Hot chocolate is the ultimate cold-weather drink. Winter is just around the corner and we have 13 herbal drinks that will make you want winter all year round. From exotic and nutty to minty and spicy, this list offers more than a dozen ways to make your chocolate dreams come true.
Minimalist baker
1 Vegan Maya drinking chocolate
A taste of this delicious dessert from Minimalist Baker, and we’re in chocolate heaven. All it takes is seven ingredients and 15 minutes to create this simple yet sophisticated drink. Decadent dark chocolate is perfectly balanced with Mayan spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper) which will quickly become your new chocolate obsession.
Get the recipe here
Running with spoons
2 Vegan pumpkin hot chocolate
Creamy vanilla almond milk is the basis of Running With Spoons’ sweet treat (which tastes like autumn in a cup). A peppered pumpkin puree combined with maple syrup to create all the flavors you could want on a brisk winter day. Make yourself comfortable with a blanket and a mug of this cocoa to transport it back to the pumpkin patch.
Get the recipe here
Vegan chickpeas
3 Healthy hot chocolate with a hazelnut flavor
Cinnamon and hazelnut essential oils are the secret ingredients in this original recipe, but that’s not all that creates the magical taste in this cup of cocoa, as vegan chickpea also stirs in two spoons of hazelnut butter for a deliciously nutty, toasty taste in every sip .
Get the recipe here
A cheeky kitchen
4th Gingerbread Vegan Hot Chocolate
This thick, velvety drink from A Saucy Kitchen will satisfy those Christmas cravings. Full-fat coconut milk creates the same thickness as milk-based hot chocolate, while fragrant ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla add flavors that are reminiscent of the holiday season. Make a ton of gingerbread cookies to dunk and we’ll be ready to decorate the halls.
Get the recipe here
The almond eater
5 Hot blood orange chocolate
If you’re looking for a new (and different) way to enjoy hot chocolate, this zippy version of The Almond Eater is the way to go. Freshly squeezed blood orange juice and grated orange peel are mixed with traditional hot cocoa ingredients to create a lively hot beverage that will liven up your step. Even better? This fun and unique recipe is ready in just 10 minutes and is made with just six ingredients.
Get the recipe here
Damn good vegetables
6th Red velvet hot chocolate
Darn Good Veggies contains a surprising ingredient in this cocoa recipe that is rich in antioxidants – beet powder! Our favorite red vegetables give this drink an earthy, rich taste that can be wonderfully combined with the other ingredients. Cocoa powder adds chocolaty flavor and more antioxidants, while Medjool dates add natural sweetness. Cheers to sweet health in the glass!
Get the recipe here
Rabbits and wolves
7th Vegan s’mores drink hot chocolate
This drinking chocolate is full of all the flavors of your favorite campfire. The delicious chocolate is flavored with everything you can taste in a golden graham cracker (cinnamon, brown sugar, molasses and vanilla). Rabbit and Wolves then crowns the hot cup of cocoa with roasted vegan marshmallows for a classic twist on a campfire favorite.
Get the recipe here
Heart of a baker
8th Creamy vegan hot chocolate with coconut
Heart of a Baker uses a blender to make this velvety cup of cocoa (it also has a stovetop alternative). Chopped dark chocolate and desiccated coconut are mixed hot with coconut milk in a high-performance mixer. For even more awesomeness, garnish with shredded coconut for a perfect mug of hot chocolate that is smooth in taste.
Get the recipe here
Rhian’s recipes
9 Vegan hot chocolate with red wine
Give your hot cocoa a boozy kick with a glass (or two!) Of red wine. Surprisingly, the fruity aroma of red wine perfectly complements the rich, earthy taste of dark chocolate. Rhian’s Recipes recommends using almond or cashew milk for the best dairy-free substitute in this recipe.
Get the recipe here
Lauren Cari’s cooks
10 Vegan peppermint hot chocolate
Mint + Chocolate = a dreamy game with hot chocolate. In this recipe by Lauren Caris Cooks, peppermint extract gives the frothy almond milk, which is coated in dark chocolate, refreshing notes. Top with coconut whipped cream for a classic hot chocolate.
Get the recipe here
The hungry herbivores
11th Coffee Mexican drinking chocolate
This pick-me-up drink from The Hungry Herbivores is similar to a mocha, but better! Combine your favorite dark chocolate and heavily brewed coffee for a breakfast drink that you will want to enjoy all morning long.
Get the recipe here
Love & lemons
12th Matcha white hot chocolate
Try the bright, beautiful recipe from Love & Lemons with the popular Matcha tea powder for a fancy variant of the classic cup of hot chocolate for adults. Start by whisking almond milk and vegan white chocolate, then stir in matcha for a calming drink that is delicious and visually stunning.
Get the recipe here
Healthy slow cooking
13th White hot chocolate
This thick, rich cocoa from Healthy Slow Cooking is made from homemade non-dairy milk and naturally sweetened with dates before cocoa butter and vanilla pods – scraped directly from the pod – are whipped in. Trust us – this silky drink is irresistible.
Get the recipe here
You can find more chocolatey recipes at:
Vegan almond hot chocolate
Chocolatey vegan melted lava cakes
Crunchy vegan coconut pecan biscotti
Stephanie Dreyer is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a mission to help families cook and eat healthier.
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