Delicious Hot Chocolate With Water (No Milk)

Name: Delicious Hot Chocolate With Water (No Milk)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cups water; 1 tablespoon chopped semi-sweet chocolate (I use a vegan 50 % chocolate bar); 1 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate (I use Lindt 70% mild chocolate bar); 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar (sub maple syrup); 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

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This hot chocolate with water is much richer and creamier than powder hot chocolates. Plus it's naturally vegan and dairy-free! The secret is using equal parts of semi-sweet and dark chocolate. I promise you'll never want to drink hot chocolate any other way.

Glass cup filled with hot chocolate on a white marble background.

If you like to sip on a cup of hot chocolate on a cold night, this easy recipe is for you. It's ready in less than 10 minutes and doesn't require milk or a hot chocolate mix. The consistency is similar to that of a French hot chocolate, which is thinner than its Italian counterpart.

Hot chocolate with water is much lighter on the stomach than one made with whole milk or coconut milk. Although you could expect a watery consistency, it's not the case at all. The cocoa butter in the chocolate makes it really rich and silky.

If you're looking for more warming winter drinks, try this non-alcoholic mulled wine or this lavender syrup coffee. Serve it with oat flour chocolate chip cookies or some vegan chocolate truffles.

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Key ingredients and substitutions
Elo's tips
Step-by-step instructions
Watch the video!
Serving suggestions
Frequently asked questions
The recipe

Key ingredients and substitutions

Ingredients for hot chocolate in small bowls with descriptive labels.

Water is the base of this hot cocoa recipe and the easiest milk substitute. You could however replace it with almond milk or soy milk if you prefer.
Dark chocolate or dark chocolate chips taste incredibly delicious in drinks. If you don't like dark chocolate, you can replace it with more semi-sweet chocolate.
Semi-sweet chocolate prevents this hot cocoa recipe from being too bitter. You can chop a few squares of your favorite chocolate bar or use your favorite semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Unsweetened cocoa powder enhances the chocolate flavor and adds depth.
Granulated white sugar lightly sweetens the drink and perfectly balances the bitterness of the dark chocolate. Use maple syrup or brown sugar for a subtle toffee flavor.
Vanilla extract is totally optional but I personally love it.

Elo's tips

Heat the water until it's warm but not boiling to allow the chocolate to melt slowly. I usually add the dry ingredients and reduce the heat when the water starts steaming.
If you find the hot chocolate too watery add another tablespoon of semi-sweet chocolate.
Add some of your favorite spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger or cayenne pepper. Pumpkin spice works great, too. Remember to stir regularly when drinking your hot chocolate as ground spices sink to the bottom of the mug.
Replace the vanilla extract with peppermint extract.
Pour your hot choc in a Mason jar and close it with a lid to take it on the go. I really like these stainless steel lids with a straw hole.
Make your own hot chocolate mix by adding the dark and semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder ad sugar to a small airtight container, small zip bag or mini paper bag. Store it in a dark space at room temperature. When you want hot chocolate, simply toss the mix into a saucepan with water and add a splash of vanilla extract.

Step-by-step instructions

Melted chocolate and water mixture in a saucepan on a black induction cooktop.

STEP 1: Heat the water in a small pan if you're making hot chocolate on the stovetop. When it's warm, keep the pan over medium heat and add in the dark and semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder, sugar and a quarter teaspoon vanilla extract.

Whisked hot chocolate mixture in a small saucepan.

STEP 2: Whisk until the chocolate has melted and everything is well combined. Give it a taste and adjust the sweetness if necessary.

To make hot chocolate in the microwave, heat water in a cup until it's warm. Add in all the ingredients and stir until everything is melted.

Hand pouring hot chocolate into a glass mug from a white ceramic pitcher.

STEP 3: Pour the hot chocolate into your favorite mug.

Glass mug filled with hot chocolate in front on a white tile background.

STEP 4: Drink it as is or garnish it with your favorite toppings (see suggestion below).

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Serving suggestions

Vegan whipped cream and chocolate shavings – I really like this vegan aquafaba whipped cream that's light and airy.
Mini marshmallows – they are everyone's favorite topping! Make sure they don't use animal gelatin if you're vegan.
Coffee – add a teaspoon of instant coffee or a shot of espresso to the mix.
Cinnamon – add a dash of ground cinnamon or infuse the water with a few cinnamon sticks before adding the chocolate and cocoa powder.
Amaretto – add ½ ounce (15 ml) Amaretto liqueur if you like boozy hot chocolate.
Peanut butter or almond butter – whisk in 2 teaspoons of your favorite nut butter for a nutty flavor and an extra creamy texture.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best cocoa powder for hot chocolate?

Unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder is my personal favorite as it has a more intense chocolate flavor. Since this recipe uses sugar and plain chopped chocolate, pure cocoa powder is best.

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The recipe