Enjoy this indulgent dairy-free hot chocolate with almond milk and dark chocolate in three unique flavors: peppermint, orange, and thick Italian style topped with sea salt flakes. Perfect for a cozy winter treat.
Hot chocolate isn’t something I drink all that often. The stuff you get from the packet and add water to is always disappointing. It never tastes as good as the picture looks, and to be honest, if I’m going to have a hot chocolate, I at least want it to be a good one!
This version uses almond milk which is what makes it a dairy-free option. Almond milk is really creamy, so it’s perfect to use as a base for a hot chocolate. Dark chocolate also keeps this hot chocolate dairy-free & vegan, and doesn’t make it overly sweet. So you get to enjoy a rich, creamy hot chocolate, without it being too sickly.
It’s definitely an indulgence, but who says indulging now and again is a bad thing? I promise you would never guess this was a vegan hot chocolate if no-one told you, so why not try it out next time you need a warm blankets and fluffy socks kind of afternoon!
The flavors included in the recipe below are classic peppermint, a rich and zesty orange flavor, and the most decadent Italian hot chocolate, topped with a pinch of flakey sea salt for extra punch.
Go on…treat yourself! Grab a cozy blanket, some thick socks, put on your favorite streaming show and have a nice big mug of one of these hot chocolates!
Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate (3 Ways)
Ingredients
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate roughly chopped
- 5-6 drops peppermint extract
Italian Thick Hot Chocolate with Sea Salt
- 1.5 cups almond milk
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp sugar
- flaked sea salt for topping
Orange Hot Chocolate
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate roughly chopped
- 1 tsp orange zest
Instructions
- To make the Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Heat the almond milk in a saucepan until gently simmering. Then add in the chocolate and peppermint extract and whisk until completely melted and smooth. Pour into two mugs and serve.
- To make the Orange Hot Chocolate: Heat the almond milk in a saucepan until gently simmering. Then add in the chocolate and orange zest and whisk until completely melted and smooth. Pour into two mugs and serve.
- To make the Italian Thick Hot Chocolate with Sea Salt: Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of the almond milk and stir to dissolve. Set aside. Pour the remaining almond milk in a saucepan and heat until simmering. Then add in the chocolate and whisk until completely dissolved. Pour in the almond milk and cornstarch mixture and whisk until the hot chocolate is thick and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Pour into mugs and serve with some sea salt flakes sprinkled on top.
Lauren I’m drooling over here! They all look absolutely delicious, and I’m already on my way to the kitchen, as that Italian hot choc is calling my name!!! :) yum!
You won’t regret it, Anna!
These hot chocolates all sound amazing! I think my favorite would definitely be the peppermint, though, I love anything minty! :)
Chocolate Mint is probably my favourite combo too!