Dairy Free Chai Hot Chocolate

Creamy hot chocolate is my go-to warm up drink during the winter months.  And this delicious chai hot chocolate packs a little extra flavor punch that is perfect this time of year.  The warm spices of masala chai pair perfectly with chocolate in this amazing hot cocoa - it's my new obsession!

Of course, this cocoa recipe is completely dairy free and vegan.  It's made with simple ingredients, that you probably already have in the pantry.  Just add your favorite whipped cream or marshmallows to complete the treat!  It's perfect for a cold winter night or a treat during the holiday season.

If you're a fan of hot chocolate, you should also check out my dairy free hot cocoa mix or my favorite instant pot vegan hot chocolate that is great for a crowd.

Ingredient Notes

This chai spiced hot chocolate uses just a few simple ingredients and it's both gluten free and vegan.

• Oat Milk - My favorite gluten free oat milk is Oatly brand.  It's rich and creamy and completely plant based.  If you don't like oat milk (or can't tolerate oats), you can use the dairy-free milk of your choice.  If you're not dairy free or vegan, use whole milk in the same measure. 
• Chai Spices - I've combined ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom and cloves to create the chai flavor here.  If you prefer to use whole spices or a chai tea bag, you can steep them right in the warm milk and water mixture and strain them out before serving.  
• Vanilla Extract - Adds a little bit of sweet flavor to this hot cocoa.
• Maple Syrup - I've chosen maple syrup to sweeten this cocoa while keeping the recipe vegan.  You can use your favorite sweetener.  
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - I use Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder, which is labeled gluten free.  You can use your favorite brand.

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

How to Make Chai Hot Chocolate

This homemade hot chocolate is so easy to make.  It just takes a few minutes on the stove for a perfect cup of hot chocolate.

STEP 1: Combine the oat milk, water, vanilla extract and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat.

STEP 2: Mix the cocoa powder and chai spice in a small bowl. Add a little water to the dry ingredients to create a paste.

STEP 3: Add the chocolate paste to the warmed liquid ingredients and bring to a simmer over low heat.

Storage

If you have leftover hot cocoa place it in an airtight container, like a mason jar with a lid, and store it in the refrigerator.  When you're ready to drink, just reheat it on the stove or in the microwave and enjoy!

Which plant-based milk is best for hot chocolate?

There are many milk alternatives available for hot vegan drinks. Oat milk gives a neutral creaminess to hot chocolates. While nut milk options add a subtle nuttiness to a hot drink which can be delicious.

Oat milk is my favorite for hot chocolate because it gives it a thicker, creamier texture. Other alternatives include coconut milk, almond milk, macadamia milk and cashew milk.

All the above options work great for this vegan chai-spiced hot chocolate so don't be shy about experimenting.

More dairy free hot cocoa recipes to consider:

If you try this recipe, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.