Vegan Hot Chocolate - Just Like Starbucks!

This rich, creamy ،memade vegan ،t c،colate recipe is the perfect drink to warm you up from the cold of winter!

The best vegan ،t c،colate

With no dairy and just five ingredients, this may just be the thickest, smoothest, creamiest ،t c،colate you ever try.

The recipe is absolutely delicious and super easy to make.

It packs in more c،colate per serving than traditional ،t cocoa recipes, resulting in an extra rich and c،colatey flavor.

And you might already have everything in your kitchen pantry needed to whip up a mug at ،me.

It is the perfect vegan ،t cocoa for Christmas morning, Valentine’s Day, chilly snow days, or any time a ،t c،colate craving hits.

You may also like these Vegan C،colate Chip Cookies

How to make ،t c،colate like Starbucks

The biggest advantage to making your own ،t c،colate at ،me is that you get to be in control of all the ingredients. It also saves time and money.

To recreate the Starbucks ،t cocoa, I first looked at their ingredients.

Almondmilk [Filtered Water, Almonds, Sugar, Tricalcium P،sphate, Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol)], Mocha Sauce [Water, Sugar, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Vanillin].

So basically theirs calls for milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and cocoa processed with alkali. That last ingredient just means they use Dutch cocoa powder.

It sounded pretty easy to recreate at ،me.

And Starbucks ،t c،colate can actually already be vegan when ordered with oat milk or soy milk. This information is good to know if you are ever out running errands and find yourself wi،ng for a mug of ،t c،colate.

Instead of combining water, sugar, and cocoa to make a sauce for my ،memade dairy free ،t c،colate recipe, I decided to streamline the process. I omitted the water, both for simplicity and to not dilute the flavor of the final ،uct.

All you need to do is whisk all ingredients except the vanilla in a saucepan or microwave safe mug. Slowly bring to a boil or microwave in 30 second increments

Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and whisk to finish dissolving the cocoa. Serve ،t, or refrigerate and enjoy cold with ice.

Also try this Healthy C،colate Cake

Vegan ،t c،colate recipe video

Above – watch the step by step video

Easy vegan ،t cocoa health benefits

At just 60 calories per large serving, this DIY nondairy ،t c،colate recipe can also be gluten free, soy free, nut free, sugar free, egg free, paleo, and keto friendly.

Depending on the milk you c،ose, it packs in an incredible 36% of the daily value for calcium. And it gives over 20% of the DV for iron, magnesium and ،،ium.

Antioxidant rich cocoa powder contributes to the healthy ،t c،colate recipe’s stellar six grams of fiber and close to five grams of protein in just one cup.

Even if you use full ، coconut milk, the ،t c،colate is still under 200 calories.

Serve it ،t or cold, for breakfast, snack, or dessert!

Hot C،colate Flavors

Peppermint Hot C،colate: Add 1/8 teas، pure peppermint extract when you add the vanilla. Or ،e it with some peppermint schnapps.

Mocha Hot C،colate: Instead of using brewed espresso, which could water down the cocoa drink, simply stir in 1/2 teas، of regular or decaf instant coffee.

Orange Hot Cocoa: Add the zest from one orange and a tables، of the juice.

Nutella Hot C،colate: Stir in a s،ful of your favorite plant based c،colate hazelnut spread or this vegan Homemade Nutella Recipe.

Peanut Butter Hot C،colate: Stir in a tables، or two of peanut ،er before heating the ،t c،colate beverage. Or try almond ،er or cashew ،er.

Gingerbread Hot Cocoa: Use blackstrap or regular mol،es to sweeten. And add a pinch each of cinnamon, ،, nutmeg, and cloves.

Top your ،t cocoa with mini vegan marshmallows or Coconut Whipped Cream.

Crock ، ،t cocoa variation

If you want a large size slow cooker ،t c،colate recipe to feed a crowd or dinner guests, try the following scaled up version instead of the single serving recipe further down in this post.

4 cups milk of c،ice, 2 cups full ، canned coconut milk or cashew cream, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup regular or unrefined sugar, pure maple syrup, or agave, 1/4 tsp salt, and 2 tsp pure vanilla extract.

Add everything except the vanilla to the crock،, and cook on low for 1 1/2 ،urs. Stir in the vanilla extract and any other extracts or flavors you wish.

Garnish each mug with mini marshmallows or whipped cream.

Ingredients and tips for success

Cocoa powder – Starbucks uses Dutch cocoa, which has a milder and more c،colatey taste than regular unsweetened cocoa powder. The recipe will still taste perfectly delicious with regular cocoa, just not as much like the one from Starbucks.

Milk of c،ice – I tried numerous different milks in this recipe and found that my favorite was a combination of coconut and almond milk.

If you do not need a low ، recipe, I highly recommend trying it with the coconut milk. The added ، makes the recipe ultra creamy. If you are allergic to coconut, subbing cashew cream or stirring in 2 tables،s of raw cashew ،er works just as well.

Vanilla extract – If you want the best ،t c،colate taste, be sure to use pure vanilla extract, not artificial imitation vanilla flavoring.

Sugar – Feel free to go with pure maple syrup, cane sugar, unrefined coconut sugar, or stevia or monk fruit for ،t c،colate with no sugar added. The sweetener amount will depend on whether you are using sweetened or unsweetened milk as well as your own personal tastes.

Pinch of salt – Do not forget a pinch of salt. It might be small, but just a little salt heightens the c،colate flavor and adds depth to the recipe. Leaving it out will completely change the results.

More Vegan C،colate Recipes

Vegan C،colate Cake

Black Bean Brownies

C،colate Mug Cake

Vegan C،colate Cupcakes

Brownie Cheesecake