Rich & Indulgent Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate

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In my experience, most people prefer hot chocolate prepared one of two ways:

Some people are fans of the Swiss Miss-style—sweet, light, but not super chocolate-y.

Then there are those of us who prefer a richer hot chocolate. Something that’s a little thicker, more indulgent, and tastes so insanely good you can’t help but close your eyes and smile every time you take a sip.

I think you can probably guess which team I’m on.

(Sorry, Swiss Miss-aholics. Put that powder on top of your ice cream for a delicious treat, but when it comes to the hot cocoa you drink, there’s a better way.)

The unfortunate thing is, very often, this style of hot chocolate, sometimes called “drinking chocolate,” contains dairy and/or cream.

Well, not anymore!

This recipe for dairy-free hot chocolate is rich without any cream or dairy…

Sweet without any added sugar…

(Yes, both of those things are truly possible!)

And I think my favorite part is, it all comes together in one pot—and in less than 10 minutes.

So there’s no need to clean up 7 bowls, measuring cups, and pots after making this recipe… and it will be ready almost as quick as microwaving that Swiss Miss stuff!

Plus, even if you absolutely *hate* the flavor of coconut, I’ve provided alternatives to make this work without it.

(Though full disclosure, I am a coconut fan, and think this dairy-free hot chocolate is not complete without a dollop of my dairy-free whipped cream made using coconut cream.)

So, if you’re ready for the richest, chocolatiest (yes, I made that word up), and creamiest hot cocoa… that has NO dairy or added sugar…

Here’s how it’s done:

FTH’s Fast, Easy & Delicious Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate

Equipment Needed: Saucepan, fine mesh sieve (optional)

Recipe Time: 5-10 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips, preferably dark
• 2 cups dairy-free milk (preferably cashew, oat, or full-fat coconut—see Recipe Notes)
• 3 Tbsp Cacao powder, such as Cacao Bliss
• 1 tsp almond, vanilla, or hazelnut extract (see Recipe Notes)
• 1/4 cup coffee
• Pinch of sea salt

Directions:

1) Add everything to the pot and simmer until ready.

That’s right:

This recipe is so easy it only requires one step.

In a medium saucepan (or larger if you’re scaling up the recipe), add all the ingredients, ideally in the order they’re listed.

Turn the heat up to medium, and heat until steaming but not boiling. Continue stirring so the ingredients combine evenly and nothing sticks to the bottom.

When everything is melted, taste it and adjust as needed.

For a slightly more refined hot chocolate, you can strain the mixture to make it extra creamy and rich.

It will still be delicious if you don’t do this, though you might find some melted chocolate or cacao powder particles at the bottom of your mug (still delicious, IMO!).

Add desired toppings (see below), and enjoy it while it’s hot. Yum!

Recipe Notes

• Hazelnut extract gives this hot chocolate an almost Nutella-like flavor, which I personally love. However, it can be difficult to find, so almond or vanilla extract would also work in a pinch.
• Coffee complements the flavor of chocolate and adds depth without the need for extra sugar. If you’re making this as an evening treat, though, you may want to leave it out.
• I don’t recommend using almond milk for this recipe, because it tends to be thinner than other plant-based milks and isn’t suited for this style of hot chocolate as a result. You can still use it and it will taste delicious, but it won’t be the same.

3 Fun Ideas To Make This Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Your Own…

Yes, this dairy-free hot cocoa recipe is decadent & delicious on its own.

But that’s not to say that adding a little something won’t make it even better.

If you have a little extra time on your hands, try dressing up this dairy-free hot chocolate for an even tastier treat:

1) Make my dairy-free whipped cream and spoon it on top.

It’s 3 ingredients and an absolute cinch to make. In my mind, it’s the perfect topping for this rich & creamy hot cocoa.

2) Add a shot of rum or vodka for a boozy and indulgent-tasting cocktail.

I personally prefer rum because it’s naturally sweet, though vodka also works well. Peppermint schnapps would also be a great choice if you like the taste of chocolate and mint.

3) Add a spoonful of peanut butter for a sweet (& secretly slimming!) late night snack!

Now, you might think adding peanut butter to this hot chocolate sounds a *bit* indulgent… (and by that I mean very)… so you’ll be surprised to find out it can actually help you LOSE weight!!

That’s because adding more protein to your diet is scientifically proven to decrease cravings… increase metabolism… and help you burn up to hundreds more calories the next day.

(One study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that when people added just 15-30% more protein to their diet, they lost a whopping 441 more calories the following day… so eating more can actually help you lose MORE weight! It’s science!)

Plus? It’s also just downright decadent-tasting… almost like a Reese’s peanut butter cup in liquid form. *mmmmm* 

So if I can drink something that tastes like a peanut butter cup… but can actually burn off fat… I’m 1000% percent in!

And speaking from personal experience, it’s kid- and partner-approved too… believe me, nobody will guess this is secretly “healthy.” 🙂

So if you want to know more about how adding delicious forms of protein to your diet can help you lose more weight…

Plus two more sneaky secrets that will allow you to burn more fat and boost your metabolism… (without stepping foot inside a single gym, or having to chain yourself to a weird Pilates machine… how do you even use those things anyway??)

Then click here now and discover how eating a little more protein can help you lose a lot more weight.

[This post was updated by Fit Trim Happy on July 7, 2020.]