Recipe

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This dairy-free hot cocoa is rich, smooth, and everything you want in a cozy winter drink.

With a few pantry staples, you can make delicious dairy-free hot cocoa with any milk alternative you have on hand.

overhead view of a cup of homemade dairy free hot cocoa topped with mini marshmallows

Hot Cocoa Without Milk

My hot cocoa recipe is one of the most popular recipes come wintertime. This version is made without milk, using your favorite dairy-free, plant-based alternative. You can make a batch from scratch or make this dairy-free hot chocolate mix in bulk. In an emergency, you can make hot cocoa with water.

Does Hot Chocolate Have Dairy?

This recipe uses cocoa powder and dairy-free milk to make a rich cup of cocoa. Hot chocolate made with chocolate chips or a block of chocolate will contain dairy in the chocolate.

Ingredients

The MVP of this recipe is unsweetened cocoa powder. For sweetness, use granulated sugar (honey also works). You’ll also need hot water, a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor, vanilla extract, and your favorite non-dairy milk (oat, soy, almond, coconut, hemp, or rice milk).

How to Make Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa

Make a chocolate base with the cocoa powder, sugar, water, and salt in a saucepan, stirring constantly.
Pour in the dairy-free milk and warm it while stirring it into the chocolate. M sure it doesn’t boil.
Add the vanilla once it’s hot and immediately turn off the heat. You add it at the very end to retain the flavor (otherwise it evaporates).
Serve it while it’s hot, topped with your favorite toppings, or keep it warm.

Making dairy-free hot cocoa for a crowd and need to keep it warm? Double or triple this recipe, then keep it warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting.

Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Recipe {Easy & Classic}

Servings: 4

Cook Time: 8

Total Time: 8

This dairy-free hot cocoa is rich, smooth, and everything you want in a cozy winter drink.

5 from 11 votes

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Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup hot water
⅛ teaspoon salt
4 cups dairy-free milk, any
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, water, and salt over medium heat. Heat this chocolate base mixture, stirring constantly, until smooth.
Once the cocoa is dissolved, reduce the heat a little and pour in the milk. Continue stirring as it heats up, and you see steam surface. Do not let it boil; you don't want to burn the milk.
Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla. You add the vanilla last to keep the flavor; otherwise, it evaporates.
Pour the hot cocoa into mugs and top with marshmallows.