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Skip the store-bought hot cocoa packets and cans of hot cocoa mix and make it yourself! This homemade dairy-free vegan hot chocolate mix recipe is made from just three simple ingredients and without powdered milk. (It's also gluten-free!)
It's great for keeping in the cupboard for cold days and makes a great non-dairy holiday or hostess gift idea.
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You know those things you buy at the grocery store, and there's a way to make them at home, but you're not sure how, and you think it's too complicated?
So you continue buying them out of habit even though they cost more than making them yourself? (If you do this, don't worry, you're not alone. I sometimes do this, too!)
This recipe for vegan hot chocolate mix is one of those things. It's SO easy to make and all you need is THREE ingredients! Once you make it, you'll wonder why it took you so long (just like I did!).
The best part? It lasts a long time, and it's just as delicious, rich, and comforting as any of the store-bought stuff.
You'll also recognize all the ingredients, which is not something you can always say about the kind at the store, and this is a hot chocolate mix with no powdered milk, so there's no pricey soy or coconut milk powder to buy.
P.S. If you want to find more ways to make your favourite hot drinks at home, check out all of my cozy vegan latte and hot chocolate recipes!
What Goes Into This Recipe
Unlike the pre-made hot chocolate mixes you can pick up at the store, this one only contains three basic ingredients and I've listed them below along with substitution info.
A Few Ingredient Notes
Cocoa Powder - You'll need unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, the same type of cocoa you use for baking. If you prefer to use cacao powder, you can, just keep in mind that natural cocoa powder tends to be a little bitter when compared to Dutch-process cocoa powder, so you may need to add a little more sugar. Since cacao powder is more acidic than cocoa powder, the taste will be slightly different.
Technically, cocoa powder is vegan, but if you're looking for an ethical brand, read this article: "Is Cocoa Powder Vegan?"
Salt - A small amount of salt is needed to balance the flavours, don't skip it!
Sugar - I use organic cane sugar, but if you don't have this type, you can use coconut sugar or regular white sugar instead. If using white sugar, make sure that it's vegan.
Sugar Tip
Some sugars are processed with animal bone char, making them not vegan, but brands like Wholesome Sweeteners, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods 365, and Redpath (Canada) don’t use it. If these aren’t available, organic sugar is always vegan.
The Simple Steps
(Note: I’ve outlined the step-by-step on how to make this recipe here, but find the full recipe, ingredients, and directions in the recipe card at the end of this post.)
Just two steps are necessary, and they're both quick and easy, so you'll be on your way to a delicious hot cup of hot cocoa in just a few minutes!
1. Add all of the ingredients to a medium bowl.
2. Whisk the ingredients very well until everything has blended. That's it!
After the ingredients have been whisked together, carefully scoop your non-dairy hot cocoa mix into an airtight jar (like a Ball or Mason jar), cover it tightly, and store it in a cool, dry place.
Turn Your Mix into a Chocolaty Treat
Complete directions to make hot chocolate using the mix can be found in the recipe card below.
Recipe Tip
I recommend using a creamy non-dairy milk such as oat milk, or soy milk. You can also use a mix of canned full-fat or lite coconut milk with thinner plant-based milk, like almond milk, for extra creamy hot chocolate.
1. Add two tablespoons of the cocoa mix to a mug.
2. Warm your favourite plant-based milk in a small saucepan.
3. Carefully pour the warm milk into a mug.
4. Stir well.
Recipe Tip
Make it Iced Hot Chocolate! Add 1 cup of ice cubes, 1 cup of vegan milk, and 2 tablespoons of the mix to a blender and blend. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed. Garnish with chocolate sauce, dairy-free whipped cream, or any other toppings you like.
Looking for something to pair with your cup of hot chocolate? How about a tasty vegan cookie or a fluffy vegan muffin?
Tips to Keep In Mind
- Measure and have all your ingredients ready to go before starting. This will make the process run smoothly, quickly, and easily.
- Measure your ingredients correctly. I highly recommend using a scale (this is the one I have) and my weight measurements.
- This mix is not overly sweet, it's more like a dark chocolate hot chocolate, so not as sweet as store-bought mixes. To make it sweeter, you can either stir in some pure maple syrup or more sugar to your drink after it has been prepared or you can add more sugar to the mix. See the recipe notes below for info on how to do this. Keep in mind that added toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, or chocolate sauce will also add sweetness.
- Read through the recipe before getting started and read through this post from top to bottom for lots of tips on how to make your mix perfect every single time.
- Follow the recipe exactly as it’s written for the very best results.
Recipe Tip
Make this hot chocolate mix for gifting! This easy vegan hot cocoa mix makes a perfect DIY gift for anyone, especially during the holidays. Just jar it, add a ribbon and card with instructions, and your recipient (teacher, host, BFF... anyone!) will enjoy a fun, decadent homemade gift.
If You Give This a Try...
Please let me know! I'd love to hear how things went and how you're enjoying your hot chocolate mix. Please leave me a comment and star rating below or post a picture on Instagram and tag me, I’m @delightfuladventures on Instagram.
3-Ingredient Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix
Suggested Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (200g) organic cane sugar
- ¾ cup (65g) Dutch-process cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions:
To Make the Hot Chocolate Mix:
- Add all three of the ingredients to a medium-sized bowl.
- Whisk well until all of the ingredients have been combined.
- Scoop the mix into an airtight jar, cover it, and store it.
To Make Hot Chocolate with the Mix:
- Add two tablespoons (24g) of the mix to a mug.
- Add 1 cup (240ml / 8oz) of your favourite plant milk to a small pot and place the pot over medium-high heat. OPTIONAL: Add 2 tablespoons (23g) of chocolate chips to the pot for an extra-rich drink and whisk until the chocolate is melted as the milk heats.
- Heat until the mix is steaming, don't allow it to boil. When the milk is steaming, remove the pot from the heat.
- Carefully pour the milk into the mug and stir well.
- Add your favourite toppings like vegan marshmallows, dairy-free whipped cream, etc.
Recipe Notes:
- Please read all of the information above, as well as the notes below before making this recipe.
- This recipe makes 265g (just a little over 1 ¼ cups) of hot chocolate mix. The recipe will make 11 mugs of hot chocolate. Double, triple, or quadruple the recipe as needed.
- For a sweeter hot chocolate mix, use 1 ¼ (250g) cups of sugar.
- Since this recipe is made without powdered milk, using hot water instead of milk will not result in the best tasting hot chocolate. When using this mix, always use dairy-free milk for the best hot chocolate possible.
- Store your hot chocolate mix in a cool, dry area in an airtight glass jar or container. Cocoa powder and sugar both have very long shelf lives so you will likely finish the mix before it's no longer good. Check the expiry dates on the packages of the sugar and cocoa powder and that will let you know how long the mix will last. Once that is determined, add a small label to the bottom of your mix jar so you know how long you have.
- Nutrition info is for 2 tablespoons (1 serving) of the dry hot chocolate mix prepared exactly as the recipe is written (not the prepared hot chocolate). The data below is only to be used as a rough guide.
Julie says
This is an awesome idea for saving money and for making a vegan hot chocolate mix that's ready when you are. Do you have any ideas for making vegan coffee drinks, such as frappuccinos, lattes, cappuccinos, and/or mochas? Something that could be quickly fixed at home? ... maybe even taken to work in an airtight and watertight container? Thank you!
Gwen Leron says
Hi Julie! I hope you enjoy the hot chocolate mix! And yes, I do have a few other recipes for homemade drinks, not pre-mixed like this, but homemade versions of the drinks you would buy in the coffee shops. You can see all of them here (I plan to add more): https://delightfuladventures.com/category/recipes/drinks/