Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift? A way to entertain the children between now and Christmas Day, or between December 26 and whenever they go back to school? Maybe you’re planning ahead for winter birthdays? Do I have an easy recipe for you!
My daughter and I found the inspiration for these Hot Chocolate Cubes in American Girl magazine and knew we had to come up with a dairy-free version. We’re still coming up with flavors!
Besides the regular chocolate cubes, we made some with the white chocolate recipe from the Go Dairy Free Cookbook. I think the peanut butter chips from the Go Dairy Free Cookbook cookbook would also make great hot chocolate cubes.
As for toppings and stir ins, the sky is the limit: nut butter, vanilla extract, candy canes, cinnamon—ooh, cinnamon and cayenne for the adults would be good. One of our favorite topping choices is the new Jet Puffed Mallow Bits: tiny little marshmallows just like the ones found in dairy hot chocolate packets! However you choose to enjoy your Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Cubes, just be sure to share them with loved ones and stay warm!
Special Diet Notes & Options: Hot Chocolate Cubes
This recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy and optionally egg-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, soy-free, vegan, vegetarian, and all around allergy-friendly, as long as you use caution in selecting the chocolate and add-ins. Sarah uses Enjoy Life chocolate to keep the base free of top allergens. See our Dairy-Free Chocolate page for more information.
Stir it Up Option: For a fun presentation, pierce the dairy-free hot chocolate cubes with cute stir sticks, swizzle sticks, mini spoons, or even allergy flags when they have solidified a bit, but before they’ve completely set up. As the chocolate melts into your cup, you have a stirrer to blend it in!
- 2 cups dairy-free chocolate chips (such as Enjoy Life, or an equal amount of dairy-free white chocolate or peanut butter chips from the Go Dairy Free cookbook
- Dairy-free toppings that will melt in hot dairy-free milk, such as sprinkles, crushed candy canes, cinnamon, cocoa powder, or marshmallows
- Microwave the chocolate for thirty seconds at a time, stirring vigorously between each heating, until it is melted and smooth (about 60 to 90 seconds)
- Use a small spoon to fill each section of a silicone ice cube tray with the chocolate. Fill each cup almost to the top.
- Add toppings to each cube.
- Let the chocolate harden, in the refrigerator if desired to speed things up. (If the toppings sink or melt, put more toppings on before the chocolate is completely hardened.)
- When the chocolate is hard, gently remove the chocolate cubes from their molds.
- Enjoy in an 8 ounce-mug of hot dairy-free milk or wrap for gift giving.*
13 Comments
Just wondering would one need to heat the soy milk/almond milk after adding the cube?
Hi Abby, add to a mug of hot dairy-free milk beverage – already heated!
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A fantastic idea!! I know i would eat the cubes too:)
So just to clarify, is the ratio one cube of chocolate per 8 oz cup of milk alternative?
I’m so excited! I’m making these today!
Yes, you can always add a little more milk alternative if too rich for you.
Will this work mixed with water instead of dairy free milk? If not what milk do you recommend? Thanks!
Hi, Mary,
The cubes are made of just chocolate with no dairy-free milk product mixed in, so mixing them with just water won’t work. You could mix them with water AND powdered milk substitute, such as powdered soy milk or powdered rice milk. They will mix nicely with any dairy-free milk product. We prefer almond, but any kind will do!
I was feeling a bit sleepy until I saw this post … Hello! Adorable and now I’m craving something I’ve never even conceived of! So much better than those chocolate spoons I think. Will have to share these on All Gluten-Free Desserts for sure! 😉
And Ricki and Melissa have a great point! I wonder how many would simply eat the cubes and bypass the hot chocolate. That might have to be one of those episodes from that show on what you would do if nobody was looking. LOL But I am a hot cocoa gal so I’d have to try that intended use first I think. 🙂
Merry hot chocolate indeed! (Thanks for that, Melissa!)
Shirley
Hard to say, I might nibble on the cubes myself! Thanks for sharing Shirley 🙂
What a great idea! What if you just bite into the chocolate cubes?
Oops, I see Ricki had that same thought.
You definitely got our attention with this post! Sound delicious.
Merry hot chocolate!
Melissa
Merry hot chocolate Melissa 🙂
Oooh, suddenly I’m craving hot chocolate!! Or maybe I’ll just eat the cubes as-is. 😉 Great idea!