The Best Vegan Hot Cocoa: Great for Cozy Nights
Published on 8 Dec, 2024 · by Meera
This Vegan Hot Cocoa is the best! It’s rich, smooth, creamy, and oh-so-dreamy! It’s great for cozy nights when you crave a comforting beverage. Hit that sweet spot with a cup of hot chocolatey goodness!
So dreamy…
What makes this recipe a winner
- It uses only 6 basic ingredients (one of them is water)
- It comes together in just 6 minutes
- It’s utterly delicious! Even the non-vegan folks will enjoy it thoroughly
What you’ll need for this recipe:
Unsweetened cocoa powder – Dutch-processed or not – it doesn’t matter 🙂
Sugar – brown, granulated, coconut, etc.
Salt – balances the sweetness very well.
Hot water – to break up cocoa clumps when making a slurry.
Unsweetened non-dairy milk – I use soy but you can use oat, almond, cashew, or hemp milk.
Vanilla extract – for an even greater flavour.
How to make comforting hot cocoa:
- Make a slurry: Add the cocoa, sugar, and salt to a saucepan. Then, add the hot water and give a good stir to make a slurry. This is to break up the cocoa powder clumps, and bloom the cocoa (to draw out its rich flavour).
2. Add the milk, stir well, and heat the mixture. Once steaming (not boiling), turn off the heat, add the vanilla extract, and stir.
3. Serve up – grab your mugs, pour, and optionally top with vegan marshmallows (don’t go too heavy because this hot cocoa is already rich).
How to make a hot cocoa in the microwave?
In a 10-oz mug, add 1 + 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder, 2 tbsp sugar, and a tiny pinch of salt. Add a few tablespoons of milk and stir well to make a slurry. If the milk’s too cold and it’s difficult to form a slurry, pop the mug in the microwave for 15 seconds and try again.
Once the cocoa clumps are fully dissolved, slowly add the rest of the milk and stir well. Give the mug a whirl in the microwave until the milk is heated through. Keep an eye as milk tends to overflow at a very high temperature.
Then, add 1/4 tsp vanilla extract. Give a good final stir and serve ’em up!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I make this cocoa extra creamy? For a creamier texture, a rich non-dairy milk like cashew milk, or a barista oat milk. I use soy milk which already makes a creamy hot cocoa.
2. Can I make this recipe in advance? Yes, you can prepare a batch of hot cocoa in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
3. Can I make this recipe iced? Yes! You can let the hot cocoa cool down and serve it over ice for a refreshing iced hot cocoa. Or, chill a batch in the fridge to have as a ready-made cooldown bev.
4. Why add the vanilla extract at the end? Vanilla extract contains alcohol which tends to evaporate in high heat. So, we add it after turning off the heat to preserve the vanilla flavour.
Tips for Success
- Mix the slurry well – use the back of your spatula to “smash” the clumps of cocoa powder, or use the whisk to break them up. It’s not exciting to swallow clumps in a beverage that’s supposed to be smooth and creamy.
- Use medium-low heat – too high heat can make the cocoa burn, or overflow and make a mess, which can be frustrating.
The Best Vegan Hot Cocoa
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp sugar
- a pinch of salt about 1/8 tsp
- 1/4 cup hot water or 4 tbsp
- 2 cups soy milk or almond/ oat/ cashew milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Make a slurry
- Add the cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and hot water to a saucepan on medium-low heat. Use a whisk or spatula to make a slurry. Break up all cocoa clumps.
Add the milk and vanilla
- Add the milk and stir well to combine with the slurry. Allow the mixture to steam, but do not boil.
- Once steaming, turn off the heat and add the vanilla extract. Give the mixture a good final stir.
- Pour in your mugs and serve. You may top with vegan marshmallows (don't go too heavy because this cocoa is already rich). That said, this hot cocoa is great just as is.
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