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    You are at:Home»Dairy-Free Recipes»Alisa's Favorite Dairy-Free Recipes»Basic Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa with Gingerbread, Mayan, and Nutty Variations

    Basic Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa with Gingerbread, Mayan, and Nutty Variations

    15
    By Alisa Fleming on December 24, 2019 Alisa's Favorite Dairy-Free Recipes, Beverages, Dairy-Free Recipes

    The wind is howling and you realize your most vital appendages–your fingers–have gone numb. The solution? Hot cocoa, of course! But you’ve given up dairy, so how should you make it? Don’t worry, dairy-free hot cocoa is easy and delicious. In fact, I have five variations to tempt your taste buds, and the main recipe is made with water! Yes, it’s not only dairy-free, it’s also vegan and top allergen-free.

    Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Recipe - Basic Recipe made with Water! Includes Creamier and Milkier options, plus favor variations: Gingerbread, Mayan, and Nutty

    Basic Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa made with Water

    Have you noticed that many hot cocoa mixes have “just add hot water” instructions? Dairy-free hot cocoa made purely with hot water lets the complex flavors of the chocolate shine through. You might think this sounds like a grown-up method, but many kids actually prefer hot chocolate made with water over dairy – seriously!

    This simple preparation also helps to ensure that you get maximum antioxidant benefits. At least one study has shown that flavanols in cocoa, like tea, aren’t absorbed as well when paired with dairy. And the antioxidant concentration in cocoa is almost 2 times stronger than red wine, 2 to 3 times stronger than green tea, and 4 to 5 times stronger than that of black tea.

    Are you feeling better about enjoying a mug of dairy-free hot cocoa now? And don’t worry. If you do prefer a creamier finish, I’ve got you covered with some richer options.

    Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Recipe - Basic Recipe made with Water! Includes Creamier and Milkier options, plus favor variations: Gingerbread, Mayan, and Nutty

    Special Diet Notes: Basic Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa

    By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free,  nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. You can even make it paleo or keto with approved sweeteners.

    5.0 from 5 reviews
    Basic Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa with Gingerbread, Aztec, and Nutty Variations
     
    Print
    Prep time
    5 mins
    Total time
    5 mins
     
    This simple recipe is meant to be customized to your tastes, and it includes several variations! Be sure to pick a good quality cocoa powder since it is the star of the show!
    Author: Alisa Fleming
    Recipe type: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Serves: 1 serving
    Ingredients
    • 1 to 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, to taste
    • 2 tablespoons sugar (can sub your sweetener of choice), or to taste
    • Pinch salt
    • Boiling water to fill your mug (about 1 to 1½ cups)
    Instructions
    1. Put the cocoa, sugar, and salt in your favorite mug and stir to combine.
    2. Add enough of the boiling water to make a paste. Stir until the paste is smooth.
    3. Stir in more boiling water and stir until the paste is dissolved.
    Notes
    Mayan Variation: Add ⅛ teaspoon each of chili or cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
    Nutty Variation: Whisk 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter into the dairy-free hot cocoa until dissolved. Optionally add a sprinkle of cinnamon.
    Gingerbread Variation: Substitute 1 tablespoon molasses and 1 tablespoon brown sugar for the sugar in your cocoa base. Add ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves.
    Creamier Variation: Use just 1 cup boiling water, and add 2 tablespoons or more of dairy-free creamer or coconut milk.
    Milky Variation: Use boiling water to make the paste, but then whisk in unsweetened vanilla or plain dairy-free milk beverage (about 1 cup). Warm the milky hot cocoa in the microwave until very warm, but not boiling.
    3.5.3229

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    Alisa Fleming
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    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

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    15 Comments

    1. Elizabeth on March 20, 2023 2:04 pm

      Amazing. Didnt know hot chocolate could be made without milk or milk alternatives. Yum. I used about 3/4 cup water, 2 tbsp Cocoa powder & 1.5 tbsp maple syrup. And then the Aztec variation with cayenne. 😍

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on March 20, 2023 5:32 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it Elizabeth! I love chocolate and maple together, too.

        Reply
    2. Annie on February 27, 2023 6:34 pm

      My first hot chocolate in a very long time as I was always too scared in case of GI issues. I tried your recipe today and it is AMAZING!! So delicious!

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on February 28, 2023 10:09 am

        I’m so glad the recipe added some joy to your life Annie!

        Reply
    3. Felizia on January 30, 2023 4:26 am

      This sounds delicious!

      Btw, I see you have the same cup they have in Desperate Housewives… Who made it? I can’t find it anywhere.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on January 30, 2023 9:19 am

        That’s too funny! It’s really old. I don’t remember at all and don’t have the cups anymore unfortunately!

        Reply
    4. am&a on November 3, 2021 7:38 pm

      I just made this with a pinch of cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, and rose water. So floral and chocolatey. Yum! Thanks for a simple recipe.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on November 4, 2021 9:35 am

        That sounds delicious! Glad my recipe inspired you!

        Reply
      • Kathrey Maynard on January 13, 2023 6:25 am

        Just made fir the first time.
        Thinking no way this us going to taste good.
        Well it tastes amazing.
        My new go to fir dairy free.
        Did add dairy free creamer to try.
        Thank you so much,

        Kathrey

        Reply
    5. Nikolai on May 28, 2021 2:21 pm

      You know, I tried this with 30 g of peanut butter, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, and 2 tsp of sugar, and it really hit the spot, nice creamy, tasty, and just all around perfect!

      Thx for the simple instructions <3

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on May 28, 2021 2:30 pm

        Sounds delicious! Happy to provide 🙂

        Reply
    6. Meredith on May 3, 2021 8:02 am

      Thank you for this! It was great to see a simple hot chocolate recipe that doesn’t require milk.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on May 3, 2021 9:45 am

        Happy to help!

        Reply
    7. Lili on April 25, 2021 3:48 am

      Pretty good. Tastes yum and it’s super easy.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on April 25, 2021 1:04 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it Lili!

        Reply

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