Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix

This vegan hot chocolate mix is frothy, creamy, rich and easy to make with just 3 main ingredients and a plant-based milk of choice. A delicious warming winter drink that is a subtle mix between hot cocoa and hot chocolate.

dit recept is ook beschikbaar in het:

Nederlands

This article contains Amazon affiliate links.

 

Did you know there are many hot chocolate recipes? There is the Dutch version, then there is Mexican hot chocolate, an Italian hot chocolate and American hot chocolate. So many possibilities. But today I’m sharing with you my favorite vegan hot chocolate mix recipe.

I make this almost every single day. It’s so simple and warming. It’s also a versatile recipe as I think both children and adults will love this cup of chocolate comfort on a cold day.

You probably have once tried a store-bought hot chocolate mix. These are not only not vegan-friendly, but they are also full with other unnecessary ingredients.

Luckily, it’s easy to make your own dairy-free vegan hot chocolate mix with just a few ingredients. You could make this mix as a big batch, or as single portion. This chocolate mix will result in a frothy, rich, creamy, and delicious hot chocolate. And this one is not heavy on the stomach.

As a child I loved the taste of hot chocolate, but unfortunately it always made me nauseous. So well into my adult life, I avoided hot chocolate. However, this recipe… I feel like I have to make up for all those lost years without hot chocolate. I honestly can’t get enough and drink it almost every day. Okay, that’s a lie. I have been enjoying this drink every day for the past week.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOT COCOA AND HOT CHOCOLATE?

I’m not being picky here with the terms I’m using, because there is a big difference whether you are making hot cocoa or hot chocolate.

Hot cocoa is made from a cocoa powder + milk + sugar. But you can add other flavors or cacao powder.

Hot chocolate on the other hand is made with melted (chopped) chocolate + water/milk/cream and possibly some other flavors are added. Hot chocolate taste very rich. It resembles melted chocolate in a cup. It is also a bit less sweet than hot cocoa.

So, the moment you use cocoa or cacao powder in a chocolate drink, it is no longer hot chocolate but hot cocoa.

With this recipe I technically am making the best of both world since I’m using cacao or cocoa powder and also chocolate chips (if I’m out of those I use chopped dark chocolate).

The result is a hot cocoa made with chocolate to create a rich consistency.

Frothed vegan chocolate milk in a blue and white mug on a marble backdrop

INGREDIENTS FOR VEGAN HOT CHOCOLATE MIX

You would be surprised how many ingredients are in store-bought (vegan) hot chocolate mixes. Just have a look and you will find preservatives, E-numbers, milk powders, oils, a lot of sugar, stabilizers and probably even more unnecessary ingredients. I always wonder what the reason is for that. To make the best hot chocolate mix you really don’t need a lot of ingredients.

For a good vegan hot chocolate mix made from scratch you will need:

Dairy-free milk: such as soy milk, oat milk or make your own milk such as coconut milk or cashew milk. I like to use soy milk, because it is a plant-based milk with the highest amount of protein and this makes it a great milk to froth.

Dairy-free chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark): this gives the chocolate drink a bit more depth and richness in a more subtle way. You could omit this ingredient (which I sometimes do), but for a silky intense chocolate drink these chocolate chips hit that sweet spot for me.

Unsweetened cocoa / cacao powder: this is of course an essential ingredient to any hot chocolate mix recipe. A good cocoa will give this drink a rich, dark chocolate taste. Dutch Processed Cocoa is quite intense and (raw) cacao powder is less intense and also less bitter.

A sweetener: I use a combination of xylitol and monk fruit, but coconut sugar or stevia is also a great combination with hot chocolate. A sweetener will balance the bitter dark flavor of chocolate. With that you also keep the drink things refined sugar-free if you wish.

You can play around with the (amount of) cocoa- or cacao powder, but you cannot replace the dairy-free milk with water. A plant-based milk such as soy milk will give this recipe a silky, frothy rich flavor. Water can’t do that.

Ingredients vegan hot chocolate mix on a small white plate with a black edge on a white backdrop

HOW TO FLAVOR VEGAN HOT CHOCOLATE MIX

This chocolate mix is delicious as it is. The combination of cocoa powder, dairy-free chocolate chips, a sweetener and soy milk is perfect. But if you would like to make this chocolate drink more festive, you can add a few ingredients:

Vanilla extract or vanilla powder will give this chocolate drink a subtle sweet flavor.

Cinnamon powder gives this hot chocolate mix a more warm flavor (you can also use pumpkin spice).

A single drop of peppermint extract makes this an ultimate festive holiday drink in my opinion.

One drop of almond extract gives it a warmer and round flavor.

A very small pinch of cayenne pepper makes this drink richer, warmer and it adds some heat.

HOW TO MAKE VEGAN HOT CHOCOLATE MIX

The recipe is pretty straight forward, but there are two ways to make this chocolate mix.

One method is to add all the ingredients for one serving to a pan on the stove or a milk frother.

The other method is to make a bigger batch and blend all ingredients in a blender for about 20-30 seconds. After that you can store the chocolate mix in an airtight container, ready to be used. A good blender will break up the sugar crystals and blend the sugar with the cacao powder. But you don’t have to even blend it all. You can follow the first method, but then without blending. So simply add all ingredients in a large jar and mix well.

I personally don’ have a preference and don’t taste that much of a difference regardless with method I follow. Since I like to change the recipe a bit every day, I follow the first method. I make a one portion chocolate mix and decide whether I would like to add for example maybe less chocolate chips.

But if you always make the same chocolate mix, it would save some time to make a bigger batch.

You can create the ultimate store-bought version, which only requires adding hot water. All you have to do is add powdered soy milk and blend that with the other ingredients. While this sounds amazing, I don’t like the taste of the powdered milks. It doesn’t froth well and it’s also not so creamy.  

Milk frother with a glass of milk with ingredients for vegan hot chocolate mix on a white counter

HOW TO MAKE VEGAN HOT COCOA

There are a few ways to make vegan hot cocoa.

When you use your blended chocolate mix, simply add 2-3 tablespoons of the dry mix to a mug and pour warm dairy-free milk on top. Stir and enjoy! It’s delicious, easy, quick, but it’s not frothed.

When you have made a big batch, but did not blend it then simply heat a small saucepan over medium heat with a non-dairy milk of choice. Add in 2-3 tablespoons of the chocolate mix batch, bring to a simmer and whisk until you have a creamy consistency.

The third option is my favorite method. It’s a one portion size with a milk frother. All you have to do is get a good milk frother. I know a good one can be pricey, but it’s so worth the investment! Add all the ingredients to the milk frother, press the warm frothing option and within a minute you will have the most silky, rich, frothy chocolate milk ever.

You can use any type of milk. I prefer soy milk, because it gives me the most amazing frothed milk. But you can also use oat milk, almond milk, light coconut milk or any other homemade nut milk. All these milks will work, but it won’t be as rich and creamy as when using soy milk in a milk frother.

Frothed vegan chocolate milk in a milk frother

HOW TO SERVE VEGAN HOT COCOA

I might be tooting my own horn now, but my hot chocolate drink is so delicious, rich, creamy and frothy that I don’t need to serve my drink in a fancy way. I could do that if I feel like it. My personal choice would be then vegan whipped cream made from aquafaba or coconut milk. Serving the milk with vegan marshmallows is also an option to create an American kind of hot cocoa.

If you are looking for a sweet snack to enjoy with your hot chocolate drink, try these dark chocolate shortbread cookies or this cranberry orange bread.

That is my current hot chocolate drink which I make way too often. I hope you will give this Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix a try and I truly wish you’ll make it a lot this winter to keep you warm. Don’t forget to tag me on Facebook or Instagram @thegreencreator + #thegreencreator! Or leave a comment below and rate this recipe. It really helps me out a lot if you do!

Frothed vegan chocolate milk in a blue and white mug on a marble backdrop

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Vegan hot chocolate drink in a blue and white mug on a white backdrop with a marble board

Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Bianca
  • Prep Time: 1
  • Cook Time: 5
  • Total Time: 6 minutes
  • Yield: 1 1x
  • Category: Beverage
  • Method: stovetop or milk frother or microwave
  • Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Vegan
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix is rich, creamy, and easy to make with only 3 main ingredients! An easy go-to vegan hot chocolate mix recipe. Perfect for a bigger batch or a one serving size cup of comfort. Creamy, rich. frothy and warming.


Ingredients

Scale

For one serving vegan hot chocolate:

For a bigger batch dry chocolate mix:

  • 80 gr unsweetened cocoa powder (or cacao powder)
  • 70 gr dairy-free semisweet or dark chocolate chips (or chocolate bar, chopped)
  • 70 gr sweetener of choice*
  • Optional add-ins:
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla powder and/or 2 tsp cinnamon

Ingredients for one serving of hot cocoa: 

  • 23 tablespoons dry hot cocoa mix, from the bigger batch dry chocolate mix
  • 1 cup (~230 ml) unsweetened soy milk*
  • Optional:
  • 1 drop almond- vanilla or peppermint extract
  • vegan (coconut) whipped cream
  • vegan marshmallows
  • ½ tsp cinnamon or pumpkin spice

Instructions

For a bigger batch dry chocolate mix

Add all ingredients to a blender and process on high for 20-30 seconds, until smooth and soft. Transfer the chocolate mix to a jar and store at room temperature for up to two months. 

When ready to make, use 2-3 tablespoons per cup of hot (soy) milk. Optional wet ingredients (such as peppermint extract) can be added right before serving.  

For one serving

Add soy milk to a large mug and microwave for 1 minute. Alternatively, add to a saucepan over medium heat.

Once the soy milk is warm, add the ingredients for one serving or 2-3 tablespoons of the bigger batch chocolate mix.

Put back in microwave or continue cooking on the stove top until completely combined. The milk should be warm and creamy.

Taste and adjust sweetness as needed. Add in the optional ingredients such as peppermint and vanilla.

The second option is my go-to method. Use a good milk frother and simply add all the ingredients for a one serving size hot cocoa in the milk frother. Let the milk frother do its work and serve hot.


Notes

  • Sugar Substitutes: you can use any type of granulated sweetener for this mix, such as xylitol, stevia, monk fruit or coconut sugar. You can reduce or increase the amount of sugar. Less sugar will make the cocoa a bit more bitter depending on how much milk you use. 
  • Milk Substitutes: I like to use soy milk, because it is a plant-based milk with the highest amount of protein and this is the best to froth resulting in a soft and rich chocolate drink. But if you don’t care so much about the froth, feel free to use oat milk, coconut milk or almond milk instead.

Freezer Friendly? No

Does it keep? Best when served hot

 

 

Leave a Comment

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.