Dairy-Free Paleo Hot Chocolate Recipe With Coconut Milk | Wicked Spatula (2024)

This rich, creamy paleo hot chocolate recipe needs just 4 base ingredients, plus optional superfood extras. Made with coconut milk, dairy-free hot chocolate will be your new favorite.

by Maya Last Updated on February 26, 2020 2 Comments

As the first little flakes of snow begin to fall in the winter, my mind turns to one thing, my paleo hot chocolate recipe. ❄️ Not just any hot chocolate, though… no, we’re talking about this incredibly decadent, yet dairy-free hot chocolate. This rich and creamy paleo hot cocoa needs just 4 basic ingredients (plus water), plus I have some optional super-food add-ins like maca, cinnamon, collagen, and a pinch of Himalayan sea salt.

No white sugar in thiscoconut milk hot chocolate! It’s sweetened with a spoonful of date paste that gets swirled into the mix to create a thick creamy concoction.

For this paleo hot chocolate, I use about 3 tablespoons of date paste for 2 servings. You can start with less or add more depending on how sweet you want it. Sipping on a warm cup of paleo hot cocoa is an excellent end (or beginning?) to the day.

Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Ingredients

Wondering how to make dairy-free hot chocolate? You need just a few common ingredients!

Basic Hot Cocoa Ingredients

• Full-fat coconut milk
• Water
• Cacao powder
• Coconut oil
• Date paste

And because I like superfood hot chocolate, I add a few optional extras…

Optional Add-Ins

• Himalayan salt
• Cinnamon
• Maca
• Marine collagen

Feel free to use any of these that you have, or leave them out if you want to keep it simple.

How To Make Paleo Hot Chocolate

This is the best paleo hot chocolate, and it can be made in just a few minutes. It’s perfect for warming up on a cold, snowy day or whenever a chocolate craving might strike.

This homemade paleo hot chocolate comes together in just two simple steps:

• Make date paste.Just soak some dates in boiling water for 10 minutes, drain, then blend! I store mine in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, so you can use it for more than just this healthy hot chocolate recipe. It’s great for just about anything that needs a little sweetness. I like my paleo hot cocoa to be DARK, so just a hint of sweetness for me.
• Heat the hot chocolate base. Heat coconut milk and water over high heat, until simmering.
• Blend. Add cacao powder, coconut oil, date paste, and any other optional ingredients to a blender. Pour in the hot coconut milk and blend until smooth.
• Serve. Sprinkle with cacao powder or cinnamon, and serve hot.

Does Hot Chocolate Contain Dairy?

Most hot chocolate does contain dairy in the form of milk or milk powders. Some versions are made with just sugar, so it’s worth reading the label if you’re using store bought.

I much prefer homemade hot cocoa mix, so I know exactly what’s in it. 🙂

I’m not a fan of all the sugar and didn’t want to miss out on afternoon hot chocolates anymore, so I created thiscoconut milk hot chocolate. It’s not only dairy-free, but also packed with incredibly nutritious super foods.

Can You Use An Alternative To Coconut Milk For This Cocoa Drink?

Yes, absolutely, you can use other types of milk in place of the coconut milk in this paleo hot chocolate recipe. You can use almond milk, cashew milk, or any other nut milk in place of the coconut milk.

Is Cacao Powder Gluten-Free?

Yes, cacao powder is gluten-free. You just need to make sure that it’s pure cacao powder, which is made from crushing cacao beans.

How Do You Store Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate?

If you don’t finish the entire paleo hot chocolate recipe, you can save it for later. I do think it’s best fresh (and also I think it’s hard not to finish it, but you do you. ;)) Pour any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

When you are ready to serve it, you can simply warm it up again in a saucepan, constantly stirring, or in the microwave. If you like, you can give it a quick blend to get it nice and frothy again.

More Paleo Drink Recipes

If you love this paleo hot chocolate recipe, you should try some of these other amazing paleo drink recipes:

• Pumpkin Spice Flax Seed Smoothie – Packed full of nutrients, and it’s a great way to start the day, especially during the fall pumpkin craze!
• Homemade Banana Chocolate Protein Shake – Chocolate and bananas in a healthy protein shake? I’m in.
• Turmeric Latte – This latte is similar to mypaleo hot chocolate recipe in that it’s loaded with healthy ingredients. It’s warming and gently spiced.