Creamy, dreamy Dairy Free Hot Chocolate is a comforting classic that is easy to make at home. This recipe is just sweet enough with a little zing of spice and is easily customized, based on your dietary needs and tastebuds. Makes 2 servings.
Love a cozy dairy free recipe to enjoy during the wintertime? Don’t miss Vegan Potato Leek Soup, Baked Oatmeal and Salted Caramel Cookies (Caramel Thumbprint Cookies).
2025 Update: This recipe was originally shared in December 2013. The recipe and post have been updated to include new photos, as well as many more tips and tricks. I hope you love this cocoa!
When I originally posted this recipe in December 2013, we had a wild temperature swing in Dallas that took us from 80°F to a winter storm warning just a few days later.
We ended up being struck at home during the winter storm, where I spent a lot of time baking cookies, sharing them with our neighbors, playing new-to-me games, imbibing a few specialty cocktails, and watching tons of football, though my team wasn’t playing.
Well, it’s more than a decade later, and our weather did something similar here in Austin, without the winter storm. (We just dropped 40°F in a day and then had the coldest, grossest rain imaginable.)
This hot chocolate recipe was developed because I was longing for a big mug of something warm and cozy. At the time, I could not imbibe anything with dairy.
This recipe holds up to this day, and I want to share with you how to make the best dairy free hot chocolate. (You can also make this vegan hot chocolate, but you’ll need to be intentional about the ingredients you use!)
Why I love this recipe:
While I am now able to enjoy milk products, I was not always able to do so, which is why I set out to make the BEST dairy free hot chocolate recipe once upon a time.
This is still it, and it still is absolute heaven and so satisfying.
This recipe calls for simple ingredients that you might actually have in your fridge and pantry already.
It has rich chocolate flavor and is wonderfully creamy without being saccharine sweet. Also, the cayenne adds a little zing without setting your mouth on fire. (That said, my children beg to disagree.)
And since there are so many options with dairy free milks and chocolates these days, we’ve got the world at our fingertips. This dairy free hot chocolate is also awesome for people who aren’t dairy free, so don’t be afraid to share a mug of this with someone you love.
Please note that this is hot chocolate, so we are using quality chocolate bars instead of making an unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar mixture, which is technically a hot cocoa.
Also, let’s be clear: this is not a healthy hot chocolate recipe, but it is a classic hot chocolate recipe using just three ingredients. Also, if you add the cayenne, you could call this a spicy hot chocolate recipe!
Other hot chocolate recipes for the wintertime: Gourmet Vanilla Hot Chocolate | Strawberry White Hot Chocolate | Mason Jar Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix | Pomegranate White Hot Chocolate | Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa
Looking for another recipe to enjoy during the cold months? Head on over to my Winter Recipe Index for all kinds of cozy inspiration.
What you need to make this recipe:
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Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here is what you need to grab from the grocery store:
- Dairy-free milk — I’m partial to unsweetened almond milk, as well as cashew milk because we have those on hand always, but you can use your favorite plant-based milk. Soy milk, oat milk and full-fat coconut milk would all be lovely and are easily used here if you need to consider a nut allergy. I like to use unsweetened nondairy milk, but you can use the sweetened kind, if you prefer that. I prefer to us a nondairy milk instead of water because it adds creaminess to the hot chocolate.
- Vegan or dairy free chocolate bars — I used Hu dark chocolate bars, but there are a LOT of brands you can choose from. be sure to read the labels to ensure there’s no dairy in your bar or squares. You could also use the same amount of your favorite dairy free chocolate chips in place of chocolate bars.
- Cayenne pepper — this is optional, but it makes the drink a lot more interesting! You just need a little bit for a kick on the tail end of each sip. My children didn’t like this, but I love it.
Pro tip
If you’re making this easy dairy-free hot chocolate recipe for someone who has a dairy allergy, please discuss the ingredients with them. They might be partial to a particular milk alternative or brand. The same thing goes for the chocolate bars.
Some people with dairy allergies also have other food allergies, like nut allergies or celiac disease. Food allergies can feel daunting, but conversations about them are incredibly important for safety and comfort.
Additional ingredients to add:
We do not use sweetener in this recipe and are instead relying on the sweetness of the chocolate bars to do their thing. If they are too bitter for you to enjoy as a snack, you might consider adding your favorite sweetener of choice. I recommend using pure maple syrup or 1-2 teaspoons of granulated sugar to the mixture when warm and give it a taste. Add more sweetener, if necessary.
You can add a splash of an extract, like vanilla extract or even peppermint extract to add some more depth. It is not necessary, but it’s a nice addition if you have it! Start with 1/2 teaspoon of either, stir it in and give it a taste before adding more, if necessary.
Garnishes, like mini marshmallows or vegan marshmallows, if you’re vegan or are making this for a vegan. You can also add dairy free whipped cream, a few mini chocolate chips (so long as they are labeled as dairy free) or a dusting of natural cocoa powder.
How to make Dairy Free Hot Chocolate
First and foremost, grab your ingredients, and place them on the countertop.
Pour the almond milk and the cayenne pepper into a saucepan. Heat over medium heat on the stovetop for 1-2 minutes, until the liquid begins to simmer.
Chop or break the dark chocolate bars into bite-sizes pieces, and add them to the hot almond milk.
Stir and warm over medium-low heat for another 1-2 minutes, or until the chocolate bars have completely melted into the almond milk.
Pour into your favorite mugs, and garnish with marshmallows or dairy-free whipped cream and enjoy immediately.
Pro tip!
To make this into a Vegan Hot Chocolate, double check on the ingredients of your marshmallows! I’ve linked to vegan marshmallows above and in the recipe card below, but it’s important, so don’t skip this part.
How to store:
Let cool and then store in an airtight container or a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat in a mug until warmed through, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a button in the recipe card to help you do this. You can also use math by double or tripling the ingredients. Since this is a drink, it should be pretty straightforward and do-able. Be sure to use a large saucepan if you’re doubling or tripling the recipe.
Personally, I think the non-dairy milk helps add some creaminess to the recipe. Otherwise, you’ve got two nice chocolate bars melted into water, which might be disappointing on flavor.
Quick tips and tricks to the best dairy free hot chocolate
- Use high-quality chocolate. This is going to add all the flavor to your drink, so use something you enjoy eating on its own.
- Customize the recipe based on your taste buds. If the hot chocolate is too bitter for you, add a little sweetener of your choice, give it a stir and then taste it.
- Double or triple to share with a crowd.
- Always have a conversation. If you want to make this for someone with food allergies, please have a conversation before making and serving this to them for both their safety and comfort level.
Here’s how we make this delightful creamy dairy-free hot chocolate…
Dairy Free Hot Chocolate
Creamy, dreamy Dairy Free Hot Chocolate is a comforting classic that is easy to make at home. This recipe is just sweet enough with a little zing of spice and is easily customized, based on your dietary needs and tastebuds.
Prevent your screen from going dark
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
- 4.2 oz. vegan dark chocolate bars
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Vegan marshmallows for serving
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Pour the almond milk and the cayenne pepper into a saucepan. Heat over medium heat on the stovetop for 1-2 minutes, until the liquid begins to simmer.
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Chop or break the dark chocolate bars into bite-sizes pieces, and add them to the hot almond milk.
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Stir and heat over medium heat for another 1-2 minutes, or until the chocolate bars have completely melted into the almond milk.
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Pour into your favorite mugs, and garnish with marshmallows or dairy-free whipped cream and enjoy immediately.
If you do not want your hot chocolate to be spicy, add just a pinch of cayenne or omit completely.
Read the ingredients of your chocolate and your marshmallows to ensure they’re both dairy free.
Serving: 1servingCalories: 383kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 6gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 256mgPotassium: 428mgFiber: 7gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 269mgIron: 7mg
