As the creamiest vegan hot chocolate you’ll find, Oat Milk Hot Chocolate is simply incredible. Made in just minutes with pantry staple ingredients you’ll have on hand and topped with vegan whipped cream, this homemade hot chocolate is so easy and quick to make. A hug in a mug? Yes, please!
This post was originally published on December 19th, 2021.
❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Quick and easy: Made with 4 foundation ingredients, plus any flavorings you’d like to add, this oat milk hot chocolate is ready in 5 minutes. Make one or quadruple the recipe to make a few!
- So creamy: I don’t know what it is, but oat milk makes everything taste SO creamy! I do not miss regular milk at all – oat milk feels like a treat even on its own, never mind as oat milk hot chocolate!
- Chocolate flavor: This has the best chocolate flavor when it comes to hot chocolate recipes. Sweet, smooth, and velvety chocolate. Perfect.
- Healthy: I used sweeteners instead of sugar to cut down on carbs and calories. I also add a pinch of cinnamon and chili powder which are both incredibly good for you, along with cocoa powder.
- It’s chillable. I like to make about 3 servings worth and save the extra in the fridge for chocolate milk the next day. I could warm it back up, but with a shot of espresso or just some added to a cup of coffee instead of milk…it is, indeed, a good morning. Indulgent, I know.
🗝️ Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Oat milk: Of course. My all-time favorite is Oatly Barista Oatmilk, long-life. When I was a barista at a cat cafe, I discovered this amazing milk and have been addicted since. I’ve had the organic version sent to me when the barista was out of stock and it just doesn’t taste as good. The barista version is extremely creamy, and it also steams perfectly (if you have a milk steamer). Unsweetened oat milk or homemade oat milk are good options as well.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: What is hot chocolate without the chocolate? (hot…) I like to add a fair amount of unsweetened cocoa powder to make it extra chocolatey.
Sweetener: I always use NKD Living’s Stevia & Erythritol blend when possible as it has the best flavor for me. You can use any kind of sweetener with a 1:1 sugar-to-sweetener ratio, coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey in this recipe. I like to add 1 tbsp of sweetener – that is sweet enough for me, however, my other half likes 2 tbsp.
Other extracts and flavors: I always add vanilla extract to oat milk hot chocolate along with a pinch of cinnamon and chili powder for extra warmth, and then sometimes I add a little peppermint extract to make peppermint hot chocolate or orange extract for a chocolate orange version. I saw salted caramel extract the other day at the grocery store and look forward to trying that as well!
🥣 How to make this creamy Oat Milk Hot Chocolate recipe
1. Measure a mug full of oat milk and add oat milk to a medium pot over medium heat on the stove.
2. Add sweetener, vanilla, and any other flavorings desired.
3. In a small bowl, add the unsweetened cocoa powder plus 2 tbsp of the oat milk from the pot. Mix well. Continue adding and mixing oat milk 1 tbsp at a time until the mixture is pourable.
4. Pour the cocoa and oat milk mixture into the pot with the rest of the oat milk and stir well.
5. Continue to heat until it is hot but not boiling. If you let the oat milk boil it’ll be too hot to drink.
6. Add a pinch of cinnamon and chili powder if desired.
7. Serve with coconut whipped cream and marshmallows.
🪄 Recipe Notes & Tips
- Mix a little oat milk with the cocoa powder before adding it to the pot with the rest of the oat milk. This helps to reduce lumps.
- Don’t boil the oat milk hot chocolate. There is no need to bring it to a boil. Just heat it up to a good drinking temperature.
- Double or triple the recipe to share more servings.
- Make a double batch and chill half for cold chocolate oat milk.
- Premake the dairy-free Hot Chocolate cocoa mix so you always have some on hand ready to go. 1/2 cup of cocoa powder to 1 cup of sweetener.
- Other kinds of milk: If you’re sticking to dairy-free, this delicious hot chocolate recipe also works well with almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and cashew milk. Regular cow’s milk is fine too.
- Keto: Use unsweetened almond milk to make this hot chocolate keto friendly.
- Serve with Coconut Whipped Cream, and vegan marshmallows for an amazing treat!
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
I love making my 5-minute Coconut Whipped Cream and serving it on top. I especially like adding mint to both the hot chocolate and the Dairy-Free Whipped Cream. You can also add a few marshmallows, sprinkles, and dust with cocoa powder or chocolate shavings
Yes! Oat milk can be heated like most non-dairy beverages which makes it perfect for hot chocolate with oat milk. The Oatly Barista milk that I like to use is made to be heated up, as it steams perfectly.
Yes! It doesn’t separate as some kinds of milk do with heat. Feel free to reheat this oat milk hot chocolate recipe if you’re like me and take a long time to drink a mug.
That’s a good question! I’d say it’s all about context. Heading to bed? Warmed oat milk is perfect. Eating a homemade cookie or three? Drinking it cold tastes better than dairy.
Sure! You can use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or vegan chocolate to keep it dairy free. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and add 1/4 cup of chopped chocolate to a pot on the stove with a splash of oat milk. As the chocolate melts, mix them together adding a little more milk at a time. Make the hot chocolate sweeter if needed by adding your sugar of choice to taste, and serve when the creamy hot chocolate is hot but not boiling with a dollop of vegan whipped cream.
Yes. I add 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup to oat milk in a pot over medium heat. It can cook all together at the same time. Add more chocolate to taste.
😋 More drink recipes you’ll love
- Iced Oat Milk Latte
- Keto Chocolate Milk
- Slow Cooker Mulled Wine
- Easy Sumac Tea
- Apple Oat Smoothie Recipe
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📖 Recipe
Oat Milk Hot Cocoa Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 mug full of oat milk about 1.5-2 cups depending on your mug
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1-2 tbsp sweetener of choice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch cinnamon
- 1 pinch chili powder
- 1/2 tsp flavouring or extract optional, mint or orange or salted caramel, etc.
Instructions
- Measure a mug full of oat milk and pour it into a pot over medium heat on the stove.
- Add sweetener, vanilla and any other flavourings desired.
- In a small bowl, add the cocoa powder plus 2 tbsp of the oat milk from the pot. Mix well. Continue adding and mixing oat milk 1 tbsp at a time until the mixture is pourable.
- Pour the cocoa and oat milk mixture into the pot with the rest of the oat milk and stir well.
- Continue to heat until it is hot but not boiling.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon and chili powder if desired.
- Serve with coconut whipped cream (*see notes) and marshmallows.
Love anything hot chocolate and this version is so good!
Delicious drink
This oatmeal hot chocolate is simply divine!
This oat milk hot chocolate was so delicious! It was so creamy!
this hot oatmeal is so creamy. like a warm hug
This oat milk hot chocolate is amazing and so creamy. I did leave out the chili powder to suit our tastes, but it was so good!
This oat milk hot chocolate is so creamy, and we loved the flavor from the dash of chili!
Such a delicious hot chocolate recipe! The addition of a little chilli is genius! It’s perfect with the cinnamon!
I am in love with this, the chili adds a subtle heat which I recommend. Can’t wait to make this again.
We love this hot chocolate recipe! The cinnamon and chile powder add the perfect contrast while complementing the warmth of the cocoa.
I agree oatmeal is so creamy. I am glad to have this alternative to use now. And that dash is chili powder adds the extra bit of flavor I love.