Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe (vegan & dairy free!)

This time of year I’m always CRAVING hot chocolate. That’s not anything new though. As soon as the winter months roll in, I try to get my hot chocolate fix in any way I can. Pile on the marshmallows plus homemade whipped cream and don’t forget that adorable cute cinnamon stick for stirring.

I’m all about that hot cocoa life. For years now I’ve been making this healthy hot chocolate recipe at LEAST 4x/week. Tony and I love it!

A couple of years back I started myself on a little quest to make a really, really freaking good HEALTHY hot chocolate that I could sip on while I binge-watch all the Christmas movies on Netflix. Trust me, you’re going to fall in love with this easy hot cocoa recipe.

Ingredients in healthy hot chocolate

I say, screw those Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix packets, my version is something you can feel good about sippin’ down. Here are the 4 (yes, four!) ingredients you’ll need for this healthy hot chocolate:

Milk: I like to use a combination of unsweetened almond milk and light coconut milk to keep the healthy hot chocolate dairy-free and ultra creamy. The coconut milk adds a slight sweetness and amazing flavor. 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. I highly recommend using Ghirardelli’s 100% cocoa. I think it has the best flavor for hot chocolate (and trust me, I’ve tried quite a few!)
Pure maple syrup: I love how delicious the maple syrup tastes in this recipe, plus it’s a natural sweetener. I recommend sticking with maple syrup and not swapping it for something like honey because the honey flavor will overpower the chocolate.
Vanilla extract: a splash of vanilla brings lovely flavor to the hot cocoa. Not completely necessary, but oh so good!

What makes this hot chocolate healthier?

Traditional hot chocolate is made with full fat milk and/or half and half and lots of white sugar to make it creamy and sweet. While delicious and nostalgic, I wanted to make a healthy hot chocolate recipe with some more wholesome ingredients that you can enjoy even if you’re vegan or dairy free! This 4-ingredient healthy hot chocolate is:

Made with both almond milk and coconut milk to keep it vegan and dairy free
Naturally sweetened with only pure maple syrup

It took me a few times to perfect the recipe, but I truly believe that my healthy hot chocolate recipe is the BEST VEGAN & DAIRY FREE HOT CHOCOLATE EVER. It’s creamy, and perfectly sweet, with just the right amount of cocoa to keep it intense and rich-tasting.

Tips for making the best healthy hot chocolate

The best part about this dairy free hot chocolate recipe? How easy it is to make! I have a few tips for making it perfectly creamy and delicious:

Mix on low. Combine all of your ingredients in a small pot or small saucepan just over medium low heat.
Keep on whisking. Make sure to whisk continuously until smooth to get rid of any lumps from the cocoa powder.
Don’t let it boil. Be sure not to let the hot chocolate boil as the almond milk might burn and change the flavor — just whisk it until it’s nice and steamy.
Jazz up your mug. Remember to add your fav toppings! I love whipped cream, marshmallows and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Want a nightcap?

Try adding 1 shot of amaretto to your hot chocolate for a little extra coziness! Tony LOVES it this way and it’s perfect for the holiday season.

How to make hot chocolate in your slow cooker

This delicious, healthy hot chocolate can be made on the stovetop or right in your slow cooker! To do so:

More cozy treats to try

Chocolate Chunk Toasted Marshmallow Ginger Cookies
24k Gold Vanilla Turmeric Latte
Rebecca’s Mulled Wine
One Bowl Gluten Free Gingerbread Snacking Cake

Get more of our dessert recipes here, and drink recipes here!

I hope you love this healthy hot chocolate recipe! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!

Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe (vegan & dairy free!) | Ambitious Kitchen (5)

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Healthy Hot Chocolate

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Ingredients

1 cup light coconut milk (from the can)
1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Ghirardelli’s 100% unsweetened cocoa powder)
Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a small pot and place over medium low heat. Whisk vigorously to combine and to get rid of any lumps of cocoa. Do NOT let the hot chocolate boil or you risk burning the almond milk, which can turn the flavor into something you do not want. Simply warm in the pot until steamy, about 3-5 minutes.
Once hot chocolate is hot, remove from heat and pour into 2 mugs. Top with whipped cream, dairy free whipped cream, marshmallows or vegan marshmallows. Chocolate shavings or a dusting of cocoa powder on top are fun too! Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

To make this recipe in the slow cooker: you can feel free to quadruple the recipe (x all ingredients by 4) so that it serves 8. Whisk ingredients together in the slow cooker and place on warm setting and allow to warm for 1-2 hours before serving to guests!

Optional: add a shot of amaretto into your hot cocoa before serving. My husband LOVES it this way and it makes a fun holiday cozy nightcap!

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 166calCarbohydrates: 18.7gProtein: 1.8gFat: 10.2gSaturated Fat: 7.1gFiber: 2.6gSugar: 13.6g

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by:Eat Love Eats

This post was originally published on December 21, 2020, republished on December 15, 2021, and republished on December 17th, 2023.

Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe (vegan & dairy free!) | Ambitious Kitchen (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.

Read On ›

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.

Read The Full Story ›

What hot chocolate is suitable for vegans? ›

Hershey's Cocoa

Both the original and the Special Dark varieties are vegan. In fact, any cacao powder will make great hot cocoa! Simply mix with nondairy milk and sweetener of choice.

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Is Ghirardelli hot chocolate vegan? ›

Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa

The brand's Double Dark Premium and Chocolate Mocha are both vegan-friendly.

Tell Me More ›

Which plant milk is best for hot chocolate? ›

Cashew Milk

Probably one of the best plant-based milks for a thick, creamy hot chocolate. The smooth, slightly sweet and fairly flavour-neutral milk means you end up with a delicious hot chocolate and a fantastic foundation for creating hot chocolate specials with syrups and sauces.

What is the best plant-based milk for chocolate? ›

Of all the plant milks available, oat milk is the highest in natural sugars. Use it to add a little sweetness to naturally sweetened cakes and cookies. Oat milk works especially well in chocolate desserts, because the dark chocolate helps hide oat milk's slightly beige color.

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Is Swiss Miss hot chocolate healthy? ›

Unlike the other options, a packet of Swiss Miss hot chocolate with mini marshmallows contains only 146 calories. That's around 200 less than Panera, Starbucks, and Dunkin Donuts' hot chocolates. Plus, each packet has only 17.8 grams of sugar. ... Without all these additions, Swiss Miss makes a much healthier product.

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What is more unhealthy hot chocolate or coffee? ›

One cup of hot chocolate made from a powdered mix provides 6 grams of fat, 9 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fiber, and some minerals. It's still much more nutritious than black coffee or tea, which contain no calories at all.

Get More Info Here ›

Is it OK to drink hot chocolate everyday? ›

Enjoying a mug of hot chocolate daily is typically considered safe, provided it's consumed as part of a balanced, varied diet and lifestyle. However, the safety of drinking hot chocolate every day largely depends on the composition of the hot chocolate and one's individual health circ*mstances and dietary restrictions.

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What chocolate is surprisingly vegan? ›

Lindt Excellence 70% Dark Chocolate

Lindt Excellence is pretty excellent chocolate (I always used to steal squares of it from the fridge when my mum wasn't looking) and it's pretty naturally vegan, too. The ingredients of these bars include cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla.