Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate

The BEST Vegan Hot Chocolate!

Option to add a slug of Baileys Almande

Indulge in a homemade hot chocolate. Very rich, thick and intensely chocolatey, yet not overly sweet! Garnish with coconut whipped cream, gelatin-free marshmallows, mini chocolate chips for the perfect post-shoveling snow treat! Add a slug of Baileys Almande if you are so inclined.

Hot Chocolate

Best Ever Vegan Hot Chocolate
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Drinks
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup hot water tap is fine
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar substitute for white sugar if you do not have any brown sugar on hand
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • 1 pinch cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 3 cups plant milk almond, oat, coconut, cashew or macadamia
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • coconut whipped cream, marshmallows (gelatin free), mini chocolate chips optional toppings

Instructions
 

  • Over medium-low heat, bring water, sugar, salt, cinnamon and cocoa to a simmer.
    hot chocolate simmering on the stove
  • Taking care not to let the mixture boil, whisk in milk.
    Bring to a simmer (not a boil) whisking periodically for 15 minutes to make sure it isn't sticking.
    Remove from heat and add vanilla.
    Overhead view of hot chocolate ingredients
Keyword vegan hot chocolate

Hot Chocolate Tips

  1. Be sure to mix the first 5 ingredients (water, sugar, salt, cinnamon and cocoa) before you add the plant-milk
  2. Do not let the mixture come to a boil. You want to just have bubbles, not a boil.
  3. Get whisking! The recipe does not require constant stirring, but you do want to keep an eye on it and stir periodically.
  4. Remove the hot chocolate mixture from the heat before you stir in the vanilla.
  5. If using, add Bailey’s after you remove it from the heat.

Marshmallows: Plant-based marshmallows are available at many health food stores (although, let’s be honest, there isn’t anything healthy about them! You can also order them online, I used Dandies Mini Marshmallows. I ordered mine from Well.ca, a Canadian e-commerce retailer that specializes in health, beauty, baby, home, and green and natural products. No affiliation, I just order stuff from their site all the time!

Whipped Cream: We really like Gay Lea’s Coconut Whipped Topping. Not an ad, we just like the taste. Careful when shopping for vegan whipped cream; while I appreciate any company’s efforts to provide plant-based options, many still need a bit of refining.