by Sylvie · This post may contain affiliate links
Gluten-FreeGrain-FreeVegetarianVeganDairy-FreeNut-FreeEgg-FreePaleo
With just a few ingredients and a little bit of spice, this spiced hot chocolate promises to be the perfect winter warmer for those cold, blustery days. Comforting and cozy, it’s a wintertime favorite!
There’s nothing quite like a steaming mug of homemade hot chocolate to make you feel cozy and warm from the inside out is there? Whether you’re coming in from the cold, or are spending the day curled up on the couch, a good cup of hot chocolate helps take the sting out of those cold, blustery days.
Cozy and comforting it’s a wintertime favorite. And while you need little more than chocolate, milk and sweetener to make a cup, I like to add a little bit of spice for extra warmth. This spiced hot chocolate is creamy and rich with just a hint of warming winter spice.
Hot Cocoa vs. Hot Chocolate:
The store-bought packets you just add water or milk to are hot cocoa which is a combination of cocoa powder, milk and sugar. Unfortunately a lot of what you’ll find is disappointingly weak, thin and not very chocolatey. Hot chocolate on the other hand is made with chocolate, sugar and milk. The melted chocolate makes a richer drink than using cocoa alone thanks to the cocoa butter contained in the chocolate but can sometimes be quite thick and intense.
This spiced hot chocolate contains both cocoa and chocolate to create a well-balanced cup that’s creamy but not overly rich that it veers into dessert. It uses a few spices like cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg to give it a subtle warmth that complements the chocolate without overwhelming it. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
Ingredient Notes:
(Here are a few notes about the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. As always find the full list of ingredients and directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- Milk – I like to use light coconut milk as its dairy-free yet has a similar consistency and fat content as regular whole milk. Feel free to use the milk (either dairy or non-dairy) of your choice.
- Sugar – Coconut sugar is my sweetener of choice for this spiced hot chocolate as it gives a caramel undertone that plays nicely with the chocolate and spices but you can use the sweetener of your choice as well.
- Spices – A combination cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg give this hot chocolate its subtle spice. I’ve called for a whole cinnamon stick and star anise instead of ground here. Ground spices tend to create a gritty texture and end up at the bottom of the cup whereas whole spices simply infuse the hot chocolate with flavor without any grit.
- Vanilla – A splash of vanilla extract rounds out all the flavors.
- Chocolate – Either semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate will work. You can use chocolate chips or chop your own chocolate.
- Cocoa Powder – Use an unsweetened cocoa powder either Dutch-processed or natural. Dutch-process cocoa powdered will be smoother and dark in color whereas natural cocoa powder will be lighter and fruitier.
How to Make Spiced Hot Chocolate:
(Here are the basic steps and some helpful tips on how to make the recipe. Find the full directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- You start by heating the milk together with the spices. A few minutes is all you really need to let those spices do their thing but if you have the time to let them hang out for a bit a longer you’ll have an even more fragrant cup.
- Next you’ll strain the spices and whisk in the chopped chocolate, cacao powder, sugar and vanilla until smooth and silky. Gently re-heat the mixture and either blend everything in a blender or with an immersion blender to create some froth before serving.
Of course if you’re short on time you can also make a batch of the spiced milk ahead of time, warming and whisking in the chocolate when you are ready for a mug.
Variations:
- Use the milk of your choice, either dairy or non-dairy for a vegan version.
- Use the sweetener of your choice.
- Omit the star anise and use cloves instead.
- Use the chocolate of your choice, either semi-sweet or bitter sweet.
- Use the cocoa powder of your choice, either Dutch or natural.
More Hot Chocolates and Hot Cocoas:
- French Hot Chocolate
- Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix
- Frozen Hot Chocolate
Yield: 2 Servings
Spiced Hot Chocolate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Filled with warming spices this dairy-free hot chocolate is rich and complex in flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ⅛th teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 cups/240ml light coconut milk (or milk of choice)
- 2 Tablespoons/24g coconut sugar (or sweetener of choice)
- 2 oz/56g semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate
- 2 Tablespoons/10g cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Toppings of choice (marshmallows, whipped coconut cream)
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the star anise, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk and bring to a simmer (do not boil). Turn off heat, cover and let steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain milk through a fine mesh sieve and return to the saucepan over low heat.
- Whisk in coconut sugar, chocolate, cacao powder and vanilla and stir continuously until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Using a blender or milk frother, blend hot chocolate until frothy.
- Serve immediately with toppings of choice if desired.
Notes
Variations:
- Use the milk of your choice, either dairy or non-dairy for a vegan version.
- Use the sweetener of your choice.
- Omit the star anise and use cloves instead.
- Use the chocolate of your choice, either semi-sweet or bitter sweet.
- Use the cocoa powder of your choice, either Dutch or natural.
Storage:
Spiced milk can be made ahead of time and reheated as needed.
Dietary Info:
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Paleo, Refined Sugar-Free
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 246Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 46mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 4gSugar: 13gProtein: 4g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
More Drinks
- Fresh Ginger Tea
- Hot Cranberry Tea
- Strawberry Iced Tea
- French Hot Chocolate
Reader Interactions
Comments
Gaby says
I don't have an immersion blender or milk frothed, are there any other alternatives? I have a food processor and a vitamix.
Reply
Sylvie says
Vitamix will work!
Reply
Laurie says
Sounds so delicious and perfect for our cool weather! I'm glad to see a coconut milk version! 🙂
Reply
Beth Learn says
Oh my, this looks amazing! I wonder if it could be sweetened with honey instead of coconut sugar? I'm doing a 7-Day Sugar Free Challenge with my members at Fit2B so I'm always looking for more recipes.
Reply
Sylvie says
Yes you can substitute whatever sweetener you'd like.
Reply
Amanda Roberts says
Okay. This sounds amazing. I love hot chocolate but have that unfortunate lactose issue. Hot chocolate with a kick of spice? Perfect. Can't wait to try this.
Reply
Carol@StudioBotanica says
Mmm ~ this sounds SO good! Truly love these herbs/spices together!
Super idea to use that fab whisk too!Reply
linda spiker says
Beautiful and sounds delicious!
Reply
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
Love this so much! Such beautiful spices in there, I especially LOVE the fennel seed. I wish I had a big mug of this right now.
Reply
Valentina | The Baking Fairy says
Oh, this sounds SO rich and creamy! I love the use of Chinese 5-spice in this, it makes for such a cozy winter drink!
Reply
Kelsey says
The star anise floating on top makes this cocoa so pretty! It's like decorations for your cocoa! Sounds yummy and spicy!
Reply
