Some of us don’t really like hot chocolate, but many people do. And apart from the fact that most brands contain factory-farmed milk, palm oil and refined sugar (often in plastic packaging), most commercial brands are often a faff to make. You have to mix cold water with powder to make a gummy mix, then heat the milk then mix etc etc.
This vegan hot chocolate (Ocado) is topped with sea salt flakes.
Most brands are not for allergies due to shared facilities. Avoid caffeine for pregnancy/nursing and affected medical conditions.
Keep hot chocolate away from pets, due to cocoa and nutmeg (never use xylitol sweetener near pets). Use letterbox guards, for home delivery. Read more on food safety for people & pets.
Make Your Own Vegan Hot Chocolate
Like all recipes, it takes a few goes. But once you have it off-pat, it’s likely much cheaper to make your own. This vegan hot chocolate (Rainbow Plant Life) blends two kinds of plant milk with dark chocolate and cocoa powder, for the ultimate cocoa treat.
Or try this white hot chocolate (The Vegan 8) that doesn’t need ‘vegan white chocolate’, it just blends vegan milk chocolate with plant milk.
The Best Brands of Vegan Hot Chocolate
Any good brand is going to be more expensive. So we think it’s best to go big and go large (spend more on quality) and just have fewer cups, and indulge! You can recycle any packaging at supermarket bag bins, if your kerbside does not recycle.
Harth Chocolate is a nice organic hot chocolate powder, made in Somerset and sold in a brown paper bag. The beans are uniquely only grown for hot chocolate powder.
Just warm 2 tablespoons in a pan with a cup of oat milk, then stir over low heat until bubbling. Each pack makes around 15 servings.
The Winter Solstice version adds warming spices of cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg and cayenne. This brand was created in Bath, for alternative income after their fine dining restaurant had to close.
If you want something more budget-friendly, look in stores for Sweet Freedom’s Choc Shots. Just drizzle into a cup of hot milk, for an instant hot chocolate. Free from palm oil and sweetened with fruits, choose from:
- Original
- Brownie
- Mint
- Orange
- Coffee
- Raspberry
- Salted Caramel
Top with Vegan Marshmallows
Many people like to serve ‘luxury hot chocolate’ with marshmallows. Which you may not know are usually made from animal bones (gelatine) and dead beetle juice (carmine or cochineal). Most stores now sell vegan marshmallows. Look for Dandies (an organic brand).
