Dairy Free Hot Chocolate Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Nov 28, 2016, Updated Nov 29, 2023

5 from 5 votes

61 Comments

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This ultra thick & creamy dairy-free hot chocolate recipe is for serious chocolate lovers. It’s made from scratch in 15 minutes with 6 ingredients! Truly is the best Paleo and vegan hot chocolate you will ever drink!

Dairy Free Hot Chocolate Recipe (2)

The temperatures are dropping, snow is falling, and Thanksgiving has come and gone, which can only mean one thing, hot chocolate season has arrived!

This dairy-free hot chocolate recipe is amazing. It’s rich and creamy and perfect for those of you who love hot cocoa but need to make it dairy-free, or vegan or Paleo!

Because nothing beats coming inside after playing in the snow, curling up with a blanket and a warm cup of cocoa (like this peanut butter hot chocolate) and watching a Christmas movie! And just because you can’t eat dairy doesn’t mean you should have to miss out.

Make a batch of these homemade marshmallows and you will be in serious hot-chocolate heaven!

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Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate: Substitutions

As written, this dairy free hot chocolate recipe results in an extra-dark hot cocoa. There are a few substitutions you can make to adjust the sweetness and chocolate intensity to cater to your family’s tastes.

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  • Full-fat coconut milk. You can use coconut cream to make it extra thick. I do not recommend using almond milk because it is much less creamy than coconut milk. However, I have had great success with Silk’s almond/coconut blend!
  • ChoppedChocolate.Any form of chocolate works well (chips, discs or a chopped bar). You can choose the darkness of the chocolate, I use 70% dark chocolate, but have also use 60%, semisweet, and even milk chocolate. If you use unsweetened chocolate, add 1-2 Tablespoons more sugar (or to taste).
  • Granulated sugar.The amount and type of sugar used in this recipe can be adjusted to your liking. For a paleo version use coconut sugar, or honey or maple syrup.
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. The only adjustment to make here is the amount. I use a full 1 TBS of cocoa powder to make a super dark, rich dairy-free hot cocoa. You can adjust the amount to your tastes.
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How to make Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate

Let’s walk through how to make dairy-free hot chocolate together!

Begin by combining the coconut milk, granulated sugar, sea salt and cocoa powder in a 3-quart saucepan.

Then, warm the mixture over medium heat, whisking often until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.

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Once the mixture is smooth, add the chocolate and vanilla and whisk until the chocolate is melted. This takes about 5 minutes.

next, remove the pot from the heat and let the dairy free hot cocoa sit (covered) for 5 minutes before serving to thicken.

Note. The longer this recipe sits, the thicker it becomes. I have forgotten about it and it’s transformed into more of a super thick drinking chocolate than hot cocoa. If this happens, simply reheat it and add a splash of non-dairy milk.

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Serve

Pour into 4 mugs and serve warm with marshmallows. This recipe makes enough dairy-free hot chocolate for up to four people because it’s very rich.

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Store

Leftovers should be stored in a glass jar with a lid for up to 5 days. I actually love putting leftover dairy free hot chocolate in my coffee in the morning!

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Dairy Free Hot Chocolate Recipe FAQs

What is the best non-dairy milk for hot chocolate?

Full-fat coconut milk is definitely the best choice.

What are some dairy-free chocolate options?

Here are some of my favorite paleo/vegan/dairy free chocolate options.
Hu Kitchen Chocolate Gems. This is my favorite paleo chocolate. These gems are delicious and easy to toss into cookies (no bar chopping required).
Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Bars. You can also buy dark chocolate bars and chop them up to toss into these paleo chocolate chip cookies.
Lily’s Dark Chocolate. They make chips and bars that are stevia sweetened, low carb, keto, etc.
Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Chips are a good option that are vegan, dairy-free but not fully paleo.

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Dairy Free Hot Chocolate Recipe (12)

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Dairy Free Hot Chocolate

Laura

This ultra thick & creamy dairy-free hot chocolate recipe is for serious chocolate lovers. It's made from scratch in 15 minutes with 6 ingredients! Truly is the best Paleo and vegan hot chocolate you will ever drink!

5 from 5 votes

Course Dessert, Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 4 Servings (about 1/2 cup each)

Calories 220.5

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Resting time10 minutes minutes

Total Time15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine coconut milk, granulated sugar, sea salt and cocoa powder in a 3-quart saucepan.

  • Warm the mixture over medium heat, whisking often until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.

  • Add chocolate and vanilla and whisk until the chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and let cocoa sit (covered) for 5 minutes before serving to thicken.**

Video

Notes

*for a darker version, use 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder.

**The longer this recipe sits, the thicker it becomes. If it becomes too thick, simply reheat it and add a splash of non-dairy milk.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Full-fat coconut milk. You can use coconut cream to make it extra thick. I do not recommend using almond milk because it is much less creamy than coconut milk. However, I have had great success with Silk’s almond/coconut blend!
  • ChoppedChocolate.Any form of chocolate works well (chips, discs or a chopped bar). You can choose the darkness of the chocolate, I use 70% dark chocolate, but have also use 60%, semisweet, and even milk chocolate. If you use unsweetened chocolate, add 1-2 Tablespoons more sugar (or to taste).
  • Granulated sugar.The amount and type of sugar used in this recipe can be adjusted to your liking. For a paleo version use coconut sugar, or honey or maple syrup.
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. The only adjustment to make here is the amount. I use a full 1 TBS of cocoa powder to make a super dark, rich dairy-free hot cocoa. You can adjust the amount to your tastes.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 220.5kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1.2g | Fat: 13.6g | Saturated Fat: 9.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.2g | Sodium: 66.3mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 22.5g | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 0.9mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

Try these recipes

Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Mix

Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe (Hot Cocoa)

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

Homemade Eggnog Recipe

Dairy Free Hot Chocolate Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best non-dairy option for hot chocolate? ›

COCONUT MILK: Using lite coconut milk yields the perfect creamy texture and taste. It is neutral in flavor (the lite leaves no coconut taste) and it is neither too thick or too thin of a milk.

How to make hot chocolate without any milk? ›

Instructions
  1. In a sauce pan on medium heat add the water and cocoa powder. Whisk until there are no lumps. ...
  2. Take off the heat and add the tahini and vanilla. Whisk together. ...
  3. If you want a little froth on the top whisk the mixture vigorously either with a whisk or a milk frother.
Feb 13, 2022

Which hot chocolate is dairy-free? ›

With Cocoba Chocolate's dairy-free hot chocolate range, you can enjoy all the indulgence of a rich and creamy hot chocolate without any of the dairy. It's the perfect guilt-free treat for those who love chocolate but are looking for a dairy-free alternative.

Can you make hot chocolate with milk alternative? ›

I recommend using light coconut milk from the can. You could also use oat milk or any dairy-free milk you'd like along with the coconut milk! Unsweetened cocoa powder: a high-quality cocoa powder or cacao powder is essential.

How do you thicken hot chocolate without milk? ›

You can also make a rich and creamy hot chocolate by using water and adding a thickening agent like cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Another option is to use a non-dairy hot chocolate mix or make your own mix using cocoa powder, sugar, and spices.

Which vegan milk makes the best hot chocolate? ›

Coconut Milk

Creamy, thick and slightly sweet this plant-based milk creates a great texture in your hot chocolates but it also tends to add a slight coconutty taste.

Which is the healthiest hot chocolate? ›

So, you can make your hot chocolate healthy by opting for cocoa powder, or a natural, high cocoa percentage drinking chocolate. Although cocoa powder isn't incredibly low in calories, health isn't just measured by this – keeping a healthy, happy body is far more important than calorie counting.

Is hot chocolate powder dairy-free? ›

Is Cadbury's hot chocolate suitable for vegans? Yes, both of these hot chocolate powders from Cadbury's are suitable for you if you're on a plant-based diet. There is a 'may contain milk' warning on their packs just like other Bournville products.

Can I use coffee creamer instead of milk for hot chocolate? ›

You can use any flavored creamer you have to whip up a creamy, flavored hot chocolate.

Is there a such thing as dairy-free chocolate? ›

A growing number of brands are also producing explicitly dairy-free or vegan milk and white chocolates, often using alternatives like almond, rice, or oat milk.

What cocoa powder is dairy-free? ›

Pure cocoa powder is dairy-free, there should not be any dairy added to cocoa powder, however, if you are purchasing a chocolate powder / hot chocolate mix, milk powder or other animal products may be added, so always read the label to understand what you are buying.

Is there any non dairy chocolate? ›

If you're looking for allergy friendly brands, Try Free2B, No Whey Foods, Amanda's Own, or Enjoy Life. For options with cleaner ingredients, try Raaka oatmilk bar, Baiani vegan milk chocolate, and Mast oat milk chocolate.

What can you substitute for hot chocolate? ›

Smart Substitutes for Traditional Hot Chocolate
  • Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa.
  • Mexican Atole.
  • Anijsmelk.
  • Lebanese White Coffee.
  • Yuanyang Tea.
Feb 13, 2020

What is the best milk alternative? ›

While all milk substitutes are more environmentally friendly than traditional cow's milk, grain milks are said to be the least taxing on our planet.
  • Oat milk - PRO: Environmentally sustainable. ...
  • Rice milk - PRO: Gluten free. ...
  • Quinoa milk - PRO: High in nutrients. ...
  • Barley milk - PRO: Easy on allergies.
Oct 24, 2022

What is the thickest non-dairy milk? ›

Oat Milk. Oat milk is perhaps the creamiest of all the plant milks. Its thick creamy texture means it's one of the closest plant-based milks to resemble dairy milk. Oat milk is quickly becoming a favorite non-dairy alternative to milk with popular brands like Oatly disrupting the traditional milk industry.

What is a good milk substitute for vegan chocolate? ›

Vegan chocolates made with oat milk are an excellent alternative to milk chocolate made with dairy or nuts. Oat milk chocolate has a natural creaminess, reminiscent of traditional milk chocolate. Oat milk tends to be milder than nut milks, which gives room for the cocoa bean flavor to come through.

Does Starbucks make dairy-free hot chocolate? ›

1. Starbucks. Starbucks hot chocolate can be made vegan! While the standard order comes with dairy milk and whipped cream, you can swap it for plant-based options like soy, coconut, and almond – and in Europe, you can even choose oat.

What are some alternatives for chocolate milk? ›

Almond chocolate milk or coconut almond chocolate milk. Any nut milk will have added benefits and less hormones that we get from cows milk. There is also oat milk but with each there is a taste you have to adjust to but I've been on nut milks for awhile and to me almond and coconut milks taste closest to cows milk.

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