Healthy Hot Chocolate (Dairy-Free Option)
Get cozy with a hot mug of homemade Healthy Hot Chocolate. This creamy and chocolatey drink is the ultimate hot cocoa drink for a cold day. Everyone loves this dairy-free hot cocoa recipe!
Once the weather gets chilly, a homemade hot chocolate is a welcome treat. With just five simple ingredients, you’re only 10 minutes away from this creamy chocolate drink.
I use oat milk or almond milk to make the perfect cup of hot chocolate, but you can use whatever type of milk you like. Be sure to use a non-dairy milk to make this a dairy free hot chocolate.
Simply simmer all of the ingredients together and then enjoy warm with whipped cream.
Why You Need This Recipe
- This healthy hot chocolate is not heavy but just as indulgent as versions made with whole milk or heavy cream. It’s also a whole lot healthier than using packaged and processed hot cocoa packets or any hot chocolate mix. There’s nothing like homemade.
- This version is sweetened with maple syrup as opposed to refined sugar. Even though hot cocoa is a sweet treat doesn’t mean it has to be unhealthy. While maple syrup still contains plenty of sugar, it’s a natural sweetener full of antioxidants and nutrients.
- You can whip it up in 10 minutes. Everyone loves this healthy hot chocolate recipe, especially during cold weather.
Key Ingredients
Plant milk – Any plant-based milk will work in this recipe, but oat milk has a thick and creamy texture. Feel free to use your favorite option including unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, cashew milk, hemp milk, coconut beverage, or even full-fat coconut milk. You can also use regular milk if you don’t need to avoid dairy.
Cocoa powder – If you prefer a milk chocolate flavor use regular unsweetened cocoa powder. If you like a darker and richer chocolate flavor use Dutch-processed cocoa. You can also use raw cacao powder too for the ultimate in dark chocolate flavor.
Maple syrup – If you don’t have pure maple syrup you can also use regular sugar, coconut sugar, or brown sugar. Maple syrup is great because it doesn’t need to dissolve since it’s already a liquid and it’s full of antioxidants. It’s also less refined than cane sugar.
Vanilla – Vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the chocolate. Don’t worry if you don’t have any though. It will still taste delicious without it.
Sea salt – A small amount of salt doesn’t make this drink salty but just makes it taste better! Just add a very small pinch of salt.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Steps
Step One
In a small saucepan set over medium heat, pour in the milk. Again, you can use whatever type of milk you like, including cow’s milk or even goat’s milk. It really just depends on what type of milk you and your family likes the most.
Vegans should stick with dairy-free milk.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
Whisk in the cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and sea salt.
Step Three
Let the hot cocoa come to a simmer and then turn off the heat. Serve the hot chocolate immediately.
Step Four
Top with Homemade Whipped Cream and enjoy. If you want to keep this hot drink dairy-free, just use a dairy-free whipped cream option like rice whipped cream or coconut whipped cream. See my article that answers the question, “are marshmallows dairy-free?”
You can also add vegan marshmallows if you prefer.
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- If your plant milk is already sweetened, then leave out the maple syrup.
- You can use either prepared or homemade oat milk for this recipe. You can also use regular dairy milk if you aren’t on a vegan or dairy-free diet.
- Look for prepared coconut or rice milk whipped cream in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores. Or, if you aren’t dairy-free, you can use regular whipped cream.
- If you don’t have maple syrup you can also use white or brown sugar in its place. It will need to dissolve as it simmers though. Skip the artificial sweeteners or use one of these best sugar substitutes if you need to keep the sugar content low.
- Want a peppermint version? Add a few drops of peppermint extract after you’ve heated the other ingredients. Stir and serve.
Recipe FAQs
Toppings are half the fun of a delicious cup of hot chocolate. Whipped cream or marshmallows are always delicious but you can also add sprinkles, crushed peppermints, chocolate syrup or shavings, toffee bits, caramel sauce, sea salt, or crushed up cookies!
Yes! Prepare the hot cocoa as directed than refrigerate in a glass jar or container. You can reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Yes, cocoa powder does contain caffeine which means so does hot chocolate. Each tablespoon of cocoa powder has about 12 mg of caffeine.
This recipe uses cocoa powder instead of a chocolate bar which helps reduce the calories and fat content. So, I recommend using cocoa powder or cacao powder instead of a chocolate bar or chocolate chips.
Don’t Miss These Yummy Warming Drinks
Healthy Hot Chocolate (Dairy-Free)
Get cozy with a hot mug of homemade Healthy Hot Chocolate. This creamy and chocolatey drink has a dairy-free option and is the ultimate hot cocoa drink for a cold day. Everyone loves this hot cocoa recipe!
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened oat milk (or your choice of plant milk or dairy milk; see notes)
- 4 tablespoons cocoa powder or cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- Coconut whipped cream (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan set over medium heat, pour in the plant milk.
- Whisk in the cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and sea salt.
- Let the mixture come to a simmer, then turn off the heat and serve the hot chocolate immediately.
- Feel free to top your mug of hot chocolate with a dollop of whipped cream.
Notes
- If your plant milk is already sweetened, then leave out the maple syrup.
- You can use either prepared or homemade oat milk for this recipe. You can also use regular dairy milk if you aren’t on a vegan or dairy-free diet.
- Look for prepared coconut or rice milk whipped cream in the refrigerator section of most grocery stores. Or, if you aren’t dairy-free, you can use regular whipped cream.
- If you don’t have maple syrup you can also use white or brown sugar in it’s place. It will need to dissolve as it simmers though.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 118
- Sugar: 12.4 g
- Sodium: 190.6 mg
- Fat: 4.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 21.3 g
- Fiber: 3.2 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: healthy hot cacao, dairy-free hot cocoa, healthy hot cocoa
If you like this post, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
This drink is my new morning obsession. I LOVE it!
★★★★★