The Best Vegan Hot Chocolate
The Best Vegan Hot Chocolate is naturally sweetened and made with creamy almond milk. It’s way better than anything you can buy from the store!
Happy Friday, friends! Do you have any fun plans this weekend?
It has been raining cats and dogs here and I’m hoping it keeps up all weekend long so that California can finally start to recover from the ridiculous drought we’ve been having. And also so can I have an excuse to lay around in my sweatpants and catch up on episodes of Homeland, not gonna lie.
Another thing on the agenda? Listening to Christmas music and decorating our tree whilst drinking THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE EVER.
Brandon and I started the tradition of drinking hot chocolate while we decorate our tree the first year we moved in together, when I was just the wee age of 21.
Ten years later and not much has changed, other than the fact that I now make my own vegan and refined sugar-free hot chocolate rather than drinking whatever I can get from a box. Can we say, food snob?
Trust me, one taste of this hot chocolate and you’ll be turning your nose up at those instant packets too. It’s rich and creamy with a decadent chocolate flavor that tastes…REAL, for lack of a better word.
The ingredient list might take some of you by surprise because it’s made with an ingredient commonly used in hummus called tahini, or sesame paste.
I was inspired by a tahini date smoothie that I tried earlier in the year because I loved how creamy the texture was. I combined both of them with Blue Diamond’s new Almondmilk Cashewmilk which helps gives it even more of a rich and creamy texture without using any dairy or soy.
Between all of the nutrients from dates, the antioxidants from the dark chocolate, and the healthy fats and protein in the tahini, it’s a hot chocolate that you can actually feel good about drinking.
Our favorite way to serve it is topped with coconut whipped cream, bits of shaved dark chocolate and a sprinkle of cinnamon. UGH. I’m telling you, it’s heaven in a cup!
I hope you love it as much as we do! Cheers!
The Best Vegan Hot Chocolate
Yield: 24 ounces (2 cups)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 and 1/2 cups vanilla almond milk, cashew milk or coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips, depending on your preferences
- 4 dates, pitted
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon tahini (or almond butter)
- suggested toppings: coconut whipped cream, shaved chocolate and a light sprinkle of ground cinnamon
Directions:
Place all of the ingredients in a small saucepan over low-to-medium heat and bring to a low boil. Allow to cook for 5 minutes while whisking everything together in back and forth motions. Remove the pot from the heat and set aside for a couple of minutes to cool slightly. *You don’t want it to be boiling hot in the blender or it will explode!
Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend on high for 15 seconds, or until smooth. Taste test to see if you prefer it sweeter and add more maple syrup as needed. At this point the liquid should still be warm enough to serve. Pour into separate cups, top with whipped cream, shaved chocolate and dash of cinnamon and enjoy!
Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #makingthymeforhealth. I love hearing your feedback! 
Thank you to Almond Breeze Almondmilk for sponsoring this post! Enter for a chance to win the Ultimate Kitchen Prize Pack, get great savings and ideas for delicious Blendabilities at AlmondBreezeBlendabilities.com
Mmmmmmm!! I love thick creamy hot chocolate, and to have some that is actually good for you? Win win!! Here’s to a cozy rainy weekend with a big mug of chocolatey goodness! :)
I hope you’re having a great weekend, Melissa! Cheers! :)
Sounds like a great tradition! David and I are starting a tradition of drinking mulled wine while we decorate the tree. We’ll see how long it lasts once we actually have kids — haha. I hope the rain continues, too! Though I’m seeing it’s not gonna rain again until Sunday, which is okay with me because we’re heading to Anderson Valley tomorrow for some wine tastings with friends! Have a great time decorating. :)
I saw you guys making mulled wine on Snapchat and the slow-mo snap was hilarious! I had a good laugh at that one. Oh and btw, David is right, you are saying mulled wrong, lol. That’s okay though, it sounds cuter the way you say it. ;)
I hope you guys had a great time in Anderson Valley!
So intrigued by the use of tahini! I’m excited to give this a try!
Thanks Jill! I hope you love it. Have a great weekend! :)
Mmm I love hot chocolate! We had mimosas while we decorated, but this looks like a pretty great option too.
I love rainy weekends too, cause it means I don’t have to feel guilty about being a bum haha. Enjoy your down time!
We usually decorate at night but if it were during the day, there would definitely be some mimosas involved. They’re my favorite!
Tahini, yes!!
I’ve seen like 10 hot chocolate recipes this morning and now I’m totally craving some!
Tis’ the season! ;)
Hot chocolate is the best thing ever! Love how creamy this vegan version is. Totally intrigued by the tahini in here :)
Thanks Medha! The tahini makes it so creamy. You should definitely give it a try sometime!
Wow, this sounds dreamy. You guys have lived together for a long time — that’s a lot of Christmas trees ;)
I know, right? It feels like a lifetime, lol! ;)
I love cashew milk for drinks like these because it’s so creamy! I bet the tahini makes it even creamier. Genius!!
Oh yes! Between the two, it makes it so creamy. Thanks Emilie! :)
Chocolate, dates, and [almond butter]?!? That basically speaks to my soul <3 I adore hot chocolate, but I'll admit that I never would have thought to add dates to the mix… and that just sounds absolutely brilliant. I love the idea of throwing some tahini in there too! Have I ever told you that you're a genius? ;)
I figured you would like this one! All it needs it some oats, right? ;)
I love this hot chocolate mix! It sounds so good with the tahini and dates in it! I am so adding this to my to do list! :)
Thanks Stef! I hope you love it! :)
Wow this looks delicious and the shots are absolutely stunning! :D I love that you added tahini, never thought of that before. I eat tahini almost everyday – I’m obsessed with the stuff :D
Thank you so much, Nadia! :)
Haha, I always use the rain as an excuse to it inside and watch tv too! I haven’t had hot chocolate yet this season but I think I smelled some the other day at work and it really made me want some! I love your vegan version!
Something so wonderful about late Fall and Winter is that I have time to watch movies that’s been on my list since summer… I don’t spent as much time in doors during summer… so now’s the time! And yeah… it’s been pouring here too! What a delicious recipe, Sarah. I’m curious about the tahini.. what a great way to get some healthy fats in while enjoying a delicious cup of hot cocoa… while watching a movie!
Hi!
I made this last night for a dinner party to go with a desert also on this website. It was amazing!
However as a side note id like to warn people that my blenders lid popped up due to heat and pressure (which i didn’t think about before hand) and hot liquid went everywhere! So please be careful!
Oh no! I’m so sorry that happened. Hopefully you are okay!
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