It’s that time of year. The time of year where we crave warm drinks, thick sweaters and big woolly socks. Well, I’ve got you covered with one of those things. This Red Velvet Dairy Free Hot Chocolate is bound to bring down the chills and bring up the holiday cheer.
What puts the ‘red’ in this red velvet dairy free hot chocolate?
This Christmas Hot Chocolate is smooth, rich and perfectly sweet. You will even get a serving of veggies in it. Surprise! The red in the red velvet is a beet! Beets make for a beautiful natural food colouring. The best part, you can’t even taste the beet. So you are left with a creamy hot chocolate that is loaded with antioxidants. It’s a healthy dessert in a cup!
Top your dairy free hot chocolate with Dandies vegan marshmallows, coconut whip, or a sprinkle of cinnamon. And if you use cacao powder and not cocoa, your hot chocolate will truly be a superfood drink. Cacao is loaded with magnesium and is a natural mood elevator. Which is a big score, cause that just means you can drink this cozy drink every day this holiday season, right? Well, maybe drink it in moderation but cacao is truly a magical powder that is bound to keep you smiling in the craziness of this season.
naturally sweetened hot chocolate
This dairy free hot chocolate recipe produces 2 servings but can easily be doubled. It’s loaded with chocolatey goodness and you would never guess that it is naturally sweetened. That’s right, there are no weird sugars or strange syrups in this cozy vegan drink. The sweetener in this recipe is none other then gooey, chewy Medjool dates. You can enjoy this drink knowing it is made with clean ingredients.
Needing more cozy vegan drinks? Dive into this Vegan Chai Latte, this Peppermint Hot Cocoa or this Gingerbread Latte.
here are a few reasons why I love this Christmas hot chocolate, so listen up!
- This hot drink is creamy, thick and full of comfort. The colouring of the drink is so fun, and it’s such a bonus that you get a little bit of veg in such a decadent drink. I’ve recently found my new love is to broil vegan marshmallows to put on top of my vegan hot cocoa. Broiling the marshmallows in the oven makes them chewy and melty. They brown up beautifully. Let them cool and then put them in your hot drinks. But keep an eye on them, because there is nothing as disappointing as burnt marshmallows. They also suck to clean up.
- Guys, it’s naturally sweetened with dates. There is no processed sugar in this Christmas drink. It’s 100% free of that nasty stuff. I’m obsessed with dates and think that they are so magical. So it doesn’t surprise me that they sweeten this drink to perfection and make it all that I need it to be. If you want it sweeter, add another date. If you want it less sweet, start with 5 dates instead of 6. You can gauge it, and make it your own.
- This vegan drink is great even if you are making it for one. Place the excess in a container and store in the fridge for the next day. I would suggest giving it a little blend first in case the mixture has settled and then reheat it. So nice to have a yummy hot drink ready to go in moments.
It’s time to get into the holiday spirit, and what better way than with a warm mug-full of hot chocolate overflowing with toasty marshmallows and a pinch of cinnamon. Let this holiday drink put you in an extra jolly mood this season! Cheers, friends!
dairy free hot chocolate
Ingredients
- 1/2 small beet (cooked, skins removed and grated)
- 6 medjool dates (pits removed)
- 5 tbsp cacao powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 400 mL full fat coconut milk (1 can-just shy of 2 cups)
- 1/2-1 cup plantbased milk
optional
- vegan whipped cream
- vegan marshmallows
Instructions
- Cook the beet, either steam or boil (it will take about 30 minutes). Remove the skins and cut in half. Use half of the beet, or the full beet if doubling the recipe.
- If you have a high-speed blender you don’t need to grate the beet- just add it along with all the other ingredients to the blender. If not, make sure to grate the beet first before adding it to the blender.
- Next, strain the mixture, using a fine-mesh strainer. Add to a medium saucepan and heat on low. Once warm, an option to place back in the blender to froth the hot chocolate. Divide between two cups
- Top with coconut whip, cinnamon or vegan marshmallows. If wanting toasted marshmallows, add a handful of marshmallows on a lined baking sheet. Set the oven to the broil setting and place the marshmallows in the oven. Watch closely. It should only take a few moments for the marshmallows to start looking puffy and browned. At this point, remove them from the oven, let them cool and then top your hot chocolate with them.
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Ohhhh….. this is going to be a sure fire hit! I love all the goodness in this yummy hot drink!!