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This rich, creamy vegan hot chocolate recipe takes just 5 minutes and uses simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry! Here are the secrets to a dairy free rendition of this cozy drink.

Vegan Hot Chocolate
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Guess what: turns out the perfect vegan hot chocolate doesn’t have to be complicated. This rich, creamy dairy-free hot chocolate recipe takes just 5 minutes and uses simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry.

Alex and I have tested this recipe over and over and here’s what we found. A combination of oat milk, dark chocolate, and cocoa powder creates the perfect balance of richness and chocolate flavor!

Why this recipe works

Alex and I have made many different hot chocolate recipes, from our classic homemade hot chocolate to peppermint hot chocolate and even boozy spiked hot chocolate. Our son is lactose intolerant so we wanted to create a vegan hot chocolate version for him, too! Here’s what’s create about this recipe:

  • Oat milk provides the ideal creamy base without watery texture or overwhelming flavors
  • Dark chocolate adds richness and body
  • Simple pantry ingredients mean there are no specialty items needed
  • Quick 5-minute preparation
  • Customizable with various toppings and mix-ins!

Key ingredients for vegan hot chocolate

The best vegan hot chocolate starts with quality ingredients. While you can use any plant-based milk, we’ve tested extensively and found oat milk delivers superior results. Its creamy texture and neutral flavor create the perfect base.

Dark chocolate is naturally vegan and adds essential richness. While you can make this recipe with just cocoa powder, we’ve found that adding adding real chocolate elevates it from good to exceptional. The combination creates that classic hot chocolate experience everyone loves—especially our son!

Vegan Hot Chocolate

Expert tips

Once you’ve got the right ingredients, this vegan hot chocolate recipe takes just 5 minutes! All you have to do is heat up all the ingredients and melt in the chocolate! Here’s what to know about the process:

  • Whisk cocoa powder with a small amount of milk first to prevent lumps
  • Choose high-quality dark chocolate for the best flavor
  • Avoid almond milk (too thin) and coconut milk (too strong)
  • Heat gently – don’t let it boil
  • For extra indulgence, top it with vegan whipped cream or marshmallows!

A few variations

This vegan hot chocolate is delicious as is, but you can add toppings or mix-ins to mix it up a bit. Aside from whipped cream or marshmallows, try topping with cocoa powder, shaved dark chocolate, or peppermint candies.

You can also add peppermint extract for a festive twist (use ⅛ teaspoon), or spike it with your favorite liqueur for an adult version. We like using 2 ounces of bourbon or rum.

Dietary notes

This vegan hot chocolate recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free

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Vegan Hot Chocolate

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5 from 2 reviews

This rich, creamy vegan hot chocolate recipe takes just 5 minutes and uses simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry! Here are the secrets to a dairy free rendition of this cozy drink.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 drinks 1x
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 2 cups regular oat milk
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (1 ½ ounces) dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate*

Instructions

  1. Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and ¼ cup of the milk and whisk until the cocoa powder is mostly integrated. Whisk in the remaining milk until smooth.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients and heat over medium heat until the chocolate is melted, about 2 minutes. Do not boil. Serve immediately, garnished with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Notes

*You can omit for a great cup of hot cocoa with a lighter flavor (and less calories). But the chocolate really adds richness in flavor. We highly recommend it!

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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3 Comments

  1. Lauren says:

    This recipe makes the perfect hot chocolate. I added part of dark chocolate bar with almonds. Delicious!






  2. DAVID says:

    Your recipe has one major flaw, sugar. As a genuine and heath-inclined vegan, I would advise that people should refrain from using sugar. Pure dark chocolate is okay.

  3. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!