Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate (with Low Sugar Option)
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If you’re looking for the perfect dairy-free hot chocolate recipe that’s creamy, easy to make, and packed with chocolatey goodness, you’ve come to the right place! This hot chocolate is a game-changer for anyone avoiding dairy or refined sugar. With simple ingredients and a foolproof method, it’s the ultimate comfort drink for chilly evenings, Christmas morning, family gatherings, or a solo indulgence by the fire.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Easy Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make this Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Tips & Variations for the Best Hot Chocolate
- What to Serve With This Delicious Mug of Hot Chocolate
- Storage Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- More Comforting Beverages
- Easy Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Easy Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe
My sweet family and I absolutely love hot cocoa – it’s such a fun and comforting drink. And because we love it so much I’m always trying to come up with new recipes that incorporate that nostalgic goodness – like this easy hot chocolate dip recipe, talk about a crowd-pleaser!
I also love setting up a DIY hot cocoa bar on Christmas Eve to make the holiday extra special. This dairy-free hot chocolate is smooth and creamy thanks to full-fat coconut milk; it truly rivals classic hot chocolate. The sweetness is fully customizable – whether you prefer monk fruit, coconut sugar, or another sweetener, you can adjust it to suit your taste and dietary needs. Make your Christmas morning extra special by making this recipe and pairing it with an easy breakfast casserole.
With simple, pantry-staple ingredients that are easy to find, this recipe comes together effortlessly. The best part? The crockpot does all the work, giving you time to relax or prepare for a cozy night in.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Plant-based milk: Acts as the base for your hot chocolate. Unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, soy milk, or oat milk works beautifully. When deciding what to use, pick your favorite dairy-free milk!
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Provides a rich, deep chocolate flavor. You can substitute with cacao powder for a more intense, slightly bitter taste.
- Full-fat coconut milk: Makes the hot chocolate creamy. You can swap this for heavy cream if dairy isn’t a concern.
- Lily’s dairy and sugar-free semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melts into velvety chocolate goodness. Dark chocolate chips, chocolate baking bars, or the addition of peanut butter baking chips also work!
- Granulated monk fruit: Sweetens naturally without the sugar crash. Coconut sugar, stevia, honey, pure maple syrup, or traditional sugar can also be used if you aren’t sugar-free.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a hint of warmth. Feel free to add a splash of almond or peppermint extract for a twist.
- Sea salt (optional)
How to Make this Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe
Step 1: Combine Ingredients: In a crockpot, whisk together your non-dairy milk of choice, coconut milk, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt until the cocoa powder is mostly dissolved.
Step 2: Add Chocolate Chips & Sweetener: Stir in the chocolate chips and honey (or your preferred sweetener).
Step 3: Cook: Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to ensure the chocolate melts evenly and doesn’t stick to the bottom.
Step 4: Add Vanilla: After 2 hours, stir in the vanilla extract and taste for sweetness, adjusting if and adding more sweetener if necessary.
Step 5: Serve: Ladle into mugs, and top with dairy-free whipped cream or marshmallows if desired.
Mac’s Pro Tip
Tips & Variations for the Best Hot Chocolate
- Top with vegan marshmallows, coconut flakes, regular marshmallows, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel to add to the deliciousness.
- If you are not sugar-free but are dairy-free, you can sub Hu Kitchen or Enjoy Life chocolate chips.
- If you do not want to use monk fruit as your sweetener, you can use honey (start with 1/4 cup and adjust to taste), pure maple syrup (start with 1/4 cup and adjust to taste) or coconut sugar.
- Stirring occasionally as your hot chocolate cooks ensures the chocolate doesn’t clump or stick to the bottom of the crockpot.
- For a festive flavor twist, try adding a pinch of cinnamon, a splash of peppermint extract, a spoonful of peanut butter, or some crushed peppermints. You can even pop a candy cane into your mug for an extra festive touch!
What to Serve With This Delicious Mug of Hot Chocolate
- Pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies
- Sugar cookies
- Gingerbread muffins
- Warm croissants
- Cinnamon rolls
- Banana bread
- Shortbread cookies
Storage Tips
Store any remaining hot chocolate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Warm on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave, stirring frequently to avoid separation.
Recipe FAQs
Most of Lily’s Chocolate Chips are generally dairy-free! However, you should check the specific variety, as some may contain dairy or be processed in facilities that handle dairy.
Dairy-Free Options from Lily’s: Semi-Sweet Style Baking Chips, Dark Chocolate Baking Chips, Extra Dark Chocolate Baking Chips (70% Cocoa). Their Milk Chocolate Chips are sugar-free but DO contain dairy.
Of course! Simply whisk the ingredients in a saucepan over low heat until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Monk Fruit Sweetener – Use 1:1 for granulated monk fruit blends or adjust for pure monk fruit extract (much sweeter).
Allulose – Use 1:1 for sweetness. Dissolves well and mimics sugar’s texture.
Erythritol – Use 1:1 for sweetness, though it may have a slight cooling aftertaste.
More Comforting Beverages
Sauces, Dressings, & Dips
Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix (Homemade)
Fall/Thanksgiving
Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte (Dairy-Free)
Fall/Thanksgiving
Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Sauces, Dressings, & Dips
Simple Homemade Apple Syrup Recipe (Low-Sugar)
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Easy Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups plant-based milk of choice almond, coconut, oat, etc,
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk or heavy cream
- 1 1/3 cup Lily's dairy and sugar free semi-sweet chocolate chips see notes for more subs
- 1/4-1/3 cup granulated monk fruit adjust to taste See notes for more substitutes
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt optional, to enhance flavor
Instructions
Crockpot
- Combine Ingredients: In a crockpot, whisk together almond milk, coconut milk, cocoa powder, and salt until the cocoa powder is mostly dissolved.
- Add Chocolate Chips & Sweetener: Stir in the chocolate chips and honey (or your preferred sweetener).
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to ensure the chocolate melts evenly and doesn’t stick to the bottom.
- Add Vanilla: After 2 hours, stir in the vanilla extract, taste for sweetness and adjust sweetness or cocoa flavor as desired.
- Serve: Ladle into mugs, and top with dairy-free whipped cream or marshmallows if desired.
Stove-top
- In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the plant-based milk and unsweetened cocoa powder. Whisk together over medium heat until the cocoa is fully dissolved.
- Stir in the full-fat coconut milk (or heavy cream) and continue heating until the mixture is warm but not boiling.
- Add the chocolate chips, stirring constantly to melt them evenly. Lower the heat if necessary to prevent scorching.
- Gradually add the granulated monk fruit sweetener, adjusting to taste. Stir until fully dissolved. Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt (if using). Taste and adjust sweetness or cocoa flavor as desired.
- Ladle into mugs, and top with dairy-free whipped cream or marshmallows if desired.
Notes
- Hu Kitchen
- Enjoy Life
Honey – It adds a subtle floral note. Start with 1/4 cup and adjust to taste
Maple Syrup – For a warm, earthy flavor. Start with 1/4 cup and adjust to taste
Coconut Sugar – It has a mild caramel taste. Low-Carb Sweeteners
Monk Fruit Sweetener – Use 1:1 for granulated monk fruit blends or adjust for pure monk fruit extract (much sweeter).
Allulose – Use 1:1 for sweetness. Dissolves well and mimics sugar’s texture.
Erythritol – Use 1:1 for sweetness, though it may have a slight cooling aftertaste.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
