Enjoy the ultimate vegan hot cocoa mix! This dairy-free, naturally sweetened hot cocoa is smooth and creamy. Make your own for a quick cup of hot chocolate any day of the week. Perfect for gifting or cozy nights in!

🍫 Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix
There’s nothing quite like a cozy mug of hot cocoa, and this vegan hot cocoa mix delivers a rich, velvety cup anytime, just add hot water. It’s dairy-free, shelf-stable, naturally sweetened, and comes together in minutes with simple pantry ingredients. Thanks to powdered coconut milk and finely chopped dark chocolate, it turns into a silky, indulgent cup of cocoa with no need for added milk.
This mix is lightly spiced with warming cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Keep the spices or omit them for a classic cocoa.
💡 Why Make Your Own Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix
Making your own mix ensures that a warm, comforting cup of cocoa is never more than a quick boil and stir away. Because let’s face it, there will always be those days when the thought of doing anything more than boiling water just seems like too much effort. While store-bought mixes can be convenient, their long list of questionable ingredients often isn’t worth it.
If you’ve ever found pre-made mixes unsatisfyingly watery and bland, it’s because they often just use non-fat milk powder and cocoa powder. You need a little fat to carry the flavors and make a really delicious instant hot cocoa, and that’s exactly what powdered coconut milk and finely chopped chocolate do in this recipe. Making your own hot cocoa mix is simple, and gives you complete control over the flavor, sweetness, and spices.

💛 Why You’ll Love This Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix
- Creamy and indulgent — no milk needed, just add water
- Made with powdered coconut milk for instant richness
- Naturally sweetened
- Perfect for gifting
- Quick to prepare and pantry-friendly
📝 Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix Ingredients
- Coconut sugar – adds natural sweetness with a caramel-like depth.
- Arrowroot – helps the mix dissolve smoothly and creates a silky texture.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – choose a rich, high-quality cocoa for the best flavor.
- Fine sea salt – enhances and balances the chocolate.
- Powdered coconut milk – creates a creamy, dairy-free base that mixes easily with water.
- Cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves & nutmeg (optional for gingerbread flavor) – adds warmth and cozy spice.
- Finely chopped dark chocolate – melts into the cocoa for extra richness.
- Shaved chocolate (optional) – a pretty and indulgent finishing touch.
⚙️ How to Make Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix
- Blend the base: Add coconut sugar, arrowroot, cocoa powder, and salt to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until fine and powdery.
- Add coconut milk + spices: Add powdered coconut milk and spices and pulse to combine.
- Add the chocolate: Add the finely chopped dark chocolate and pulse briefly to distribute (do not over-process).
- Store: Transfer to an airtight container.
🔥 How to Make Hot Cocoa (Just Add Water)
- Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the hot cocoa mix and whisk vigorously until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Pour into a mug and enjoy warm. Top with vegan whipped cream or shaved chocolate if desired.

✨ Tips for the Best Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate
- Whisk well to melt the chocolate pieces and prevent clumps.
- Adjust richness with more mix as desired.
- Add a splash of vanilla extract to deepen the flavor.
🌟 Flavor Variations for Your Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix
🍫 Classic Hot Cocoa
For a pure chocolate experience, simply omit all the spices from the mix. This is the perfect everyday version of vegan hot cocoa that highlights the rich chocolate flavor.
🍂 Maple Cinnamon Hot Cocoa
Sweet and comforting, this variation is a cozy classic. Use only cinnamon and use maple sugar as the sweetener.
🌿 Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Add a holiday twist by omitting the spices and stirring in a drop of peppermint extract to your finished mug. This pairs beautifully with the chocolate creating a festive and comforting cup.
🫙 How to Store Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix
Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place for several months.
🎁 Wrap Up
This vegan hot cocoa mix is the kind of simple recipe that’s easy to keep on hand and even easier to enjoy. With its rich chocolate flavor, creamy coconut base, and touch of optional warming spice, it delivers a cozy cup in just minutes with no milk required. Whether you make a batch for yourself or share it as a thoughtful homemade gift, it’s a comforting treat you’ll turn to all season long.
More Hot Chocolate Recipes:
Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix
This easy homemade vegan hot cocoa mix is full of warming gingerbread spices.
Ingredients
- ½ cup/ 96g coconut sugar
- 2 Tablespoons/18g arrowroot
- ¼ cup/24g cocoa powder
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- ¾ cup/ 96g powdered coconut milk
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
- 2oz/56g 70% dark chocolate, finely chopped
- Shaved chocolate for serving (optional)
Instructions
To Make Hot Cocoa Mix:
- Place coconut sugar, arrowroot, cocoa powder and salt in a high speed blender or food processor until finely ground and powdery. Add powdered coconut milk and spices and pulse briefly to combine. Add finely chopped chocolate and pulse again to distribute (do not over process). Transfer to an airtight container.
To Make Hot Cocoa:
- Boil 1 cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add ¼ cup of hot cocoa mix and whisk vigorously until smooth and slightly thickened. Pour into a mug and serve topped with shaved chocolate if desired.
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Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 818Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 651mgCarbohydrates: 174gSugar: 152gProtein: 35g

Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.





Megan Stevens says
I love how decadent this is with the arrowroot to thicken, brilliant and so delicious!!
CHIHYU says
I love hot cocoa drink. I need to make some this weekend, too!
Hope says
Love how you have added dark chocolate in this, it looks so rich and delicious! I bet it goes so well with all of the spices 🙂
Raia Todd says
I love the spices in this! It sounds delicious. 🙂