Spiced Hot Chocolate Recipe (Dairy-Free) (2024)

Dec 27, 2023 by Sylvie · This post may contain affiliate links

Gluten-FreeGrain-FreeVegetarianVeganDairy-FreeNut-FreeEgg-FreePaleo

Jump to Recipe

With just a few ingredients and a little bit of spice, this spiced hot chocolate promises to be the perfect winter warmer for those cold, blustery days. Comforting and cozy, it’s a wintertime favorite!

Spiced Hot Chocolate Recipe (Dairy-Free) (1)

There’s nothing quite like a steaming mug of homemade hot chocolate to make you feel cozy and warm from the inside out is there? Whether you’re coming in from the cold, or are spending the day curled up on the couch, a good cup of hot chocolate helps take the sting out of those cold, blustery days.

Cozy and comforting it’s a wintertime favorite. And while you need little more than chocolate, milk and sweetener to make a cup, I like to add a little bit of spice for extra warmth. This spiced hot chocolate is creamy and rich with just a hint of warming winter spice.

Spiced Hot Chocolate Recipe (Dairy-Free) (2)

Hot Cocoa vs. Hot Chocolate:

The store-bought packets you just add water or milk to are hot cocoa which is a combination of cocoa powder, milk and sugar. Unfortunately a lot of what you’ll find is disappointingly weak, thin and not very chocolatey. Hot chocolate on the other hand is made with chocolate, sugar and milk. The melted chocolate makes a richer drink than using cocoa alone thanks to the cocoa butter contained in the chocolate but can sometimes be quite thick and intense.

This spiced hot chocolate contains both cocoa and chocolate to create a well-balanced cup that’s creamy but not overly rich that it veers into dessert. It uses a few spices like cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg to give it a subtle warmth that complements the chocolate without overwhelming it. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

Ingredient Notes:

(Here are a few notes about the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. As always find the full list of ingredients and directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)

Milk – I like to use light coconut milk as its dairy-free yet has a similar consistency and fat content as regular whole milk. Feel free to use the milk (either dairy or non-dairy) of your choice.
Sugar – Coconut sugar is my sweetener of choice for this spiced hot chocolate as it gives a caramel undertone that plays nicely with the chocolate and spices but you can use the sweetener of your choice as well.
Spices – A combination cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg give this hot chocolate its subtle spice. I’ve called for a whole cinnamon stick and star anise instead of ground here. Ground spices tend to create a gritty texture and end up at the bottom of the cup whereas whole spices simply infuse the hot chocolate with flavor without any grit.
Vanilla – A splash of vanilla extract rounds out all the flavors.
Chocolate – Either semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate will work. You can use chocolate chips or chop your own chocolate.
Cocoa Powder – Use an unsweetened cocoa powder either Dutch-processed or natural. Dutch-process cocoa powdered will be smoother and dark in color whereas natural cocoa powder will be lighter and fruitier.

Spiced Hot Chocolate Recipe (Dairy-Free) (3)

How to Make Spiced Hot Chocolate:

(Here are the basic steps and some helpful tips on how to make the recipe. Find the full directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)

You start by heating the milk together with the spices. A few minutes is all you really need to let those spices do their thing but if you have the time to let them hang out for a bit a longer you’ll have an even more fragrant cup.
Next you’ll strain the spices and whisk in the chopped chocolate, cacao powder, sugar and vanilla until smooth and silky. Gently re-heat the mixture and either blend everything in a blender or with an immersion blender to create some froth before serving.

Of course if you’re short on time you can also make a batch of the spiced milk ahead of time, warming and whisking in the chocolate when you are ready for a mug.

Variations:

Use the milk of your choice, either dairy or non-dairy for a vegan version.
Use the sweetener of your choice.
Omit the star anise and use cloves instead.
Use the chocolate of your choice, either semi-sweet or bitter sweet.
Use the cocoa powder of your choice, either Dutch or natural.

More Hot Chocolates and Hot Cocoas:

French Hot Chocolate
Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix
Frozen Hot Chocolate

Yield: 2 Servings