Homemade Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix

Name: Homemade Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups sugar; 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon allspice; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean powder (, or half a vanilla bean sliced into two pieces (optional)); 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (, optional); chocolate chips, chunks or pieces; marshmallows; sprinkles; caramels; hard candy; peppermint candy or candy cane; vanilla bean

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This homemade vegan hot chocolate mix is easy to make and the perfect gift for others. Make it in bulk and have a healthy option ready to go!

Copper mug with hot chocolate topped with marshmallows

This recipe was originally published on 12/17/2013

I love creating my own gifts for others and when I can incorporate my creativity with food, it's even better! This vegan hot cocoa mix is super fun and turns out adorable (if I do say so myself). Plus the kids can help so it makes a perfect teacher gift.

As a child, I loved sipping on hot cocoa with my sister on the cooler (at least San Diego cool) nights. We used to light a fire and my mom would get out the good old Nesquik, who else remembers the syrup?!

Well, I decided to up my hot cocoa game and create a fun and easy mix you can make at home using whatever ingredients you want (you can even opt for the healthy ones to keep this on the more nutritious side).

Ingredients

Traditionally many people use some sort of sugar, cocoa and milk powder as the base to their hot chocolate mix. But because I want mine to be vegan, I created it without the milk powder (which in my opinion isn't necessary if you are mixing with milk anyway!).

Here are the main ingredients I use in my hot cocoa mix to get the flavor we love:

sugar
cocoa powder
cinnamon
allspice
vanilla bean powder
sea salt

I also give a spicy option by adding some cayenne pepper! It is a fun way to mix it up!

Different sized bowls with ingredients to make a homemade hot chocolate mix

How To Make Homemade Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix

This recipe is so easy to make and fun for the kids too! Make it an activity that all can participate in and give as gifts to others. This helps kids feel like part of the gifting process!

Put ingredients in a bowl and mix.
Put in jars and add garnish/toppings.
To use, add mix to milk and heat to enjoy.

Topping and serving ideas

Here are some of my favorite treats to top this hot cocoa with:

peppermint candy
candy canes
caramels
chocolate chips
marshmallows (these vegan marshmallows are my favorite)
hard candy
vanilla bean
sea salt
sprinkles
Vegan Whipped Cream
basically anything yummy!

Tips for preparing

This makes a delicious cozy treat, here are some tips to get the best result:

Make sure to heat slowly and mix well after heating to get the cocoa to dissolve.
Add in all the toppings while warm so you can get some of them to melt a little.
You can blend the milk with the mix to get it nice and frothy
Add as little or as much of the mix you want, the recipe is simply a guide.

Tips for gifting

Making this easy treat into a gift is not only easy, but it's the way to a food lover's heart! I like to put the mix into a jar. There are loads of options when it comes to jars, here are a few of my favorite:

Glass Jar with Hinged Lid

Pint Sized Mason Jar

Tulip Jelly Jar

You can also wrap a ribbon, rafia or twine around it for even more of a presentation!

Two glass jars on a wooden tray filled with hot chocolate mix

Common Questions

Is hot chocolate mix vegan?

Chocolate in and of itself has both vegan and non vegan varieties. As long as it does not have added dairy then it's vegan! When looking for a vegan hot chocolate, make sure to read the label and see if the ingredient list uses any animal products.

How long does homemade hot cocoa mix last?

Because I do not use milk powder in my mix, it lasts longer than others out there. I would say that after a year or two, the flavor will not be as strong or rich. But I guarantee it won't last that long in your kitchen!

What is hot chocolate mix made of?

Traditionally many people use some sort of sugar, cocoa and milk powder. This vegan version uses sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, allspice, vanilla bean powder, and sea salt.

How do I make a hot chocolate gift?

Put all your dry ingredients for hot chocolate in a cute jar, seal, and decorate with a ribbon! See above for detailed instructions.

Recipes to Serve With Hot Chocolate

Sipping on hot chocolate is such a treat, but sometimes you want just a little something extra to go alongside it, try these out: