Healthy Hot Chocolate Recipe (vegan & dairy free!) | Ambitious Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What non-dairy milk is best for hot chocolate? ›

COCONUT MILK: Using lite coconut milk yields the perfect creamy texture and taste. It is neutral in flavor (the lite leaves no coconut taste) and it is neither too thick or too thin of a milk.

Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

Snuggling up with a cosy, comforting mug of vegan oat milk hot chocolate is one of life's simple pleasures. This creamy cup is made using oat milk and is packed full of warming cinnamon and rich cacao powder.

With Cocoba Chocolate's dairy-free hot chocolate range, you can enjoy all the indulgence of a rich and creamy hot chocolate without any of the dairy. It's the perfect guilt-free treat for those who love chocolate but are looking for a dairy-free alternative.

Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.

Coconut milk is one of the most popular milk alternatives when making vegan chocolate, and it is also an ingredient in many store-bought vegan chocolates that you might find at large grocery stores. Coconut chocolate is delicious and will replicate the creaminess that comes from a bar of authentic milk chocolate.

Taste and Texture Comparison

Oat milk tends to offer a sweeter taste and is naturally more thick and creamy—perfect for warm beverages in the morning and sweet treats. While almond milk is less creamy, it offers a subtle, nutty flavor that pairs nicely in savory dishes and cereals.

Lindt Excellence 70% Dark Chocolate

Lindt Excellence is pretty excellent chocolate (I always used to steal squares of it from the fridge when my mum wasn't looking) and it's pretty naturally vegan, too. The ingredients of these bars include cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla.

Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa

The brand's Double Dark Premium and Chocolate Mocha are both vegan-friendly.

Vegan Hot Chocolate | Hotel Chocolat.

Is Abuelita hot chocolate vegan? ›

Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate - Chocolate Caliente

So yummy and comforting. Video Player is loading. I'm team Ibarra because my gma was as well. But both Ibarra and abuelitas Mexican chocolate tablets are vegan.

Dairy Free Milk-Style Chocolate

If you're looking for allergy friendly brands, Try Free2B, No Whey Foods, Amanda's Own, or Enjoy Life. For options with cleaner ingredients, try Raaka oatmilk bar, Baiani vegan milk chocolate, and Mast oat milk chocolate.

Overall, while both chocolate and coffee can be enjoyed in moderation, hot chocolate may offer more satisfying and potentially heart-healthy benefits. However, if you need a quick caffeine fix, coffee may be the better option.

Adding milk could amplify creaminess

When you think of making hot chocolate at home, there's a good chance your immediate process is to turn on the tap and warm up some water for your beverage. While this is a perfectly suitable option in most cases, consider opening your fridge and warming up a bit of milk, instead.

Hot chocolate has been associated with improved mood and reduced stress levels due to its high cocoa content. The flavanols in cocoa have been linked to increased levels of serotonin, which helps to regulate mood and reduce anxiety. Additionally, theobromine in cocoa can help to reduce fatigue and improve alertness.

Almond and hazelnut offer nutty nuances, while oat and soy provide creamy, sweet notes, expanding the flavour spectrum for hot chocolate lovers.

In conclusion, when it comes to heating plant-based milk, soy milk and oat milk are the best options, while coconut milk can also be used without issue. Almond milk, rice milk, and hemp milk can be heated, but they may not work as well in certain recipes.

There are a few different plant-based milk options for hot chocolate, but my favorite is definitely oat milk. It's creamy, but not too rich or overpowering, with a slight sweetness. Personally, I think the subtle oat flavor pairs wonderfully with chocolate.