3-Ingredient Instant Hot Chocolate (Dairy-Free!)

GFVGVDFNS
Jump to Recipe

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links which provide us a small commission when used for purchase. We're grateful for your support!

Mug of dairy-free hot chocolate topped with coconut whipped cream

Did anyone else love instant hot chocolate as a kid!? We’re talking the packets you dump in a mug, add hot water, and stir for instant, chocolaty comfort. When we saw coconut milk powder in the store, inspiration struck for a dairy-free, naturally sweetened version that’s just as easy and delicious!

Just 3 ingredients required for the mix, then simply add it to a mug with hot water whenever the cocoa craving strikes! It’s the perfect solution for the busy holiday season, hot chocolate on-the-go, gifting to friends and family, and beyond. Let’s make hot cocoa!

Spoonfuls of coconut milk powder, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa powder

How to Make Dairy-Free Instant Hot Chocolate

You’ll need 3 ingredients to make this instant hot chocolate:

  • Coconut milk powder – It’s coconut cream that’s been dried and can be reconstituted by mixing with water to make coconut milk!
  • Cocoa powder – We recommend using a high-quality brand for best flavor.
  • Coconut sugar – Dry sweeteners work best because they make this mix shelf-stable. But even if you’re making a single serving to enjoy right away, coconut sugar is still our preferred sweetener for best flavor!
  • Cinnamon (optional) – Adds natural sweetness and has beneficial effects on blood sugar plus other positive health outcomes.
Mug with coconut milk powder, coconut sugar, cocoa powder, and cinnamon

To make this hot cocoa, simply add the dry ingredients to a mug (or a glass jar if making a larger batch), and stir them all together.

Mug of hot water and instant hot chocolate mix

Then add a little hot water (an electric kettle is great for heating it) and stir again to dissolve the powders and sugar.

Mixing hot water with coconut milk powder, cocoa powder, and coconut sugar

Then fill up the mug with more hot water and stir once more for what’s probably the easiest dairy-free hot chocolate you’ve ever made!

Top with Coconut Whipped Cream and a little grated dark chocolate if you’re in the mood for something more fancy and indulgent.

Pouring hot water to make instant hot chocolate

We hope you LOVE this hot chocolate! It’s:

Creamy
Chocolaty
Comforting
Classic
Quick & easy
& Perfect for gifting and on-the-go!

Make yourself a mug any time you’re craving chocolaty comfort in a mug, or mix up a batch of the dry ingredients to share with friends and family this holiday season! It would also be perfect for camping trips, taking to the office, or as a fun activity for kids.

More Quick & Easy Warm Beverages

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

Mug of hot chocolate topped with coconut whipped cream and dark chocolate

3-Ingredient Instant Hot Chocolate (Dairy-Free!)

Creamy, chocolaty, perfectly sweet hot chocolate that comes together in 5 minutes with just 3 ingredients! Comforting, classic, and perfect for the holiday season and beyond!
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Holding the handle of a mug of instant hot chocolate
4.82 from 11 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 (Mug)
Course Beverage
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly No
Does it keep? Dry mix keeps 1 month (see notes)

Ingredients

HOT COCOA

FOR SERVING optional

Instructions

  • Add coconut milk powder, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, and cinnamon (optional) to a mug (make sure it can hold at least 1 ¼ cup or 300 ml). Stir the dry ingredients together, then add just enough hot water to cover them (~2 Tbsp or 30 ml water // we like using an electric kettle for heating the water).
  • Using a fork or small whisk, vigorously stir the mixture until a smooth, semi-thick “hot cocoa concentrate” forms. Then add 1 cup (240 ml) of hot water and stir well, breaking up any remaining clumps of coconut milk powder or cocoa.
  • Taste and adjust as needed, adding more cinnamon for spice and/or more sweetener if you prefer. Enjoy right away! You can also make this treat fancier by topping with coconut whipped cream and grated dark chocolate.

Video

Notes

*We also tested with maple syrup, and it works, but we preferred the flavor of coconut sugar. Use a dry sweetener if making a larger batch of the dry mix.
*To make a large batch (6 servings) of hot chocolate mix (for making ahead or giving as a gift), combine 3/4 cup (96 g) coconut milk powder, 6 Tbsp (36 g) cocoa powder, and 4-6 Tbsp (48-72 g) coconut sugar. Mix all dry ingredients and store in an airtight container. To make a mug of hot chocolate, mix 3 ½ – 4 Tbsp dry mix with 1 – 1 ¼ cup hot water following instructions for best results. Mix is best used within one month.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with the lesser amount of coconut sugar and without optional ingredients.

Nutrition (1 of 1 servings)

Serving: 1 mug Calories: 162 Carbohydrates: 15.1 g Protein: 2 g Fat: 10.7 g Saturated Fat: 10.4 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0 g Monounsaturated Fat: 0 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 11 mg Potassium: 222 mg Fiber: 1.9 g Sugar: 9 g Vitamin A: 0 IU Vitamin C: 0 mg Calcium: 17.9 mg Iron: 0.8 mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @minimalistbaker on Instagram and hashtag it #minimalistbaker so we can see all the deliciousness!

If you love this recipe...

Get Our Fan Favorites eBook Here!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rating!

Have a question? Use ctrl+f or ⌘+f on your computer or the "find on page" function on your phone browser to search existing comments! Need help? Check out this tutorial!

My Rating:




  1. Jeremy says

    Been making this for over a year now and its such a lovely replacement of the traditional one without sugar <3

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Amazing! We’re so glad you’ve been enjoying it, Jeremy. Thank you for sharing! xo

  2. Liz says

    This is the best hot chocolate mix! I love it as is – not too sweet but nice and rich. I sometimes add a tablespoon of peanut butter powder which really takes it over the top! Thanks for the recipe. I made larger batches as Christmas gifts this year. It’s great that all you need to add is water. Yum yum yum.

  3. Corelia says

    Fun little spin: I like to make some peppermint tea, boil it, and then use it in place of hot water in this recipe. Makes for an extra-good hot cocoa. :)

    I give this recipe 4 stars because it isn’t quite sweet or creamy enough (for me) unless I up the amount of sweetener and coconut milk. I do prefer this with maple syrup instead of coconut sugar; just find it gives a richer, sweeter end product.

  4. Jillian says

    I made this as written and boy was it ever chocolatey. The cinnamon is absolutely essential to help cut down the natural bitterness of the cocoa powder. I found it too watery for my preference and ended up doubling the coconut milk and adding a bit of extra sugar and it ended up being super rich and decadent. Next time I make this I’ll aim for somewhere in the middle. I made a cup for my partner as well who is diabetic and subbed out the sugar for monk fruit sweetener and that works really well too.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thank you for sharing, Jillian! One other idea – if using cacao powder vs. cocoa powder, it will have a stronger chocolate flavor. Hope that helps for next time!

  5. Neha says

    Hi! Thank you for this super recipe. Can this powder be filled in Vegan chocolate balls to make hot chocolate bombs out of them?

  6. Jeremy says

    I apologize, I think its my first time rating. 5 stars for sure. As long as you let it cool down a bit, it tastes as good or better than any store-bought nostalgia hot chocolate : ) 5 stars!

  7. Jeremy says

    this was a great replacement for normal hot chocolate. Just add more cocoa for dark chocolate, and less for more like milk chocolate : )

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review, Jeremy. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a star rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo

  8. mirari says

    seems lovely! could you please, tell me, if i can use coconut flour for the milk powder? i never seen that in europe…
    thank you; wishing you lovely holidays!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Mirari, unfortunately coconut flour will NOT work here. If you can’t find coconut milk powder, you could simply do the cocoa powder and sugar mixture, and use your favorite milk in place of the hot water. Hope this helps!

  9. Jason says

    Really great, more convenient version for non-dairy hot chocolate! I tried the recipe as shown and just now using date syrup as the sweetener instead of coconut sugar. I found the date syrup to be much more satisfying, with a richer flavor overall. Obviously, you wouldn’t be able to make a large, pre-made batch doing it that way, though. Either way, this recipe really scratches the hot chocolate itch.

  10. Maaike says

    Would love to try this! My to go to quick vegan hot chocolate recipe is rice- or milletdrink heatened up (both are sweet of themselves so no sugar needed) and pour a bit in a cup with some cocoapowder. Stir and slowly, while stirring, add the rest of the milk. If Im in the mood for some more work I add, before cooking, a dried pepper, a crushed clove, a crushed anisseed, some cinnamon and a crushed cardamom.

  11. Vicky says

    Went to your coconut milk powder link right away so I can make this asap, and couldn’t believe the quantity lol 15kg! 202$ lol then I saw the other option for a 6 pack at 22$, phew 😅. Still wondering if this a good price is? Is powder coconut millk pricey? Any other brands stores that could carry this more affordable? Thanks!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Vicky, sorry for the confusion! It shouldn’t be expensive. We found the Native Forest brand at a health food store for about $3 USD. Hope that helps!

    • Victoria says

      Yeah I give it a four it’s so hard to transition from dairy products to non dairy products this really helped I now know a hot chocolate recipe that I can keep on going back to

  12. Mark Isuak says

    I have been doing something similar for ages. To add on to it, I ususally blend the ingredients with cold water and then microwave it to heat.

    That ends up giving it a very natural and beautiful foam.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Sheri, we aren’t sure of a shelf stable option, but a couple readers have mentioned replacing the water and coconut milk powder with oat milk with success. Hope that helps!

  13. Donna Eda Neubauer says

    Just made it, had an urge for hot chocolate, since wind chill in Wisconsin is zero degrees. Great recipe, will make it again, and again, and again. Easy, pezy

  14. Liah G. says

    Made this with Oatmilk and molasses (I’m out of coconut sugars) and it is sooooooo smooooooth!!! Thanks for the afternoon pick me up!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Susan! You could omit the coconut milk powder and swap out the water for a non-dairy milk of your choice, warmed on the stove. Let us know how it goes!

      • Susan says

        Great! Thank you! I’m having guests over in a few days for hot cocoa and popcorn. I wanted to use your recipe, but one of the guests doesn’t like coconut. This sounds like a perfect option. I’ll let you know what he thinks.

    • Kat says

      1 Tbls oat flour (or more, depending on how thick you like it) / per serving.

      Or, skip both, (the coconut & oat) just mix 1/3 ea in a jar (approximate is fine), the cocoa powder, dry creamer, and sugar of choice.
      Optionally, add 1-2 tsp cinnamon, & 1/2- 1 tsp salt.
      Close jar, shake well. Use as directed, but use with a non dairy milk, or milk, instead of water for best results.

      I like using half the sugar powdered and half raw sugar. The raw gives a very slight molasses flavor and the powdered makes it extra smooth.
      I also like to add 2 tbls peanut butter powder to my cup for chocolate peanut butter milk! Yum! :)

      • Kat says

        It separated my reply to susan, so to clarify, I was suggesting replacing the coconut milk powder with 1tbls of oat flour.
        I make single cups of oatmilk this way, so it should work for chocolate milk too. (I have made oat chocolate milk before, but I normally use soymilk and not water.)

  15. Joe says

    I LOVE IT!!! Had to do it straight away 😊 I used oatmeal milk because I can’t stand the taste of coconut, and cane sugar. Now I’m looking for a replacement for the coconut whipped cream. But even with that, the creaminess was to die for! Thank you!

  16. The Vegan Goddess says

    I love hot chocolate and haven’t had it in years so this sounds great.

    However, I am not thrilled about the dry coconut milk because of how it’s processed.

    Why not use regular coconut milk (low-fat) or almond milk in instead?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi there! We like this hot chocolate for a shelf stable option that’s an alternative to traditional powdered hot chocolate “packets”. We do have some other recipes you could try instead, like our Feel Good Hot Chocolate!