Cozy Christmas Hot Chocolate
This Christmas Hot Chocolate is a delicious dairy-free and refined sugar-free version of the classic winter treat. Enjoy it with your favorite hot chocolate toppings, or serve it with a DIY hot cocoa bar at your next gathering.
What Makes This Recipe Great
Nothing screams winter more than a warm cup of holiday cheer in chocolate form. Enter, Christmas hot chocolate! A cozy, warm cup of hot chocolate is one of my favorite healthier treats to have while snuggled up on the couch after a long day.
Most hot chocolate mixes are loaded with sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, dairy, and other additives I can’t even pronounce. I set out to make a gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan hot chocolate recipe that everyone can enjoy.
With simple ingredients, I swear that this healthier homemade Christmas hot chocolate tastes JUST like the real deal, without the junk. It also goes perfectly with all the traditional, fun toppings (see below for fun hot chocolate bar ideas!).
Recipe Highlights
- Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, & Vegan
- Kid-Friendly
- Endless Hot Chocolate Toppings
- Hot Cocoa Bar Ideas
- Easily Make a Peppermint Mocha or Boozy Hot Chocolate!
Ingredients Notes
Coconut Milk: Native Forest is my favorite brand.
Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk: I love Califia Farms almond milk, but feel free to use whichever one you like.
Raw Cacao Powder: I like Thrive Market’s brand of raw cacao powder. It’s also packed with antioxidants. If you don’t have this, feel free to use unsweetened cocoa powder.
Pure Maple Syrup: We get our pure maple syrup from Costco (it’s a big jug for like $11.).
Peppermint Extract: Optional. You can get this at most grocery stores in the baking section near the vanilla extract.
Vanilla Extract: Optional. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to give it a warm vanilla flavor.
Dairy-Free Whipped Cream: Optional for the topping.
Recipe Step by Step
- Combine all ingredients (except whipped cream) in a small saucepan.
- Whisk constantly over medium heat until combined and heated through to the temperature of your liking, about 5 minutes!
- Pour the warm hot cocoa mix into a mug and top with your favorite hot chocolate toppings if desired. Enjoy!
How to Serve Christmas Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate Toppings
Hot chocolate toppings options are truly endless. If you have one that you love that isn’t on the list, let me know in the comments below!
- Whipped Cream: Use dairy-free whipped cream, coconut whipped cream, or your favorite regular dairy whipped cream.
- Chocolate Chips: I love Enjoy Life chocolate chips because they are gluten free and dairy free. Feel free to use your favorite!
- Candy Canes: I like these candy canes from Yum Earth.
- Marshmallows: My favorite gluten-free marshmallows are Dandies. They are gluten-free and vegan.
- Sprinkles: These sprinkles are amazing. Dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free.
- Nuts: Chopped nuts of any kind go so well on top, adding a nice crunch.
- Chocolate Shavings: Pick your favorite chocolate bar and use our zester to shave off some chocolate. Hu Kitchen is my favorite paleo chocolate brand!
- Flaky Sea Salt: This gives that delicious sweet and salty combination.
- Caramel Drizzle: Use caramel, white chocolate, or chocolate syrup for a drizzle.
Hot Cocoa Bar
If you’re having a holiday gathering, a hot cocoa bar is always a big hit.
Place your favorite hot chocolate toppings into bowls and let everyone top their hot chocolate with whatever they like. This DIY hot chocolate bar is fun for the kids AND the adults!
Boozy Hot Chocolate
Add a 3 oz shot of Bailey’s or Peppermint Schnapps and have yourself a merry little cocktail. Put this out at the cocoa bar for a fun DIY mix-in for the parents.
Coffee + Hot Chocolate
You could also add a shot of espresso or some coffee to turn this into a delicious peppermint mocha!
Mary’s Tips & Tricks
Regular Dairy: If you are not dairy free, you can substitute the almond milk and coconut milk with regular milk and heavy cream.
Sweetener: You can use an alternative to maple syrup if you prefer. While it won’t be refined sugar-free, this will still be delicious. Choose your favorite sweetener.
Recipe FAQs
As is, this recipe is not keto-friendly. However, you can easily make a keto version by swapping the maple syrup for monk fruit sweetener.
Yes! As written, this recipe is completely vegan and dairy-free. Be sure to choose vegan toppings as well.
You’ll Love These Cozy Christmas Recipes…
Cozy Christmas Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 13.5 oz can coconut milk
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, or regular is fine, too
- ⅓ cup raw cacao powder
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- dairy free whipped cream , optional – for topping
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients (except whipped cream) in a small saucepan.
- Whisk constantly over medium heat until combined and heated through to the temperature of your liking, about 5 minutes!
- Pour the warm hot cocoa mix into a mug and top with your favorite Christmas hot chocolate toppings if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Hot Chocolate Toppings
Hot chocolate toppings options are truly endless. If you have one that you love that isn’t on the list, let me know in the comments below!- Whipped Cream: Use dairy-free whipped cream, coconut whipped cream, or your favorite regular dairy whipped cream.
- Chocolate Chips: I love Enjoy Life chocolate chips because they are gluten free and dairy free. Feel free to use your favorite!
- Candy Canes: I like these candy canes from Yum Earth.
- Marshmallows: My favorite gluten-free marshmallows are Dandies. They are gluten-free and vegan.
- Sprinkles: These sprinkles are amazing. Dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free.
- Nuts: Chopped nuts of any kind go so well on top, adding a nice crunch.
- Chocolate Shavings: Pick your favorite chocolate bar and use our zester to shave off some chocolate.
- Flaky Sea Salt: This gives that delicious sweet and salty combination.
- Caramel Drizzle: Use caramel, white chocolate, or chocolate syrup for a drizzle.
7 Comments on “Cozy Christmas Hot Chocolate”
So easy to make! Very tasty! My kids added marshmallows and a few Enjoy Life chocolate chips and they were in heaven! I added some Bailey’s Almande and I was also in heaven! Thank you!
Woo hoo! So glad you all enjoyed it!
So so good! Totally hits all the best hot chocolate flavors without all the bad ingredients! Thanks Mary for another home run!
This is SO good! Tastes a lot better than store bought mixes filled with junk. I will be making this all winter long!
Absolute delicious!!
Will be making this on repeat this winter.
So easy and so delicious! Perfect for the holidays!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Sara!