Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

Whisk up a batch of Oat Milk Hot Chocolate for that head-to-toe warmth when the weather gets cold. This easy recipe has no dairy, is simply vegan, and only sweetened with maple syrup—but has that smooth, sweet rich chocolate flavor that makes hot cocoa the ultimate winter treat. 5 ingredients and 5 minutes. Let's go!

I love this recipe all year long, but especially for an afternoon treat in the fall and winter. I like to pair it with our Nutella Banana Muffins, or our Toffee Log Cookies around the holidays.

This homemade Oat Milk Hot Chocolate recipe was inspired by our Dairy Free Hot Chocolate and is a great coffee-free alternative to our White Chocolate Mocha.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

This simple recipe uses only 5 ingredients. And you probably have them all in your pantry right now.

• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder works great, but feel free to use whichever brand you've got.

• Maple Syrup - use more or less to taste.

• Oat Milk - I used Oatly oat milk, but use whichever brand you can find.

• Kosher Salt - table salt is ok too. More or less to taste.

• Vanilla Extract - a perfect flavor enhancer

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

I've been throwing together this hot cocoa with oat milk for as long as I can remember. But I finally measured and wrote down exactly how I do it. And you know what? It's SO easy! 5 ingredients and 5 minutes. Done.

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients over medium low heat. Whisk vigorously until smooth and fully combined. It will look a little lumpy at first, but keep whisking and it will all come together.

Heat until mixture starts steaming, but not boiling.

Pour into 2 large mugs and top with whip cream and chocolate shavings, sprinkles, sugar, or your favorite topping.

Alternately, use a milk frother to froth the milk and fully mix all ingredients. See picture above with all the bubbles for what it will look like when using a frother.

Substitutions

This recipe already fits into most diets, but see below to see how it fits into your diet.

• Vegan - this Oat Milk Hot Chocolate is already vegan! Yay! No changes need to be made.
  
• Gluten Free - this warm drink recipe is already gluten free too! Yay!
  
• Keto - to make this hot chocolate keto-friendly, simply swap the maple syrup for a keto sugar substitute.

As always, be sure to check your labels and ensure each ingredient complies with your diet or allergy restrictions.

Variations

This Oat Milk Hot Chocolate is a wonderful base recipe for all of your hot chocolate needs.

• Mexican - add a dash of cayenne powder and a pinch of cinnamon to give this hot chocolate a little kick. Be sure to start with a little pinch and add more to taste.

• Cinnamon - this recipe is made even more amazing with just a pinch of cinnamon (I prefer it this way, without the cayenne). Add a cinnamon stick for stirring and for looks.

• Kid friendly - this recipe is already super kid-friendly, but I find that sprinkles or crushed cookies on top of the whip cream make it a super special treat.

Equipment

The only equipment required by this recipe is a small saucepan and a stovetop. If you want to get fancy, you can froth the milk with a handheld milk frother (at only $6, it would make a fun stocking stuffer!).

This recipe can also be doubled and tripled and kept warm in a slow cooker to serve at parties and alongside all the amazing Christmas desserts just waiting to be made.

Storage

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop and mix well before serving.