Description
This Healthy Vegan Gingerbread Hot Chocolate is a warm, comforting beverage perfect for chilly days. Made with plant-based milk and a blend of cozy spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, it delivers rich holiday flavors without dairy. Sweetened naturally with maple syrup and blackstrap molasses, and thickened with arrowroot powder, this creamy hot chocolate is both nutritious and indulgent.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces or 360 mL) plant-based milk, divided (such as almond, oat, or soy milk)
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Scant 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- Scant 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 2 ½ tablespoons (15-20g) raw cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
Instructions
- Heat the milk and spices: Pour 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 mL) of the plant-based milk into a small or medium saucepan. Add the ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cacao powder, maple syrup, and blackstrap molasses. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a rapid simmer, whisking occasionally to fully incorporate the cacao powder and spices into the milk.
- Prepare the arrowroot slurry: While the milk mixture is heating, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup (4 ounces or 120 mL) of plant-based milk with the arrowroot powder in a separate bowl until the mixture is smooth and free of clumps. This will help thicken the hot chocolate later.
- Thicken and finish the hot chocolate: When the milk mixture reaches a rapid simmer, pour the arrowroot slurry slowly into the saucepan while whisking constantly. Continue whisking for 30-45 seconds until the hot chocolate thickens to a creamy consistency. If making a double batch, expect the thickening process to take a bit longer. Remove the saucepan from heat and serve the hot chocolate warm immediately.
Notes
- Use any plant-based milk of your choice such as almond, oat, soy, or cashew milk.
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more maple syrup or molasses if desired.
- Arrowroot powder helps thicken the hot chocolate without adding any flavor or grit.
- To double the recipe, simply double all ingredient quantities and expect a slightly longer thickening time.
- For a richer hot chocolate, use a plant-based milk with higher fat content such as oat or coconut milk.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vegan, American
Keywords: vegan hot chocolate, gingerbread hot chocolate, plant-based hot chocolate, healthy holiday drink, dairy-free hot cocoa
