Oat Milk Hot Chocolate
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.My oat milk hot chocolate is a creamy, rich, decadent hot drink, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. Made with a delicious combination of simple ingredients, and filled with deep chocolate flavor, this oat hot chocolate will be a new favorite indulgence! Plus, it’s made in under 10 minutes!
As I embrace the holiday season, I’m always on the lookout for healthier hot cocoa recipes, and this homemade oat milk hot chocolate fits the bill perfectly.
Traditional hot chocolate often comes with a good amount of fat and refined sugars, but I love how this version swaps those out for creamy oat milk and plant-based fats. It also has less sugar but still delivers on taste, making it a guilt-free treat that I can enjoy without compromise.
For more warm drinks, be sure to check out my healthy hot chocolate with cinnamon, protein hot chocolate, or Baileys hot chocolate bombs for an extra indulgent, adults-only treat.
👩🏽🍳 Why I Absolutely Love This Recipe
My hot chocolate with oat milk is delicious!
When I crave a warm drink, I often find myself reaching for this healthy alternative, vegan-friendly variation of traditional hot chocolate.
And I love that using all-natural ingredients means I can indulge without worrying about artificial additives or preservatives, which is a huge plus for me.
One of the best things about this recipe is that it contains less sugar than other hot cocoa options I’ve tried. I appreciate being able to enjoy a sweet treat that is totally guilt-free.
I also love that this recipe is naturally vegan and dairy-free. Whether I’m serving it to myself or sharing it with friends, I know everyone can enjoy it. On a cold day, there’s nothing better than curling up with this cozy drink, but honestly, I find it’s perfect all year round.
It’s a plant-based recipe that even kids can enjoy, making it a family favorite in my home. Each sip warms me from the inside out, and I can’t get enough!
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🥘 Ingredients
My oat milk hot chocolate recipe only requires four simple ingredients! These are easy to find and can be bought at any grocery store or even online. For the detailed instructions and nutritional information, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Unsweetened Oat Milk: I love using dairy-free oat milk in my recipes, and it’s become widely available in grocery stores lately due to its growing popularity. In my opinion, it’s the best milk alternative for hot chocolate. It provides a creamy and rich texture while being completely dairy-free. I find that any brand works, but I prefer oat milk with a higher fat content for a thicker and frothier texture in my cocoa. Before I buy, I always check the nutritional label to ensure there’s no added sugar.
Cinnamon Sticks: I enjoy adding cinnamon sticks to my vegan hot chocolate for that warm spice flavor. They’re easy to find in the spice aisle of my grocery store or can be ordered online, making it convenient for me to stock up.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: I usually look for unsweetened cocoa powder in the baking aisle of my grocery store. For a vegan option, I choose cocoa powder instead of hot cocoa powder, as the latter may contain dried milk or milk powder.
Maple Syrup: I prefer using pure maple syrup as my sweetener because it’s unrefined and vegan-friendly. Most grocery stores have at least one pure maple syrup choice available. I’ll just adjust the amount based on my preferences, and customize the sweetness of my drink just the way I like it! If you don’t have maple syrup, any sweetener will work, such as brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, or agave nectar. Honey would work but it isn’t vegan. For a sugar-free version, monk fruit or stevia works!
🔪 How To Make Hot Cocoa With Oat Milk
Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make my hot chocolate with oat milk:
Add The Milk And Cinnamon Stick: In a small saucepan, I heat oat milk and a cinnamon stick together, bringing them to a gentle simmer while being careful not to let the oat milk boil.
Make Chocolate Paste: While the milk and cinnamon stick are simmering, I add cocoa powder to a small bowl. I remove ¼ cup of the heated milk and stir it, along with maple syrup, into the cocoa powder to form a smooth paste.
Combine Paste With Remaining Milk: Next, I whisk the chocolate paste into the saucepan with the remaining heated milk, along with more maple syrup for added sweetness.
Simmer, Adjust Sweetness, Serve: I allow the mixture to simmer gently for about 2 minutes. If I want it sweeter, I can easily adjust the sweetness by adding more maple syrup. Once it’s done, I remove it from the heat, discard the cinnamon stick, and pour my healthy hot chocolate with oat milk into my favorite mug. I can enjoy it as is, or I love to top it with whipped coconut cream, mini marshmallows, a dash of cinnamon, or any of my other favorite variations!
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip that I’ve discovered for making the best oat milk hot chocolate is to heat the milk gently and avoid boiling it. When oat milk is heated too quickly or at too high a temperature, it can curdle or become overly thick, which affects the texture.
I like to warm it slowly over medium heat and stir occasionally. This way, I can achieve that creamy consistency I love, and it blends beautifully with the cocoa powder and other ingredients. It really makes all the difference in creating a smooth and delicious drink!
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Whisk for Best Results: I find that whisking the warm milk through the cocoa powder to form a paste is essential for eliminating lumps in my hot cocoa. This technique really helps me achieve a smooth and creamy texture.
- Add Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate: To give this recipe an extra rich chocolate flavor, I love adding some dairy-free dark chocolate to the saucepan when I mix in the cocoa powder paste. It makes the drink even more indulgent for me!
📖 Variations
Here are a few ideas to shake up my oat milk cocoa drink:
Make A Hot Chocolate Bar: I love putting out a variety of toppings so everyone can just pick and choose what they like. Some of the toppings I usually include are peppermint candies, vegan marshmallows, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, vegan chocolate chips, vegan whipped cream, shaved chocolate, or butterscotch chips.
Substitute A Different Type Of Milk: I’ve discovered that there are plenty of different types of plant milk that work wonderfully in this recipe. Some of my favorites include almond, coconut, soy, rice, hazelnut, sunflower, and cashew milk. The list goes on, but those are the ones I tend to reach for most often. Of course, cow’s milk would also work instead.
Add Different Flavors: I will often try adding different flavors like vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. Sometimes, I stir in a candy cane for a festive touch, or I add a splash of peppermint extract for a refreshing twist. If I’m feeling adventurous, I might even sprinkle in a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of spice!
🍽 Serving Suggestions
My oat milk hot cocoa is a delicious drink by itself and with other sweet treats. If you have kids, let them use their imaginations and come up with their own flavor options to make their own personalized cozy drink.
Cookies: I love pairing it with a variety of cookies, as the warm drink perfectly complements the sweet, crunchy textures. Try it with my no-bake cookies without peanut butter, oat flour chocolate chip cookies, or vegan sugar cookies.
Quick Breads And Lighter Cakes: I love enjoying a slice of keto coffee cake, vegan pound cake, or gingerbread bundt cake with this drink!
🫙Storage Instructions
Fridge: If I have any leftovers, I usually pour the hot chocolate into an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It can last for about 3 to 4 days, which makes it perfect for enjoying later in the week. I don’t recommend freezing this recipe.
Reheating: To reheat, I’ll gently warm it on the stove over low to medium heat, stirring continuously for at least a couple of minutes. This way, I can savor that cozy flavor just like when I first made it!
❓Recipe FAQ
It’s super easy to make a bigger batch of this recipe! Just multiply the quantities of each ingredient by the number of servings you want. This original recipe makes 2 servings, so if you want 4 servings, just double the quantity of everything. Make sure to use a larger pot depending on how much you plan to make so that it all fits!
Yes you can! Just mix the ingredients in a big mug (that’s microwave safe) and stir or whisk well to avoid lumps. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between to ensure the cocoa powder dissolves properly. Once the hot chocolate is warm (after about 1.5 to 2 minutes total), it’s ready to enjoy. Be careful not to overheat, as oat milk can curdle if overheated.
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📋 Recipe Card
🎥 Watch How to Make It
Rich & Creamy Oat Milk Hot Chocolate (Vegan)
Ingredients
For The Hot Chocolate
- 2 cups Unsweetened Oat Milk Try to find an oat milk with 0 grams of added sugar (like Calafia Zero Sugar Oat Milk)
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 2 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
Optional Toppings
- Vegan Mini Marshmallows
- Ground Cinnamon
- Whipped Coconut Cream
Equipment
Instructions
- Add the oat milk and cinnamon stick to a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer, do not boil.
- Meanwhile add the cocoa powder to a small bowl.
- Stir ¼ cup of the heated milk and the maple syrup through the cocoa powder to form a paste.
- Whisk the paste into the saucepan of heated milk along with the maple syrup.
- Simmer gently for 2 minutes.
- Adjust sweetness to suit by adding more maple syrup if desired.
- Remove from the heat, discard the cinnamon stick, and pour the hot chocolate into your mug of choice.
- Serve as is or top with whipped coconut cream, mini marshmallows or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Notes
- Whisking the warm milk through the cocoa powder to form a paste helps to eliminate lumps in the hot chocolate.
- To make the hot chocolate extra rich and chocolatey try adding some dark chocolate chips to the saucepan when adding the cocoa powder paste.
- To keep this recipe vegan friendly use vegan marshmallows, not regular marshmallows as a topping.
- Any leftover hot chocolate can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat leftovers gently bring to a simmer for 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Any sweetener can be used such as brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey or agave nectar.
Hot chocolate is one of my favorite hot beverages, and I can’t wait to give this oat milk version a try!
I can’t wait for you to try this recipe too! Let me know how it turns out Tayler!
I love the natural sweetness of oat milk in hot chocolate. The touch of cinnamon is especially good with the dark chocolate!
I know right?? The oat milk complements the chocolate and cinnamon perfectly!
This is one creamy, smooth and delicious hot chocolate.
Thanks Kathleen! 🙂
Warmed up with a cup of this delicious cocoa and it does not disappoint! Looking forward to enjoying this all season long!
Thank you so much Sara! 🙂 So glad you liked it!
This sounds oh so delicious. This is perfect for this season and I’m going tho make this hot chocolate for my kids!
Yay! I’m sure you will all love this recipe – it really is perfect for the fall and winter months!