Overhead shot of a hot beverage topped with mini marshmallows.

Why you’ll love this

A woman in a pink sweater smiles widely while holding a dish of fresh salad with greens and strawberries, standing at a wooden table against a light background—perfectly capturing the inviting spirit of a food blog.

I think being dairy free around the holidays is the hardest. So much of our traditions and nostalgia come from our food culture, which so often contains dairy because that’s what we grew up with.

Hot chocolate is one of those holiday/winter traditions, but I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to. You can just make your own, and it really isn’t as hard as you think. It honestly takes just a couple more minutes than making hot chocolate from a mix. I promise.

Is there a dairy free hot chocolate mix?

In case you really don’t want to make your own, there are dairy free hot cocoa mixes on the market. Swiss Miss has discontinued their dairy free version, but there are a few others out there. We typically buy the Good & Gather Double Chocolate mix from Target or Starbucks hot cocoa mix.

This dairy free hot chocolate pairs perfectly with these holiday treats:

dairy free hot chocolate in a mug topped with marshmallows
dairy free hot chocolate in a mug topped with marshmallows.

Ingredient notes:

  • Dairy free milk – You can use whatever kind of dairy free milk you like for this recipe, but I like to use a mix of coconut and oat milk because the coconut milk makes it extra creamy. You can swap either for your favorite milk – just make sure you’re using an unsweetened one!
  • Chocolate chips – Most chocolate chips on the market contain milk, so make sure you purchase an allergy-friendly version. We typically use Guittard or Enjoy Life, but the organic version at Target has also been dairy free in recent years.
  • Cocoa powder – Use whatever regular cocoa powder you have on hand, but don’t use hot cocoa mix.
  • Sugar or sweetener – I use regular sugar, but you can use any sweetener you prefer including sugar free alternatives. Just make sure to swap the correct amounts based on the product you’re using.

Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.

a hand putting mini marshmallows into a mug of hot chocolate.
dairy free hot chocolate being poured into a cup.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the best dairy free milk for hot chocolate?

I like a mix of oat and coconut milk to make my dairy free hot chocolate, but any unsweetened dairy free milk will work. Canned coconut milk make it extra creamy, but it’s required. Feel free to use whatever you prefer or whatever milk is safe for you.

Can I make this in a slow cooker for a crowd?

Yes. You can easily scale this up and when it’s ready, transfer it to a slow cooker on the lowest (warm) setting. Make sure to stir it occasionally to prevent the chocolate from burning.

More dairy free chocolate recipes: Dairy free chocolate pudding / Dairy free brownies / Chocolate chocolate chip cookies / Hot fudge sauce / Chocolate cupcakes

dairy free hot chocolate topped with marshmallows in a mug.
dairy free hot chocolate
Pin Print
5 from 2 votes

Dairy Free Hot Chocolate

By: Melissa Belanger
Don't miss out on this holiday favorite. Made with a few simple ingredients, this dairy free hot chocolate is thick, indulgent and creamy. It's perfect way to warm up on a cold winter night, and the recipe can easily be scaled up to serve a crowd.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 cups dairy free milk
  • 1/2 cup full fat canned coconut milk, or more dairy free milk of choice
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 3 tablespoons sugar, or sweetener of choice
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, dairy free
  • mini marshmallows, optional, for serving
  • cinnamon, optional, for serving

Instructions 

  • Heat your milk. In a large saucepan, heat your choice of dairy free milk over medium heat.
  • Sweeten it up. Add cocoa powder, sugar, and chocolate chips. Whisk until chocolate chips have melted and everything is combined.
  • Garnish and serve. Divide the hot chocolate between two mugs. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and mini marshmallows before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 452kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 32g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 3mg, Sodium: 96mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin C: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

A woman wearing a pink sweater smiles excitedly while holding a plate of fresh salad with greens and strawberries, standing at a wooden table beside a delicious turkey salad sandwich.

Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

Read more about me

You may also like:

5 from 2 votes

Leave a comment

When leaving a comment or rating:
Feel free to share your recipe feedback, ingredient swaps, or tips for other readers. Rating a recipe you changed isn’t helpful to anyone - drop it in the comments instead. Keep it kind and on topic - disrespectful comments and ad complaints will not be approved.

Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. Megan Sipsy says:

    5 stars
    Delicious and easy!

    Reply
  2. Janice Wright says:

    5 stars
    Hi, I’m so happy I found this website. I have been looking for a good dairy free recipe for hot chocolate and I finally found it.

    Reply
  3. Deedee66 says:

    Q: Would liquid sweetener (like monkfruit drops) seize the chocolate?

    Reply
    1. Melissa says:

      I honestly don’t know the answer to this, but I think if you melt the chocolate into the milks first, you should be able to sweeten it with anything.

      Reply