Vegan Hot Chocolate is one of my favorite holiday drinks - it's dairy-free, paleo-friendly, naturally sweetened & easy to make with a blender and 4 ingredients
This vegan hot chocolate recipe is made with raw cashews for a plant-based variation that is rich and comforting during the cold weather months. Made completely in a blender with only four simple ingredients, this hot cocoa is ready in less than 5 minutes. Serve with whipped coconut cream and crushed peppermint for an indulgent and cozy drink.
A dairy-free hot chocolate recipe
This is a great time to be alive and be lactose intolerant/sensitive because the abundance, variety and taste of plant-based milk is just amazing! Not only can you buy almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, coconut milk, rice milk, oat milk and hemp milk, but you can pretty much make most of these at home. And so I use cashews to make this heavenly vegan hot chocolate.
How to make vegan hot chocolate
While this is a 5-minute recipe, there is one make-ahead element that’s important. Be sure to soak raw cashews in water for 2 hours or overnight preferably so they soften and blend more easily. Here are the 4 simple steps after you soak the cashews:
- Drain the cashews from the liquid they were soaking in, and rinse them thoroughly. Then transfer the cashews without any liquid to the blender.
- Add 3 cups of water to the cashews. If the blender has a heating function, you can use lukewarm water. Otherwise I recommend using hot (not boiling) water along with maple syrup, vanilla extract and sea salt.
- Blend everything together until it looks like milk. The time will vary based on your blender, but I recommend anywhere from 2 to 4 minutes.
- When it looks like milk, add in the cocoa powder and blend again just until it’s well mixed.
Tips for making vegan hot chocolate recipe
- Make sure to use raw (not roasted), unsalted, unseasoned cashews. The raw cashews are softer and sweeter, so they will yield a better consistency for the milk; and one that’s not salty or seasoned anyway.
- Soak the cashews for 15 minutes in boiling water if you’re pressed for time. While I recommend soaking the cashews overnight for best results, you can also get away with soaking them for less time if you use boiling hot water.
- Vary the sweetener level to your liking. I like to use natural sweeteners like maple syrup for myself. When I’m making for my kids, I usually double the sweeter and I might even add some granulated sugar for them to dissolve in the hot chocolate.
- Enjoy the hot chocolate immediately for best results. This vegan hot chocolate, like regular hot chocolate, may thicken as it stands stills. You can whisk it or thin it out with more water or milk if desired.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use any milk in this vegan hot chocolate recipe?
Yes, you can use a store bought non-diary milk if you prefer, but this will alter the taste of the drink, and the drink maybe slightly thinner. It’s easy and cheap to make your own cashew milk right in the blender with no straining necessary.
Can you make this drink ahead of time?
This drink is best served as soon as it’s made, but if you want to make a bigger batch, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge and it will keep for about 3-4 days. You can then reheat it in the microwave or on a stovetop when you are ready to serve it.
For more cozy holiday drinks, check out:
There’s nothing that makes winter and 6 inches of snow more “acceptable” than a warm cup of hot chocolate! This is my favorite hot chocolate recipe, and it’s perfect for the whole family. It’s vegan, paleo-friendly, made without added sugar, easy to make and gives me all the cozy feels during winter.
If you try this healthy-ish feel good Vegan Hot Chocolate recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then please come back to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
This Vegan Hot Chocolate recipe was originally published on December 12, 2017. I’ve updated the post to include newer step-by-step photos. Here’s the original photo!
Vegan Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews soaked
- 4 cups water
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch sea salt optional
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
Instructions
- Soak cashews in a mason jar overnight, or for at least 2 hours. When ready to use, drain and rinse.
- Place cashews, warm water, maple syrup, vanilla extract and sea salt in a blender and blend until completely smooth to make the cashew milk.
- Add the cocoa powder and blend again until smooth and the cocoa is fully incorporated.
- Serve warm with whipped coconut cream and crushed peppermint, if desired.
