This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more.
This hot chocolate with oat milk is rich, creamy, and comforting. It’s made with 4 simple ingredients in under 5 minutes; the perfect quick and easy sweet treat for cosy evenings.
There’s nothing quite like a steaming mug of hot cocoa on a chilly day, and this recipe for homemade hot chocolate with oat milk is sure to become a family favourite in the winter months.
Made with creamy oat milk, cocoa powder, dark chocolate and your choice of sweetener, it’s a delightful plant based treat that’s irresistibly delicious with a rich chocolate flavor.
Oat milk offers a natural sweetness and luxurious creaminess that rivals any dairy-based version. Whether you’re vegan, lactose-intolerant, or just fancy a plant-based twist on the classic, this recipe for hot cocoa with oat milk ticks all the boxes.
Ready in under five minutes, this comforting drink is perfect for cosy evenings, warming up after a brisk walk, or treating yourself to a moment of relaxation. Let’s dive into this vegan hot chocolate recipe and discover just how easy it is to make!
Quick Links:
- The full recipe
- Why you’ll love this recipe
- Ingredients needed
- Step by step instructions with photos
- How to serve and store
- Success tips
- FAQs
- Other cosy vegan drinks like this one
Did you know? We’ve got a range of dairy free drinks recipes for you to enjoy!
If you’re a coffee lover, try our recipes for Pumpkin Spice Latte and Oat Milk Iced Coffee. For those with a love of more alternative drinks, try our recipes for Oat Milk Matcha Latte, Iced Oat Vanilla Matcha Latte and Turmeric Latte!
Want to know how to heat and froth oat milk like a pro? No curdling here! Check out our article Why Does Oat Milk Curdle in Coffee? (+ How To Avoid It), we’re giving away all our top tips!
Why you’ll love this Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk
Creamy and indulgent. Oat milk gives this hot chocolate a wonderfully creamy texture and a naturally sweet flavour, making every sip as comforting as a traditional hot chocolate.
Quick and simple. With just 4 simple ingredients and less than 5 minutes of prep time, it’s quick and easy to whip up a batch of homemade oat milk hot chocolate on family movie night.
Customisable to your taste. You can use your preferred sweetener (sugar, maple syrup, stevia) and toppings of your choice to create the perfect hot chocolate for your personal preferences. This hot cocoa oat milk recipe can also easily be halved, doubled or tripled!
Dairy-free and vegan. This hot chocolate oat milk recipe is completely plant-based, suitable for vegans and those looking for a dairy-free alternative. Just make sure the cocoa powder and chocolate that you use are suitable for vegans (and dairy allergy sufferers if that is applicable to you).
![]()
How to make this vegan Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this vegan hot chocolate oat milk recipe:
Cocoa powder. Opt for an unsweetened cocoa powder (not a hot chocolate powder, which will likely have other things added such as sugar and milk powder). You can use raw cacao powder if this is what you have on hand.
Oat milk. Barista varieties of oat milk will heat up the best (see our recommendations here for the best oat milk to use). Opt for unsweetened oat milk.
Dairy free dark chocolate. You can use vegan chocolate chips or a chocolate bar cut into small pieces. 60-70% dark chocolate works well for this hot cocoa oat milk recipe. Make sure the chocolate is dairy-free/vegan friendly.
Sugar. We used white granulated sugar. You can substitute for brown sugar, coconut sugar, pure maple syrup, stevia or a sweetener of your choice in this hot cocoa recipe.
Optional toppings. Vegan whipped cream, vegan mini marshmallows and shaved chocolate are delicious optional extras for this oat milk hot chocolate!
Equipment
You’ll need either a small saucepan or large microwave-safe mug to make this vegan hot chocolate oat milk recipe.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Make sure to head to the recipe card below for the full recipe and instructions for how to make this hot cocoa with oat milk!
Stovetop method
STEP 1. Add the cocoa powder to a saucepan. Whisk in a dash of oat milk to form a paste.
STEP 2. Slowly whisk in the remaining oat milk until the mixture is smooth.
STEP 3. Set the saucepan over medium low heat and add the chocolate chips and sugar. Warm for 1-2 minutes until the chocolate has melted and the hot chocolate is the desired temperature.
STEP 4. Whisk the hot chocolate and then, when at a drinkable temperature, taste and adjust the sweetness as required. Add any desired toppings to your oat milk hot chocolate.
Microwave method
STEP 1. Add the cocoa powder to a large microwave-friendly mug and whisk in a small amount of the oat milk to form a paste.
STEP 2. Add the remainder of the milk, whisking until the mixture is smooth.
STEP 3. Microwave on full power for 1 minute.
STEP 4. Add the chocolate chips and sugar and microwave for a further 45 seconds, or until the chocolate has fully melted and the hot chocolate is the desired temperature.
STEP 5. Stir the hot chocolate and once at a drinkable temperature, taste and adjust the sweetness as required. Add your favorite toppings!
How to Serve and Store
Serve this vegan hot chocolate freshly made at a hot but drinkable temperature. Top with dairy free whipped cream, vegan marshmallows and grated dark chocolate for an extra indulgent treat!
Fancy a flavoured hot chocolate? Try adding a little peppermint extract, orange extract, vanilla extract, a dash of cinnamon or a shot of espresso.
We don’t recommend storing this hot chocolate, it’s best enjoyed freshly made.
Success Tips
Use barista-style oat milk. It’s creamier and heats more evenly, reducing the risk of splitting or curdling (read more about this here).
Don’t boil the milk. Heat the milk gently to avoid scorching or separating the oat milk, which can impair the flavour.
Fancy a frothy top to your hot chocolate? Make the oat milk as per the recipe but hold back 75ml of the oat milk. Heat and froth this using a milk frother and add it to the top of your mug of hot chocolate on serving. Dust with spare cocoa powder.
Taste and adjust. Before serving, taste the hot chocolate and add more sweetness if required. You can also add a pinch of cinnamon or a dash of vanilla, orange or peppermint extract for extra flavour if you fancy it.
Experiment with toppings. If you’re looking for an indulgent treat, try adding vegan whipped cream, marshmallows and a sprinkle of grated chocolate.
FAQs
Can you heat up oat milk for hot chocolate?
Yes, oat milk heats beautifully, especially barista varieties, which are formulated to withstand heat without curdling or separating.
To find out more about how you can use oat milk in hot drinks, check out our article Why Does Oat Milk Curdle in Coffee? (+How to Prevent It).
Is oat milk or almond milk better for hot chocolate?
Oat milk is creamier and naturally sweeter than almond milk, making it the better choice for a rich, indulgent hot chocolate.
If you’re out of oat milk, you can use almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, or any type of plant-based milk you prefer in this recipe!
How many calories are in oat milk hot chocolate?
This recipe contains approximately 330 calories per serving (approx 300ml mug), or 283 calories if stevia is used instead of sugar.
Can I make healthy hot chocolate with oat milk?
Absolutely, you can adjust this recipe to make it healthier! Swap the sugar for stevia and use a darker, lower-sugar chocolate for a less sweet and lower-calorie treat.
Can I double or triple the recipe?
Yes! Simply multiply the ingredients by 2 or 3 and increase the heating time slightly to make enough hot chocolate for your whole family.
This recipe as written makes one big mug of hot chocolate.
More cosy vegan drinks recipes
I hope you LOVE this recipe for vegan Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk! Please share this recipe with someone you think will love it because it’s our goal to encourage as many people as possible to try plant based eating.
Also, don’t forget to tag @aveganvisit on social media when you make this recipe. I absolutely love seeing your re-creations! Enjoy 🙂 x
If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below – this provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. If you want more delicious vegan recipes be sure to subscribe to the A Vegan Visit newsletter. We’d also love for you to join the AVV community on Youtube, TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.
The Written Recipe:
Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk (5-Minute Vegan Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (7g)
- 250 ml oat milk
- 1.5 tbsp dairy free dark chocolate chips (22g (or a dark chocolate bar, finely chopped))
- 1 tbsp sugar (12g (sub: 1 tbsp maple syrup or 1/4-1/2 tsp stevia))
Optional to top:
- Vegan whipped cream
- Vegan marshmallows
- Vegan dark chocolate shavings
Instructions
Stovetop method:
- Add the cocoa powder to a small saucepan and whisk in a dash of the oat milk to form a paste. Once a paste has been formed, add the remainder of the milk, whisking all the time until the mixture is smooth.1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 250 ml oat milk
- Set the saucepan over medium heat and add the chocolate chips and sugar.1.5 tbsp dairy free dark chocolate chips, 1 tbsp sugar
- Warm until the chocolate has melted and the hot chocolate is the desired temperature. Whisk to combine everything before serving.
- Taste and adjust the sweetness as required. Add any desired toppings such as whipped dairy free cream and grated chocolate, and serve.Vegan whipped cream, Vegan marshmallows, Vegan dark chocolate shavings
Microwave method:
- Add the cocoa powder to a large microwave-friendly mug and whisk in a small amount of the oat mik to make a paste (a matcha whisk works great for this). Add the remainder of the milk, whisking all the time until the mixture is fully combined.1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 250 ml oat milk
- Microwave on full power for 1 minute.
- Add the chocolate chips and sugar and microwave for a further 45 seconds, or until the chocolate has fully melted and the hot chocolate is the desired temperature.1.5 tbsp dairy free dark chocolate chips, 1 tbsp sugar
- Stir the hot chocolate and once at the desired temperature, taste and adjust the sweetness as required. Add any desired toppings such as vegan marshmallows, and serve.Vegan whipped cream, Vegan marshmallows, Vegan dark chocolate shavings
Notes
Nutrition
Tara
Hi, I’m Tara! I’m taking you on a trip around the world in vegan cuisine and bringing the world’s most delicious dishes to your kitchen.
