Rich and chocolatey, this vegan hot chocolate with marshmallows is completely dairy free! Forget the instant packets of cocoa, this hot drink is made on the stove in less than 10 minutes, with all-natural ingredients.
Why This Vegan Hot Chocolate Recipe is So Good
- It's made with dairy-free milk, and you can choose your favorite type. I like to use almond milk or oat milk, but any milk-like beverage works!
- Vegan marshmallows are a must if you want to get the full hot chocolate experience, without any animal products. Trader Joe's sells vegan mini marshmallows, or you can order Dandies marshmallows online.
- We're making this dairy-free hot chocolate a decadent double-chocolate treat! Both unsweetened cocoa powder and vegan chocolate chips are stirred into the mix.
Tips and Tricks for Making The Most Delicious Vegan Hot Chocolate
- This recipe serves 3-4 people, depending on the size of your mugs. Feel free to scale the recipe up or down as needed though.
- For parties, make a big batch of hot cocoa, then transfer it to a small crockpot to keep it warm. Be sure to stir well when serving.
- If you can't find vegan marshmallows, top your hot chocolate with a drizzle of melted chocolate, chocolate sauce, or a dollop of coconut whipped cream.
- Adjust the sweetness if needed. Some vegan chocolate chips are less sweet than others. I usually taste the cocoa before I serve it, and add a bit more sugar if I need to.
Vegan Hot Chocolate Variations
Vegan Peppermint Hot Chocolate - Stir in ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract with the vanilla extract.
Raspberry Hot Chocolate - Add 2 tablespoons of raspberry syrup or raspberry liqueur at the very end.
Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate - Stir in a pinch each of cayenne pepper and ground cinnamon.
Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate - Add a few tablespoons of my pumpkin spice syrup!
Vegan Nut Butter Hot Chocolate - 1-2 tablespoons of melted peanut butter, almond butter, or Nutella can be whisked into the hot cocoa, or you can drizzle it over each mug.
More Hot Drink Recipes
- Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Blueberry Milk
- Dirty Chai Latte
- Lavender Latte
- Oat Milk Latte
- Turmeric Latte (with or without coffee)
- Vegan Horchata
Take a look at all of our beverage recipes! You'll find coffees, smoothies, juices, and more, all with vegan and dairy-free options.
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Vegan Hot Chocolate
Equipment
- medium saucepan
Ingredients
- 3 cups unsweetened almond milk or other non-dairy milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ cup vegan chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or sweetener of choice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- vegan marshmallows for topping, optional
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the almond milk, cocoa powder, vegan chocolate chips, and granulated sugar. Whisk to combine.
- Turn the heat to medium and whisk as the mixture warms and the chocolate chips melt.
- Once the chocolate chips have melted, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
- Pour into mugs and top with vegan marshmallows.
Notes
- This recipe will serve 3-4 depending on how big your mugs are. You can scale the recipe up or down, depending on your needs.
- For parties, make a big batch and keep the hot cocoa warm in a small crockpot. Be sure to stir well when serving.
- Instead of vegan marshmallows, you can top the hot chocolate with a drizzle of melted chocolate, peanut butter, or a dollop of vegan coconut whipped cream.
- If your vegan chocolate chips are not very sweet, you may want to add more sugar to the mixture. I like to taste and adjust the sweetness of the hot chocolate before serving.
- Feel free to add other flavorings to turn this hot chocolate into a gourmet beverage.
