would achieve that with just carob. I just can’t give advice without knowing if it would work well or not, I’m so sorry!
This really is the best hot chocolate ever! I did not use the coffee, and I used coconut milk from a cartoon, (so delicious) I will be making this a lot this winter. It was amazing!!!! LOVED IT!!!!! Can you tell I really liked it a lot?
Yay!! So happy you loved it AND that you agree it’s the best, haha! Thank you so much for making it so fast and leaving feedback!!!
Hello dear Brandi,
I am perhaps your fan who lives the furthest away–down under in Tasmania, Australia! I am thankful for the miracle of the internet that we can share our talents and goodwill with fellow human beings all around the planet. You have so much to give and have given to all of us; your enthusiasm for life and creativity are infectious! Thank you for everything you are and do. This is also a wonderful medium for connecting with one another in spirit, to increase our humanity and compassion for one another. I am so heartened to know that you are safe and secure after your accident, and trust that you know beyond doubt that you are loved and care for by so many–you have angels everywhere looking after you and your family and guiding your paths. You are meant to be here and share your love and light with all, and your little girl will always know her mother’s unconditional love and care. Please take good rest for yourself, and be gentle, tender, and patient with your body, mind, and emotions. Surround yourself with all life-affirming thoughts and things that bring you joy, comfort and peace. I know I speak for all your blog followers in sending you and your family our love and best wishes. I know you will share a joyous, meaning-filled Christmas and a bright and beautiful new year. You are blessed and a blessing!
All love from Terry
This really does look like the best hot chocolate! I wish I had a mug of it right now!
Thank you so much Dianne!
Oh my gosh, this looks so good! Rich, creamy, and way healthier than most of the cocoa recipes I’ve seen.
Thank you Becky!
You need even more cozy hot chocolate after that!! O goodness!
To me, nothing will ever beat good old Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix (with the mini marshmallows that melted right when you added the hot water…so kinda pointless) but drinking that after coming back in the house from playing in a fresh snow fall with my brother…memories!
Oh yes, I remember that stuff too, great for hot cocoa! But for hot chocolate, this stuff is legit, haha! Thanks lady!
I did miss you Brandi!
Thankfully you are okay… love to see your creations. Take good care 🙂
You are so sweet, thank you Paula!
Both look irresistible to me. Have you a recipe for the chocolate cookies with the powdered sugar that you paired with your hot chocolate? Sure hope so, I make many of your recipes, keep them coming!!!!!
Thank you so much Judy! So glad to hear you are enjoying the recipes! 🙂 That cookie recipe is a Chocolate Powdered Crinkle Cookie! Super delicious, but I haven’t perfected the recipe for the texture yet, hoping to nail it this week! I’m enjoying the “failed ones” in the meantime, lol!
Hi Brandi! I’ve been following you for a couple years now, I’ve tried a lot of your recipes and I always love them! A year ago I finally went fully vegan and stopped eating wheat as well. I have always loved to cook and bake and it is so hard to find good recipes to fit my limitations now. Yours are always great and I really appreciate what you do so I just wanted to say Thanks! And also so sorry to hear about your accident and glad you are ok. This hot chocolate looks so delicious, I can’t wait to try it!!
That is so sweet Jillian, thank you so much for telling me that! I really do love hearing from readers and it gives me continued motivation, so, thank you! Thank you again. Be sure to come back and tell me what you think of this hot chocolate!
First, so glad you’re ok from the accident! Not a good experience.
I’ll be making this as soon as I finish sewing the last 18″ of binding on a warm, winter quilt!
And I have all Ingredients in the house!
Thanks for a wonderful holiday gift!
Sounds wonderful Marcy! Let me know what you think!
This is gorgeous! And I love the ingredients, so healthy! Beautiful recipe, can’t wait to try!
So sweet, thank you so much Heather!
So sorry to hear you were in an accident, very glad you have come through okay and are recovering from it and that you got some much needed rest! Enjoy the holiday season!
Thank you so much Kay!
I was SO excited to see a recipe from you waiting in my inbox! OMG! I am SO sorry about the car wreck! That is so scary, but I am relieved to hear that you’re all healed up and OKAY! I’m also glad that you listened to your body and took a break…it’s amazing what some time away will do – I’m sure you’re coming back with LOTS of drool-worthy recipes. Um, like this one!!! Wow. This looks incredible!!! I looooooove hot chocolate and it’s pretty much a winter staple around here. I love that you added in chocolate chips and espresso powder…a dangerous, but delicious combo! Topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings takes this over the top – what a gorgeous mug of chocolate-y goodness. And that mug!!!! I LOVE it! Those cookies look like a perfect way to pair it, too. OK, rambling done! So wonderful to see you back here! Lots of love, my friend <3
Thank you so much my sweet friend!! I couldn’t remember if I told you about my wreck or not in our emails….I had talked about it so much that I was sick of talking about it, haha. I’m doing just fine now and just so happy that Olivia wasn’t with me! I was on my way to pick her up and was just a minute away, then this crazy fast teenager pulled RIGHT in front of me. It was sooo awful. My left hand is still screwed up and may be for quite awhile, but other than that, I’m fine now.
Thank you so much! Isn’t that mug the cutest?? I got it at Home Goods super cheap and the second I saw it, I knew it would be destined for my Hot Chocolate post, lol! I will email you soon! Love you!
Looks great! 🙂 Glad you are back and that you were not terribly hurt in the car wreck. Stay warm and safe out there.
Me too, thank you so much Kayla!
I wondered where you went! I’m so sorry to hear that you were hurt, but glad to know you are OKAY and recovering/recovered. So, so scary. Coincidentally, I was rear-ended about 2 weeks ago but thankfully suffered nothing more than a sore neck afterwards. (My car was also rendered a junker.)
Hot chocolate pretty much gets me through winter. I couldn’t live without it! I’m also picky and find that most commercial (aka ones from coffee shops, etc.) varieties are over-the-top sweet. I guess that’s how most people like them. I think the ground espresso in yours is key – – balances the chocolate and the sweet. Absolutely stunning photos, too!
Thank you so much Annie! Yes, a definite mini break was in order. I feel much better now. So very sorry about you being rear-ended!! Wrecks are just so scary and it takes awhile to get over them, not just physically, but emotionally too. Glad you are ok, too!
I agree, coffee shops tend to add a bucket of sugar to them. This one has a nice balance of sweet and major chocolatey-ness. It is truly the perfect cup for me. It’s dangerous because I want to drink it all the time, haha!
Thank you so much, that is so kind of you! Pain to photograph whipped cream on hot chocolate though, it melts in mere seconds! Grrr!
Of course I have missed you and your posts!!! Way to come back with a chocolate bang, I was so excited to see a new recipe from you pop into my inbox 🙂 I’ve been working on a hot chocolate recipe too (fruit-sweetened of course, so different), but right now I just want a big perfect whipped cream-topped mug of yours! Light coconut milk is the perfect balance of creamy but not too rich for hot chocolate, and I love throwing in some actual chips for extra thickness/richness too. But the espresso and sea salt is what I am most curious about with this recipe! You are always adding in those little details that just put it over the top from delicious to perfect, I love it! Love the mug and photos too, especially the up close top shot with the fluffy white and sprinkle of shavings–total YUM!!
Thank you so much girl! So glad you love the photos!! Oh yes, the salt and espresso just really enriches that chocolate flavor. In fact, I’d even say 1/4 teaspoon would be even better! Salt is so necessary for me with chocolate!
Omg Brandi! I am so sorry to hear about your car accident and so relieved to know you’re alright! Sorry about your car but yay for a new one. Wishing you 350,000 miles of safe driving in it! And btw, this hot chocolate looks fantastic! Can’t wait to try it! ❤️
Thank you so much Diana! Let me know when you do!
You are back!!!!! I certainly have missed you but I am glad you took a break because you needed rest. You need to look after yourself first. I am glad you are all healed up and I am certainly so glad you are still with us. The accident sounded bad with your car being totaled. Wow. I am glad you got your insurance money and were able to get a new car already. It is a horrible way to get a new car but at least a n new car is a little exciting. 😛
Oh my and yassss vegan hot chocolate. Girl you freaking rock!!!!! I miss hot chocolate and I have no doubt this will be the best hot chocolate ever. I am so excited to try it. And I am going to try to get my roommate to try it because she loves loves loves hot chocolate especially this time a year but hers are not vegan unfortunately. If she likes this maybe she will switch. I am so excited can’t wait to make it. I am dong my grocery shopping on Saturday so I will be making it this Sunday when my roommate is home, it works out perfect 😀
Thank you so much Christina! Glad to be back posting again and even more grateful to all of you being so kind and showing your care and love! It was a bad accident, but thank God for seatbelts is all I can say! That seatbelt saved my life.
Oh yay, I hope you love it! Come back and let me know and I swear your roommate should love it! It tastes just like a rich dairy version, I swear. Don’t tell her it’s vegan, lol! I swear, sometimes people automatically will think something is different just because it’s technically vegan. I have a family member like that. Anyways, I hope she loves it!
Hi! I am a big fan and this recipe looks amazing. I will definitely try it soon as we get in the Christmas spirit, nothing is better than hot chocolate and cookies. Could you please tell me what kind of whipped cream you use. I am very wary of unhealthy ingredients even in vegan products. Thank you.
Thank you so much Natasha! I actually don’t use whipped cream very often and when I do, I buy the So Delicious “lite” whipped cream that comes in a container called “CocoWhip”. I wouldn’t call it healthy, but I rarely use it. I honestly don’t believe you are going to find a healthy whipped cream, unfortunately, because they will all use some type of ingredients to preserve it and flavor it. For this post though, I tried this soy whipped cream that sprays beautifully from a can. It is my first time trying it and I wanted to use it for the photos since the other whipped cream I can never get to spray nicely and it melts instantly. The soy whipped cream tastes pretty good, but I wasn’t crazy about it and likely won’t buy it again. For the healthiest version of vegan whipped cream, it is best to make your own from a can of full-fat coconut milk. Chill in the fridge for a couple of days at least, so the fat cream part separates, then just scoop out the hardened cream and whip that for about 10 minutes until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla to sweeten. That is why I use for my pumpkin cupcakes in this recipe here:
It’s absolutely delicious, thick and creamy, it just won’t work too well for photographing hot chocolate, lol.
https://thevegan8.com/2014/10/28/gluten-free-pumpkin-spice-latte-cupcakes/
Hope all that helps and let me know when you make this hot chocolate, come back and leave me feedback!
Thank you for such a quick response. You are awesome!! I have actually tried making whipped cream that way but I totally understand the need for good pics and yours are always amazing. I will definitely come back to give feedback once I make your recipe. And glad you’re ok btw. Sometimes it is a sign from the Universe to slow down and take care of one’s self. Much gratitude your way…
Totally agree with you Natasha….thank you so much 🙂
Made your hot chocolate for the kids this morning and they absolutely loved it! Thanks again for another amazing recipe 😊
That is so wonderful! So happy to hear the kids loved it! Yay!
sorry about your car, SAME happened to my kiddo the day after Thanskgiving. Still waiting on insurance to settle and she is healing. Thankful you both are alive and well
Oh, thank you so much for saying that. Very scary for sure. So sorry to hear about your kid getting into a wreck, too! Glad to hear she is healing though, so thankful for that!