Best Homemade Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix

It only takes 4 ingredients and a few minutes to whip up a batch of shelf stable, vegan hot cocoa mix! Then just grab a mug and your favorite plant based milk to enjoy a rich, creamy vegan hot chocolate anytime you like. 

Nothing beats a cup of creamy, soothing hot cocoa by the fire on a winter day. If you’re vegan or dairy-free though, those oh-so-convenient store-bought packets of cocoa mix are unfortunately off limits! 

I came up with my own dry cocoa mix–dairy-free and 100% vegan of course!–and always try to keep a big jar of it in the pantry. Anytime we’re craving hot chocolate, it just takes a few minutes to prepare a steaming cup! 

In fact, it’s been such a hit with my family that I started giving this homemade hot chocolate mix out as gifts. Just fill some mason jars or other lidded containers to the top with cocoa mix, then attach a festive ribbon with a note and instructions for mixing. This is one gift that is as good to give as it is to keep for yourself!

Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix Ingredients

For the Mix: 

• Organic powdered sugar – In addition to providing some sweetness, which of course is important in any cup of hot cocoa, powdered sugar also typically contains a small amount of cornstarch or tapioca starch. In addition to keeping your powdered sugar from clumping together, in its packaging, this starch will also produce a thicker, more velvety cup of cocoa than if you use just granulated sugar as the sweetener. 
• Vegan powdered milk – There are many different types of powdered plant based milks these days! You may not always find all of the options in your local grocery store, but check online for powdered soy milk or oat milk. My local store carries coconut milk powder which we actually tested as part of our Best Vegan Coffee Creamer review. It added great richness and body to a cup of coffee and will surely do the same here. 
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – For all of the chocolatey goodness you expect from a cup of cocoa! There is already plenty of sweetness going on in this mix as a result of the sugars, so make sure to choose unsweetened cocoa powder here. 
• Organic cane sugar – I find that using only powdered sugar gives just a different type of sweetness, so I like to balance the flavor with just a bit of granulated sugar too. Make sure to choose organic versions of both your powdered sugar and cane sugar ingredients, as non-organic sugar products are sometimes processed using non-vegan methods. 

For a Cup of Hot Cocoa: 

• Coconut milk – The above ingredients are all you need to make the hot cocoa mix, but when you want to whip up an actual cup of the good stuff, you’ll need some dairy free milk to do so! I like to use lite coconut milk when making mine–as I find that full fat coconut milk comes out just a bit too thick. You could try other plant milks though–almond milk or oat milk would work nicely as well.
• Optional Add-ins and Toppings: vegan chocolate chips, mini vegan marshmallows, peppermint extract, vegan whipped cream–these are a few of my favorites but you can use whatever add-ins or toppings you like best.

How to Make Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix

1. Sift powdered sugar. Place a large fine mesh strainer over a large mixing bowl. Measure powdered sugar into the strainer, then gently tap the side of the strainer against the palm of your hand to sift the sugar into the bowl below. 
2. Sift powdered milk. Next, sift vegan powdered milk through the strainer into the bowl with the powdered sugar. 
3. Sift cocoa powder. Finally, sift the cocoa powder into the mix. 
4. Whisk. Use a whisk to stir the 3 powders together until well-mixed. 

5. Add cane sugar. Add organic cane sugar to the powder mixture. 
6. Whisk again. Whisk the mixture again to make sure all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. 
7. Transfer and store. Transfer your vegan cocoa mix to an airtight container that you’d like to store it in. I like to use a glass jar with a hinged lid like the one pictured above. It has a wide mouth that makes it easy to scoop the cocoa mix out of! 
8. Make hot cocoa! When you’re ready to turn your mix into a steaming mug of vegan cocoa, simply combine ⅓ cup of the dry hot chocolate mix in a mug with 1 cup of warm coconut milk or other non-dairy milk. Sprinkle with add-ins and toppings as desired!  

Chef Tips 

For Mess-Free Sifting:

I recommend placing your entire bowl and sifter setup on a rimmed baking sheet on your countertop or work surface. This way if any of the powders spill over the sides as you are tapping and sifting, the baking sheet will catch it and your cleanup will be much easier. Wiping up cocoa powder can be a pain–take my word for it!

How to Store 

At Room Temperature. Store your homemade hot chocolate mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Keeping moisture out of the cocoa mix is key to keeping it fresh for as long as possible. When stored properly, the mix should last for up to 3 months. I recommend labeling your jar or container with the date, that way you always know how long it’s been hanging around for.