Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

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Looking for a rich and creamy hot chocolate recipe that not only tastes indulgent, but is dairy free, gluten free, and vegan? Well, have I got a treat for you: Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk!

Oat milk is the new trend in dairy free milk alternatives right now, and I can see why!

It's thick, creamy, and earthy--the perfect consistency for making hot chocolate.

And this recipe is absolutely over the moon delicious. It's silky, smooth, and extra chocolatey. But best of all, this hot chocolate recipe comes together in MINUTES. 3-4 minutes in fact.

So knowing that you're less than 5 minutes away from a warm mug of chocolate bliss has probably got you needing a cup this instant, right? Heard. Here's how we make it:

How to make Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

Serves 1

Ingredients you'll need:

• 1 cup unsweetened oat milk
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons dairy free/vegan mini chocolate chips (I like this brand)
• 1 ½ teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• Pinch of kosher salt
• Splash of pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

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 coconut whipped topping and vegan marshmallows.

What Is Oat Milk?

Oat milk is basically whole oats blended with water and then strained. This is what gives oat milk its creaminess and dreaminess--perfect for rich hot chocolate and morning coffee.

Oat milk is a fabulous alternative to dairy milk and provides a dairy free option for those that suffer from nut or soy allergies.

Another bonus is that oats are naturally vegan and gluten free, therefore oat milk is too--but always make sure to check your labels for the gluten free and vegan certifications to be safe.

As far as nutrients go, oat milk inherits the same nutrients that come from whole oats, such as protein, fiber, and iron. It's also worth mentioning that oat milk is a little lower in sodium compared to almond milk or soy milk.

So if you're looking to transition from dairy milk, oat milk is a fabulous and nutritious way to do it!

Nutrition info sourced from eatingwell.com and womenshealthmag.com

So what milk alternative is best for hot chocolate

As you can tell by this post, my favorite way to make plant based or vegan hot chocolate is with oat milk! It just has the perfect silky texture for this recipe. Oat milk is little thicker than some other milk alternatives, so it creates a richer more indulgent cup of cocoa.

Almond milk and coconut milk would be my second favorites. Almond for the nuttiness and coconut for the beautiful flavor combo of coconut and chocolate.

Hemp, cashew, and soy milks will all work for this recipe too, so use what you have on hand! But based on consistency alone, oat milk is my hands down favorite milk base here.

Is Hot Chocolate With Oat Milk Healthy?

Not necessarily. While there are a lot of great nutrients found in oat milk (like protein and fiber), we are adding a fair amount of sugar to the beverage in the form of powdered sugar and chocolate chips.

While this recipe is more nutritious than the packets of the hot chocolate mix at the store, I'm still considering it a treat.

But, if you wanted to bump up the nutrient value a little, swap out the powdered sugar for maple syrup! Start with 1 tablespoon and adjust to taste.

Is this hot chocolate recipe Vegan?

Yes!

This oat milk hot cocoa recipe is vegan, dairy free, and gluten free! And all the ingredients sourced for this recipe are plant based.

When shopping for ingredients, make sure to check food labels for the "gluten free" and "vegan" symbols, that way you can make sure your plant based ingredients weren't cross-contaminated during manufacturing.

How to serve your oat milk hot cocoa:

This oat milk hot chocolate is so creamy and rich that it does just fine on its own! But, if you wanted to indulge a little or make your cocoa look fancy for guests, I highly recommend serving your hot chocolate with some coconut whip piled high on top and vegan marshmallows. And definitely sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips over the top...maybe a drizzle of some melted chocolate too.

Variations:

This hot chocolate is so easy to whip up, you'll be making it all the time. So to keep it interesting, here are a few variations that will leave you craving your next cup before the first one ends:

• Feel free to use almond, soy, or coconut milk in place of oat milk
• Make it spicy! Add a little pumpkin pie spice, straight up cinnamon, or even some cayenne pepper
• We love a chocolate mint situation. Add a couple drops of pure peppermint extract to the chocolate mixture off heat
• Double the chocolate chips or use chocolate oat milk for an extra rich, extra sweet, mug of cocoa. Can you even imagine?!
• Add a shot of espresso for something stronger
• Add a shot of your favorite spirit or liqueur for something even stronger

Other Recipes You Might Like:

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Without Powdered Milk

Dairy Free and Vegan Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dairy Free Banana Bread