Introduction
Can you make a proper hot chocolate without dairy? Absolutely. Oat, almond and coconut drinks all make a delicious mug when you whisk them with cocoa and warm them gently. Add a little dairy-free chocolate if you want an even richer sip.
Our go-to version is smooth, chocolatey and ready in minutes. It’s easy to adjust, too: choose oat drink for a mellow mug, almond for a lighter one, or add coconut milk for a thicker finish.
Call us biased, but we think a hot chocolate deserves something crunchy on the side. A LoveRaw® wafer is a pretty good place to start.
An Easy Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe
This recipe makes two mugs with a generous cocoa flavour. Use your favourite plant drink as the base and add the optional chocolate for a more velvety finish.
Serves: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
- 500ml oat drink, or another dairy-free drink of your choice
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 to 2 tbsp caster sugar or maple syrup, to taste
- 20g dairy-free dark chocolate, finely chopped, optional
- ½ tsp vanilla extract, optional
- A small pinch of salt
Method
- Put the cocoa powder, sugar or maple syrup if using, and salt in a small saucepan. Add a splash of the plant drink and whisk into a smooth paste.
- Gradually whisk in the remaining drink. Place the pan over a low to medium heat.
- Add the chopped chocolate, if using. Stir until it has melted and the drink is hot and steaming, without letting it boil.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Taste, add more sweetener if you like, and pour into two mugs.
For one mug, halve the ingredients. For a bigger batch, multiply them and use a saucepan with plenty of room for whisking.
Which Dairy-Free Milk Makes the Best Hot Chocolate?
Our pick is oat drink for its mellow flavour and smooth texture. Almond and coconut both have their fans, though, so the best choice depends on how you like your choc.
| Plant drink | Flavour and texture | Try it when |
|---|---|---|
| Oat | Mellow and smooth | You want an easy everyday mug |
| Almond | Light, with a gentle nutty flavour | You prefer a less rich drink |
| Coconut drink | Light coconut flavour, usually thinner than tinned coconut milk | You want a hint of coconut without a thick drink |
| Tinned coconut milk | Richer and more pronounced coconut flavour | You want a thicker, dessert-like mug |
| Soya | Smooth, with a flavour that varies by brand | You want another straightforward dairy-free base |
Plant drinks differ in sweetness and thickness. Taste the finished hot chocolate before adding the full amount of sugar, especially if you’ve chosen a sweetened or vanilla-flavoured drink.
How to Make It With Oat Drink
Yes, you can heat oat drink for hot chocolate. Use it in place of all the liquid in the recipe and warm it gently, stirring as you go. There’s no need to boil it.
For a stronger chocolate flavour, add a little extra chopped dairy-free dark chocolate. For a thinner drink, stir in a splash more oat drink before serving.
How to Make It With Almond Drink
Use 500ml almond drink in the main recipe. Its lighter texture lets the cocoa flavour come through, whilst the almond adds a subtle nutty note.
If you’d like a richer mug, replace 100ml of the almond drink with tinned coconut milk. Meaningful Eats uses a combination of almond and coconut milk in its dairy-free hot chocolate.
How to Make It With Coconut Milk
For a rich coconut version, use 400ml oat or almond drink and 100ml tinned coconut milk. Whisk the coconut milk first if it has separated in the tin, then add it with the rest of the liquid.
Tinned coconut milk is thicker than the coconut drink sold in cartons, and its flavour is more noticeable. If your hot chocolate turns out thicker than you’d like, loosen it with a splash more plant drink.
Can You Microwave Oat Milk for Hot Chocolate?
Yes. For one mug, mix 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, your chosen sweetener and a splash of oat drink into a paste in a large microwave-safe mug. Stir in the rest of the oat drink, using 250ml in total.
Microwave for about 1 minute, stir well, then heat in short bursts of around 15 to 20 seconds until hot. Microwaves and starting temperatures vary, so check between bursts and take care with the mug. Stir in any finely chopped dairy-free chocolate while the drink is hot.
Minimalist Baker’s single-mug method also starts by warming the plant drink before mixing in cocoa and chocolate. Whichever method you choose, stirring helps keep the cocoa from settling at the bottom.
Make Your Mug Your Own
The basic recipe is a starting point, not a strict set of hot chocolate rules. Change one thing at a time and taste as you go.
For a Darker Chocolate Flavour
Add an extra teaspoon of cocoa powder or a little more chopped dairy-free dark chocolate. Cocoa gives the drink a more intense, slightly bitter edge, whilst melted chocolate makes it richer and smoother.
Too intense? Add a splash of plant drink or a little more sweetener. It’s much easier to build up the chocolate flavour than to take it away.
For a Less Sweet or Sugar-Free Drink
For a mug with no added sugar, leave out the sugar, syrup and optional chocolate. Start with unsweetened cocoa and an unsweetened plant drink, then taste. The result will be more cocoa-forward and less like a sweet hot chocolate.
No added sugar doesn’t automatically mean sugar-free. If you need the finished drink to be sugar-free, check the labels of every ingredient, including the plant drink and any sweetener, rather than assuming an unsweetened product contains no sugars.
For a Hint of Spice or Mint
A small pinch of cinnamon gives the cocoa a warm, familiar flavour. Add it to the pan with the cocoa powder so it mixes through the drink.
For mint hot chocolate, stir in a drop or two of peppermint extract after heating. Start small: you can always add another drop, but an enthusiastic pour can take over the whole mug.
For a Hazelnut Finish
Stir a spoonful of Hazelnut Cacao Spread “Choco Love” into the hot drink until it melts. It adds hazelnut flavour and sweetness, so taste before adding more sugar.
You can also serve the mug with a M:lk® Choc Cre&m® Wafer Bar on the side. Keep the wafer separate until you’re ready for a bite if you want to keep its crunch.
A Plant-Based Hot Chocolate Mix to Make Ahead
A jar of cocoa mix makes the next mug even quicker. This version needs plant drink when you make it, so it’s a good choice if you like picking your own base.
Cocoa Mix for Four Mugs
Mix 4 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder with 4 tablespoons of caster sugar and a small pinch of salt. Store in a clean, dry, airtight jar.
For each mug, stir roughly a quarter of the mixture with a splash of plant drink to form a paste. Add enough plant drink to make 250ml, then heat gently in a pan or microwave, stirring until hot. Adjust the sweetness or cocoa to your taste next time.
The mix will contain sugar, so leave it out if you want an unsweetened cocoa mix. Label the jar with its ingredients and keep it somewhere cool and dry. Use a dry spoon each time.
Vegan Hot Chocolate Gifts and Hamper Ideas
A homemade cocoa mix is a lovely start for a chocolate-loving friend. Add a note with the mixing instructions and a list of ingredients, particularly if you’re gifting it to someone who needs to check allergens.
For a hot chocolate hamper, choose a few things that make sense together:
- A jar of your cocoa mix and a favourite mug.
- A carton of plant drink the recipient enjoys.
- Dairy-free dark chocolate for melting into the drink.
- Vegan marshmallows or a small jar of cinnamon for topping.
- Wafer bars or Butter Cups for something to enjoy alongside it.
Check the labels on each item if you’re putting together a vegan gift. Hot chocolate powders, chocolate pieces and toppings can vary, even when their packaging looks similar.
Want to skip the homemade mix? A mixed box of treats or a digital Gift Card lets your recipient choose what they fancy with their next mug.
What to Serve With Hot Chocolate
A rich drink loves a bit of contrast. Try a wafer for crunch, a chocolate biscuit for dunking, or a spoonful of coconut-based topping for a softer finish.
For a salty-sweet pairing, serve M:lk Choc Peanut Butter Cups alongside the mug. Their peanut flavour works particularly well with a straightforward cocoa drink. Check the packaging of anything you serve if you or your guest needs to avoid an ingredient.
Easy Vegan Hot Chocolate Cookies
These cocoa cookies are made for serving beside a mug. Add chopped dairy-free chocolate for pockets of melted choc, or leave it out for a simpler biscuit.
Serves: 8 cookies
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 to 12 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
- 80g dairy-free baking block, softened
- 80g caster sugar
- 150g plain flour
- 20g unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking powder
- A small pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp oat drink, plus a splash more if needed
- 40g dairy-free dark chocolate, chopped, optional
Method
- Heat the oven to 180°C, or 160°C fan. Line a baking tray with baking parchment.
- Beat the baking block and sugar together in a bowl until combined.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Mix, then add the oat drink and bring the dough together.
- Fold in the chopped chocolate, if using. If the dough is too crumbly to hold together, add a small splash more oat drink.
- Divide into eight balls and place on the tray, leaving space between them. Press each one down slightly.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set. Leave on the tray for a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool.
For the hot chocolate look, serve the cookies with a few vegan marshmallows on the side. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container.
Try an Oat Milk Chocolate Pudding
Fancy the same cocoa flavour in spoonable form? This pudding uses oat drink and cornflour to make a soft chocolate dessert. It’s a different texture from hot chocolate, but just as good with a little crunch on top.
Serves: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: About 5 minutes, plus cooling
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
- 400ml oat drink
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 1½ tbsp caster sugar, or to taste
- ½ tsp vanilla extract, optional
- Dairy-free chocolate shavings or chopped wafer pieces, to serve
Method
- Mix the cocoa, cornflour and sugar in a saucepan. Whisk in a little oat drink to make a smooth paste.
- Gradually whisk in the remaining oat drink. Place over a medium-low heat and stir continuously.
- When the mixture thickens and begins to bubble, cook for another minute, stirring. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Spoon into two small bowls. Serve warm or cool, cover and refrigerate until chilled.
- Add the chocolate shavings or wafer pieces just before serving.
A chopped M:lk Choc Cre&m Wafer Bar gives the pudding a crunchy topping. Add it at the last moment so the pieces stay crisp.
Storing and Reheating Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is lovely straight from the pan, but you can make extra. Cool leftovers, cover and refrigerate promptly, then use within two days.
Reheat gently in a saucepan, stirring until steaming. The cocoa or chocolate may settle as it cools, so give it a good whisk. If it has thickened, add a splash of plant drink to loosen it.
For a cold chocolate oat drink, mix the cocoa into a paste with a little oat drink first, then stir in the rest. It won’t have quite the same melted-chocolate finish as the hot version, but it’s an easy way to use the same flavours.
Conclusion
A great dairy-free hot chocolate starts with a plant drink you enjoy and enough cocoa to make the mug properly chocolatey. Oat is our everyday favourite, whilst coconut makes a richer version.
- Make a cocoa paste first for a smoother drink.
- Taste before adding extra sweetness.
- Keep crunchy toppings separate until serving.
Tip: Warm your mugs with hot water, then empty them before pouring in the hot chocolate.
For something crunchy to serve alongside your next mug, explore our LoveRaw wafer bar collection.
FAQ
Is hot chocolate made with oat milk good?
Yes. Oat drink makes a smooth, mellow hot chocolate and works well with both cocoa powder and melted dairy-free chocolate. Choose a plain or vanilla version depending on the flavour you want.
Can I make dairy-free hot chocolate without sugar?
You can leave out the sugar and use unsweetened cocoa for a more bitter, chocolate-forward drink. If you need the finished mug to be sugar-free, check the labels of all ingredients rather than relying on “unsweetened” alone.
How long should I microwave oat milk for hot chocolate?
For a 250ml mug, start with about one minute, stir, then heat in short bursts until hot. The exact time depends on your microwave, mug and the starting temperature of the drink.
Is every hot chocolate powder vegan?
No. Some mixes contain dairy ingredients, so check the ingredient list before buying. If you’re adding marshmallows or other toppings, check those separately too.
