Vegan Chai Hot Chocolate ready in about 5 minutes! This dairy-free hot chocolate is creamy, low in calories, and infused with warm chai spices. It’s an easy homemade treat perfect for chilly evenings—rich chocolate balanced with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger for a comforting cup.
Hot chocolate is one of my favorite drinks during fall and winter. It brings back memories of grabbing a cup after long skating practices—those nostalgic concession-stand packets with tiny marshmallows. Here we’ve recreated a clean-ingredient, plant-based version that’s as creamy and chocolatey as a coconut-based hot chocolate, but with the extra warmth of chai spice. If you have a homemade chai spice blend, it’s the perfect time to use it; store-bought chai spice also works well if you’re short on time.
How to Make Hot Chocolate (with Chai!)
Step 1: Gather ingredients for vegan chai hot chocolate:
- Almond milk (unsweetened)
- Cocoa powder
- Chai spice (homemade or store-bought)
- Vanilla extract
- Maple syrup
Step 2: Combine the wet ingredients in a medium saucepan, then whisk in the dry ingredients. Bring the mixture to a gentle rolling boil while whisking until the cocoa and spices dissolve. Lower the heat and simmer for 3–5 minutes so the flavors meld and the drink becomes silky.
Step 3: Pour into mugs and finish with your choice of toppings—dairy-free whipped cream, frothed plant milk, or vegan marshmallows. This recipe makes about 4 cups (serves 2–4 depending on portion size); multiply the ingredients to serve a crowd.
Vegan Chai Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 4 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1.5 teaspoons chai spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup or more to taste
Instructions
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Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Heat, whisking often, until the mixture comes to a gentle rolling boil and the cocoa and spices have fully dissolved. Reduce heat and simmer for 3–5 minutes to let the flavors meld.
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Ladle into mugs and top with dairy-free whipped cream, frothed plant milk, or vegan marshmallows. Serve warm.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation and should be used as a guideline only.
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Maple Syrup
Vanilla Extract
Cinnamon
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