This vegan dairy-free Mexican Hot Chocolate with cashew milk or almond milk is made with 0-calorie sweetener, unsweetened cocoa, and rich dark chocolate. Enjoy a warm drink of spiced hot cocoa on chilly days!
This recipe for homemade vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate makes a warm, rich chocolate drink. Spiced with cinnamon and chili, this is hot chocolate for grown-ups!
Also known as Aztec Hot Chocolate or Spiced Hot Cocoa, whatever you call it, it's a comforting drink with a spicy little kick!
And now you can enjoy it dairy-free! And if you're following a ketogenic diet, it's easy to keep it keto.
What could be better than a mug of steaming hot cocoa on a cold winter day?
While I love this Warm Turmeric Cinnamon Milk regularly, a mug of smooth melted hot chocolate is a treat!
Enjoy this spiced hot chocolate yourself in front of the fireplace on a chilly night, serve it to friends after dinner, or take it in a to-go cup on a snowy hike.
I created this recipe to make it both dairy-free and sugar-free. I use my traditional hot chocolate recipe and substitute cashew milk for dairy milk. Feel free to use any plant-based milk like almond milk, oat milk, soy milk or a cashew-almond blend that you can buy in a carton.
I also substitute Monkfruit Sweetener with erythritol for sugar to keep it sugar-free. However, this recipe will be just as delicious with sugar, maple syrup, or honey. Your choice!
I don't like my cocoa overly sweet, but feel free to adjust the amount of sweetener to your taste.
Ingredients
Ready to make a batch of dairy-free Mexican hot chocolate? Here's what you'll need.
- milk: cashew milk (from a carton) or almond milk or other plant-based milk
- cocoa powder: unsweetened
- sweetener: 0-calorie sweetener like Lacanto Monkfruit with erythritol, or sugar, maple syrup or honey
- cinnamon: ground cinnamon adds a warm touch! Add a cinnamon stick to your mug as a garnish if you'd like.
- vanilla: pure vanilla extract has the best flavour.
- chili powder: just a little, add more if you like. Or feel free to sub chipotle chili powder for more intense Mexican flavour!
- chocolate: bittersweet chocolate gives a rich, intense chocolate flavour, but you can use semi-sweet or whatever you have on hand. If the chocolate you're using is sweeter than bittersweet, you may want to reduce the sweetener in this recipe.
Instructions
- You can make this hot spiced chocolate in a saucepan on the stovetop, or you can simmer it in a slow cooker if you'd prefer.
- Start by cutting the chocolate into chunks, then melt over low heat, watching carefully.
- When almost melted, add the remaining ingredients, whisking to combine.
- Heat until completely combined and hot, but not boiling. Lower the heat to simmer to keep warm.
- Serve in mugs with a cinnamon stick.
- If you'd like, garnish with whipped cream or coconut whipped cream and a few chocolate shavings.
- To make chocolate shavings, warm a chocolate square very slightly in a microwave. Use a vegetable peeler to create small chocolate curls.
Possible variations
Is it a warm drink, or is it dessert?
Drink or indulgent dessert? You decide!
It could be either one. This hot chocolate is sweet enough to enjoy as an after-dinner treat. For example, you can serve it as an adult drink by adding a half shot (or full shot) of a coffee liqueur like Kahlua.
If you do decide to serve it with a liqueur, you may want to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe, as liqueurs are often quite sweet.
Keep it vegan. Serve with coconut whipped cream. Use maple syrup or coconut sugar to sweeten it.
Keep it paleo. Use coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey and serve with coconut whipped cream.
Make it keto. Use a nut-milk like cashew milk or almond milk and 0-calorie sweetener like Lacanto Monkfruit. For more information about Monkfruit, read A Note about Monkfruit Sweetener.
Enjoy a warm mug of homemade Mexican hot chocolate soon!
More dairy-free vegan chocolate recipes
- Chocolate-Orange Oat Milk Pudding
- Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse
- Double Chocolate Mousse Torte
- Sweet and Salty Chocolate Cashews
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
More drink recipes to try
📖 Recipe
Homemade Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups cashew milk, almond milk or other plant-based milk
- 2 oz bittersweet chocolate, or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon 0-calorie sweetener with erythritol like Lacanto Monkfruit Sweetener with Erythritol (or sugar)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder or chipotle chili powder
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, begin to melt chocolate over low heat. When softened, add milk and whisk in cocoa powder, sweetener, cinnamon, vanilla and chili powder. Increase heat to medium and heat until hot but not boiling.
- Pour into mugs. Garnish with whipped coconut milk or whipped cream and a sprinkle of shaved chocolate.
Anne
I made this at Christmas time last year, and now I'm making it for our camping trip next weekend. Perfect for sipping around the campfire!
Flavour & Savour
Have a great time camping! Thanks so much for commenting.
Janice Anderson
Hi Elaine,
This comment pertains to a cookie recipe I tried a few weeks ago from Flavour & Savour. The almond, cranberry and lemon shortbread cookies are absolutely delicious. The almond flavour and pop of lemon tartness work so well together. My family members have given these cookies rave reviews! I will definitely be baking them time and time again. Thanks Elaine. I always look forward to your weekly emails. Wishing you peace and joy during this Christmas Season and good health in the New Year.
Janice
Elaine
Thanks so much, Janice! I believe you're referring to these Cranberry Lemon Almond Shortbread Cookies cookies. I'm so glad your family loved them. Thank you for your kind wishes! Looking forward to lots more recipe creation in the New Year. Best wishes to you and yours!