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Homemade Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

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Cozy up with a delicious mug of Oat Milk Hot Chocolate this season. 

A combination of unsweetened oat milk, rich chocolate chips, cocoa, and a touch of powdered sugar, creates the perfect mug of hot cocoa that is deliciously rich and completely dairy free!

Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

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It’s that time of year in New England when the air turns chilly, and we start craving something warm and comforting. In my opinion, the best way to embrace the winter months is with a warm cup of rich hot chocolate. This recipe is a tasty twist on a classic favorite, and was inspired by my new found love for oat milk. 

Admittedly, I’m not a big dairy milk fan, and my husband has a lactose intolerance, so finding dairy-free milk alternatives is essential in our house. Oat milk is perfect for this recipe because it has the creaminess of regular cow’s milk, and the oats give a tasty nuttiness to the cocoa.

The best thing about this cocoa recipe is that it can be made completely with dairy free and vegan friendly ingredients, allowing you to meet the dietary needs of your family and friends. Now everyone can enjoy a delicious hot chocolate on a cold day! 

So whether you’re vegan or just looking for a dairy-free homemade hot chocolate recipe, this cozy beverage will become a household favorite during the cold weather months.

And oat milk is not just for beverages, I love using oat milk in pancakes and any recipe that calls for whole or low fat milk!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Dairy-Free and Vegan hot chocolate: Perfect for lactose-intolerant individuals and vegans.
  • Smooth and Silky: The creamy oat milk provides a velvety texture.
  • Customizable: Sweetness and toppings to suit your taste and can be vegan or not.
  • Quick and Easy: Minimal ingredients and simple steps for satisfying that sweet tooth.
  • Cozy Comfort: Perfect for chilly evenings and relaxing moments.
  • Family-Friendly: Appeals to all ages and is allergen free, making it great for gatherings and the holiday season.

Equipment

  • A small pot
  • Whisk
  • 16-ounce mug

Ingredients

With a few simple ingredients, you can have a big mug of hot chocolate that is creamy and delicious without the dairy! Full ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions can be found on the recipe card.

Two mugs of hot cocoa with marshmallows. Chocolate chips and chocolate cookies in the background.
  • Unsweetened oat milk – Oat milk gives the hot chocolate a creamy texture and is the primary liquid for this recipe. I use the unsweetened variety since we’re adding sugar and chocolate chips later.
  • Powdered sugar – The powdered sugar will sweeten the cocoa and thicken it slightly since there is cornstarch in powdered sugar. This will give you a sweet and creamy hot chocolate.
  • Mini chocolate chips – You can use any chocolate chips you like, milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate (Vegan or not). 
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder – The cocoa powder gives the hot chocolate a rich chocolate flavor.
  • Kosher salt – A pinch of salt adds balance to the hot cocoa recipe
  • Vanilla extract – I love adding vanilla to chocolate for extra warmth. Use pure vanilla extract for this recipe, not imitation.

Hint: Select allergen free or vegan chocolate chips if you want a completely dairy free cup of hot chocolate. Make sure to read the package labels when selecting your ingredients. Serve with vegan marshmallows or whipped coconut cream.

Instructions:

How to make oat milk hot chocolate:

In a small saucepan, add the oat milk, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and salt.

Whisk over medium heat until the mixture is smooth, steaming, and has thickened slightly– about 3-4 minutes. Do not boil.

Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract.

Carefully pour the hot chocolate into an eager mug and top with whipped cream and mini marshmallows (vegan or not).

Pouring The Hot Chocolate Into a Mug

Substitutions

  • Milk choice: Feel free to use cashew milk, almond, soy, or coconut, or regular whole milk instead of oat milk
  • Sweetener: Swap the powdered sugar for pure maple syrup
  • Chocolate: You can use vegan or regular chocolate chips for this recipe. Chopped real chocolate bars can be substituted as well.

Variations

  • Make it spicy! Add a dash of cinnamon, or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mix.
  • Add a couple drops of pure peppermint extract to the chocolate mixture off the heat
  • Double the chocolate chips or use chocolate oat milk for an extra rich, sweet mug of cocoa.
  • Add a shot of espresso for a hot mocha.

FAQs

Nutrition info sourced from eatingwell.com and womenshealthmag.com

Is hot chocolate with oat milk healthy?

While this recipe is more nutritious than traditional hot chocolate, I still consider it a treat because it contains added sugar and chocolate chips.
But, if you want a better way to sweeten your cocoa, swap out the powdered sugar for pure maple syrup! Start with 1 tablespoon at first and adjust to taste.

What is the best oat milk for hot chocolate?

I prefer unsweetened oat milk because we’re adding sweeteners in the form of powdered sugar and chocolate chips later in the recipe.

What is oat milk?

Oat milk is whole oats blended with water and then strained. This is what gives oat milk its creaminess.
Oat milk is a fabulous alternative to dairy milk and provides a dairy free option for those who suffer from nut or soy allergies. Oats are naturally vegan and gluten free, therefore oat milk is too–but always make sure to check your labels to be safe.
Oat milk also inherits the same nutrients that come from whole oats, such as protein, fiber, and iron. It’s worth mentioning that oat milk is a little lower in sodium compared to almond milk or soy milk.
Nutrition info sourced from womenshealthmag.com

Vegan Hot Chocolate

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Creamy Vegan Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

Yield: 1 Serving
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 9 minutes

An indulgent and rich hot chocolate made with creamy oat milk. Dairy free and Vegan friendly, you'll never miss the dairy!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened oat milk
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons dairy free/vegan mini chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Splash of pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, add the oat milk, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and salt.
  2. Whisk over medium heat until the mixture is smooth, steaming, and has thickened slightly-- about 3-4 minutes. Do not boil.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract.
  4. Carefully pour the hot chocolate into an eager mug and top with coconut whipped topping and vegan marshmallows.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 287Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 91mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 3gSugar: 41gProtein: 3g

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One Comment

  1. Hey Michelle! I love this recipe and I am hosting people this weekend for the holidays. Have you ever tried this as a big batch in a slow cooker???

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