Vegan White Hot Chocolate

Warm up with a cup of creamy vegan white hot chocolate. Made with dairy-free milk and cacao butter, it's the perfect cozy, cold weather treat.

Cold weather calls for warming cups of comfort.  Whether it’s raining, snowing, or just a particularly blustery day, there’s nothing better than a cup of hot chocolate to ward off a chill. 

If you’re a long-time reader then you probably already know that I have soft spot for warming drinks like hot chocolate and hot cocoa so it will come as no surprise that I’m sharing yet another hot chocolate recipe with you today, this time a white hot chocolate.

Great for the holiday season and beyond, this vegan white hot chocolate is perfect for when you’re in the mood for a warming drink that’s both dairy-free and caffeine-free.

Is White Chocolate Vegan?

The answer is no, most white chocolate is not vegan as it is made with milk powder, however you can find some vegan brands or you can swap in cocoa butter as a vegan alternative.  If you look at the ingredients for a good quality white chocolate you will see that the main ingredients are sugar, cocoa butter (or cacao butter), whole milk powder, and vanilla.  In order to create a vegan white hot chocolate we simply need to swap the milk out for a dairy-free milk and use cacao butter.

What is Cacao Butter?

Cocoa butter (also called cacao butter), is fat derived from the cocoa or cacao bean. Despite the name, it contains no dairy.  Cocoa butter is separated from the cocoa solids (which then go on to become cocoa powder). It’s pale yellow and is the main ingredient in white chocolate along with sugar and vanilla.  It’s what gives white chocolate its signature flavor and is what we’ll be using to make our vegan white chocolate.  Here’s what you’ll need:

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 – You’ll want a dairy-free milk that has the richness and consistency of whole milk.  I’ve opted for a combination of macadamia and coconut milk here as I think the combination works well with the flavors of white chocolate but you can just use coconut milk if you’d prefer, just make sure to use a light coconut milk in a can for the right consistency.  Other non-dairy milks can be too thin and watery for hot chocolate so if you’d like to use them make sure to combine them with coconut milk.
• Vanilla – If you’re looking for a really refined white chocolate experience you’ll want to use the seeds from a vanilla bean.  Since we are using so few ingredients here, quality matters and you’ll be surprised at the difference using a vanilla bean vs vanilla extract makes here.  Whole vanilla beans can be pricey but you can often find them at Trader Joe’s for a good price or buy vanilla bean paste which also works well.
• Sweetener – While I often prefer to use maple syrup or coconut sugar in my recipes this is one place where I think an organic unrefined sugar works best.  It has the most neutral flavor and color and allows the delicate flavor of the cacao butter and vanilla to shine. 
• Cacao Butter – You can find cacao butter sold in blocks or in disks.  While either will work for this recipe, I find disks easier to use.
• Optional – Vegan Marshmallows or Coconut Whipped Cream for serving.

How to Make Vegan White 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.)

With just a handful of ingredients, this white hot chocolate comes together in a matter of minutes.

1. In a small saucepan, whisk together the milks, scraped vanilla bean and sweetener and bring the mixture to a bare simmer.
2. Turn off the heat, add the cacao butter and whisk to combine.
3. If you’d like you can use a handheld frother to create a bit of foam or pour the mixture in the blender to froth.
4. Serve hot with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Sweet, creamy and ever so cozy, this vegan white hot chocolate will warm you from the inside out.

Variations:

• Use all light coconut milk.
• Substitute a few drops of peppermint extract for the vanilla for a peppermint white hot chocolate.  (Peppermint extract is much stronger than vanilla so start with a few drops, taste and adjust accordingly.)
• Make a spiced version by adding a cinnamon stick and some grated nutmeg.

More Vegan Hot Chocolate Recipes:

• Spiced Hot Chocolate
• French Hot Chocolate
• Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix