Put on your favorite sweater, throw a plush blanket over your shoulders, and embrace the chilly transition from fall to the fast-approaching winter season. The days may be getting shorter and some of us are already counting down the days until spring, but hey its vegan hot chocolate season. Heres how to make the best.

Chocolate comes from the cacao tree trees. Native to South and Central America, according to FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Organization) data, the top cocoa-producing countries include the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Ivory Coast. First, the bitter cacao bean is fermented, dried, cleaned, and roasted. The shell of the bean is made into cacao nibs, which are ground into cocoa mass or pure chocolate.

Cocoa powder on its own is vegan but it may not be kind to humans. The Food Empowerment Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of ones food choices, notes that Western African countries supply 70 percent of the worlds cocoa. In recent years, organizations and journalists have exposed the prevalence of child labor in farms from this region. Several of the farms supply cocoa to international companies including Hersheys, Mars, and Nestl.

With aisles full of dairy-free milk made from everything from almond to macadamia nuts and rice, how do you choose which vegan milk youre going to use? It comes down to personal preference. If you prefer a thinner hot chocolate, go for almond or coconut milk. But if you like your hot cocoa thick and rich, use soy or oat milk.

Marshmallows are the peanut butter to hot cocoas jelly. While theres nothing missing from a mug filled with chocolate, a layer of the squishy, fluffy confection somehow makes it better.

Most marshmallows are made with gelatin, an ingredient made from the collagen of animal bones or ligaments. There isnt a version of gelatin available on a commercial level yet. San Leandro, California-based biotech company Geltor recently entered a partnership with collagen-maker GELTIA to commercialize animal-free collagen for supplements. But, marshmallows made with vegan gelatin may be available in the near future: This is a first step, but well continue to look ahead to the broader food and beverage industry to strike partnerships there, co-founder Alex Lorestani told Food Navigator.

Although most marshmallows contain gelatin, there are a few vegan options on the market. Look for Dandies, Trader Joes (minis and regular), and Suzannes Specialty Ricemellow Creme in the U.S. In the U.K., try Anadas, Mallow Puffs, and Freedom Confectionery.

These vegan hot chocolate mixes make it easy to get your hot cocoa fix.

British chocolatier Hotel Chocolats classic drinking chocolate is vegan when made with water or plant-based milk. The mix features the deep, smooth flavors of 70 percent dark chocolate. Hotel Chocolat ethically sources its cocoa from farms in Ghana, St. Lucia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras.

Check it out here.

Tazas Chocolate Mexicano features six vegan flavors Cinnamon, Vanilla, Guajillo Chili, Salted Almond, Cacao Puro, and Coffee made with direct trade cacao. Each disc can be melted into vegan milk to make hot chocolate.

Check it out here.

New Paltz, New York-based feminist chocolatier Lagustas Lucious makes vegan sipping chocolate. Lightly sweetened and made with 66 percent cocoa, it makes for a decadent experience.

According to the website, vegan chocolatier Lagustas Luscious stands for social justice, environmentalism, and veganism with a love of bold flavor and obsessive commitment to artisan techniques.From its ethically-sourced chocolate to the 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials it comes packaged in, this vegan sipping chocolate is sweet in more ways than one.

Check it out here.

Equal Exchanges Organic Dark Hot Chocolate is described as rich and extra-decadent. All you need is a tablespoon of the mix and vegan milk. Equal Exchange is a worker-owned cooperative that sources its Fair Trade cacao from small-scale farms in Latin America.

Check it out here.

Vermont-based gourmet chocolatier Lake Champlain Chocolates has more than 35 years of experience and a passion for craftsmanship. The traditional Hot Chocolate is made with fair trade dutch cocoa and organic sugar. The mix itself is vegan just add your dairy-free milk of choice.

Check it out here.

Making vegan hot cocoa is easy. If youre using a premade mix, just follow the instructions on the package.

You know which brands are vegan, but what about making your own? Try your hand at any of these decadently dairy-free hot chocolate recipes.

This decadent hot chocolate is extra-rich, thanks to a combination of semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder. Even better, it takes only six ingredients and five minutes to come together! Top it off with a generous pile of dairy-free whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if youre feeling fancy.

Get the recipe here.

The cool tingle of peppermint meets the rich taste of cocoa in this dairy-free peppermint hot chocolate. Made from plant-based milk, canned coconut milk, cocoa powder, and peppermint extract, its the perfect drink for the festive season.

Get the recipe here.

Creamy, foamy, rich, and delicious, this authentic vegan Mexican hot chocolate has a hint of cinnamon and just the right amount of sweetness. Using soy milk for this recipe is the key to getting the perfect froth.

Get the recipe here.

Yes you can make vegan white hot chocolate! This creamy, dreamy drink is made with full-fat coconut milk, real cocoa butter, coconut butter, a pinch of cinnamon, and maca, which adds notes of caramel.

Get the recipe here.

Summary

Article Name

How to Make the Best Vegan Hot Chocolate

Description

Do you know how to make the best vegan hot chocolate? These cocoa, dairy-free milk, and marshmallow ingredients will help you make the perfect cup.

Author

Kat Smith

Publisher Name

LIVEKINDLY

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How to Make the Best Vegan Hot Chocolate - LIVEKINDLY