Easy Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

If you need a non-dairy hot chocolate recipe, try making hot chocolate with oat milk!

This simple recipe for oat milk hot chocolate will ensure even those with dietary restrictions can enjoy a warm cup of cozy cocoa!

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Let’s be honest–it can be difficult to navigate the holidays if you have dietary restrictions or food allergies.

The truth is, so much of our classic comfort food includes wheat, dairy, and other ingredients many people are sensitive to.

For instance, my sister has multiple food allergies, and although I try my best to include allergy-friendly items at our holiday gatherings, I’m sure she still feels left out at times.

One traditional cold-weather beverage that nobody should be left out of is hot chocolate!

If you need to avoid dairy, but still find yourself craving a warm cup of cocoa, this oat milk hot chocolate recipe is for you!

Hot Cocoa Made with Oat Milk

A cup of hot chocolate is one of the most satisfying drinks when you need to warm up on a cold day. Whether you’re out looking at Christmas lights in the evening, watching a favorite holiday movie, or wrapping presents, a nice hot drink instantly makes things feel more special.

And although hot chocolate is traditionally prepared with regular milk, you can also make it with oat milk (or almond milk or other non-dairy milk of choice).

The result is still a sweet, chocolatey beverage with a creamy texture, but it’s dairy-free and vegan!

Related:

• Easy Almond Joy Latte
• Lindt Hot Chocolate
• Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes You Need for the Holidays
• The Best Sugar Free Christmas Candy

How to Make Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

It’s really easy to make this delicious beverage–the best thing is, you can enjoy a big mug of hot chocolate with just a few simple ingredients!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Oat milk, such as Oatly brand (you can also make your own oat milk or use another milk of choice)
• Cocoa powder
• Sugar
• Chocolate chips (optional)
• Vanilla extract (optional)

How to Make Creamy Oat Milk Hot Cocoa:

Simmer. First you’ll whisk together some unsweetened oat milk, unsweetened cocoa powder, and sugar in a pan.

It can take a minute or two to get the cocoa powder moistened and incorporated into the milk, so just be patient.

Simmer for about 2 minutes over medium heat, whisking frequently to avoid scorching on the bottom of the pan.

The mixture should be nice and smooth, without any lumps of cocoa.

Add more chocolate. Next, if you’d like, you can add a tablespoon or two of chocolate chips to the hot mixture, whisking over the heat until the chips are melted.

Obviously, if you need this to be dairy free, vegan, or gluten-free, you’ll want to make sure your chocolate chips accommodate your needs.

You can use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or semi-sweet–it’s up to you!

You can also add the tiniest splash of vanilla extract at this point. It gives a hint of richness, but is definitely not necessary.

If you want to cut back the sweetness just a tad, a pinch of salt gives some balance (but again, not required).

Serve. Once everything is nice and smooth, ladle into mugs.

If desired, you can add some vegan marshmallows or sprinkle some vegan chocolate chips on top!

I usually keep things simple and top the cocoa with some dairy-free whipped cream (such as whipped coconut cream or another alternative), then sprinkle with a dash of ground cinnamon.

Notes and Adaptations:

• The amount of sugar and chocolate chips can be adjusted based on how sweet you like your hot chocolate. Use 1 tablespoon of each for less sweetness, 2 tablespoons of each for more sweetness.
• Feel free to use maple syrup, coconut sugar, or brown sugar instead of regular white granulated sugar, if desired.
• You can use any kind of non-dairy milks you like–oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, cashew milk, or even regular cow’s milk if you don’t need the drink to be dairy free. If you prefer to make homemade oat milk, that’s fine too.
• A drop of peppermint extract added to the cocoa gives a nice change of flavor–then sprinkle with crushed candy canes when serving.
• If you don’t have cocoa powder on hand, you can make hot chocolate with chocolate chips and use oat milk.

Recommended Equipment:

• Whisk
• Small saucepan

More Christmas Recipes to Love:

• Copycat Walker’s Scottish Shortbread
• Eggnog Custard Pie
• 3-Ingredient Hot Cocoa Dip
• Holiday Gingerbread Loaf