Vegan Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

This Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate is rich, creamy, chocolatey and so easy to make. Packed with real dark chocolate and pumpkin spices, it’s vegan, dairy-free and made with wholesome ingredients.

The cosy season is officially here, aka hot chocolate season. I am upgrading the regular hot chocolate and combining it with my love for all things pumpkin spice in this delicious chocolatey drink. It’s made with just 8 basic ingredients and is ready in less than 5 minutes: a real cold weather essential drink for all the family.

Why will I love this hot chocolate?

This hot chocolate is:

• Warming, cosy and so comforting
• Chocolatey and rich
• Packed with warming pumpkin spices
• Easy to make in 5 minutes
• Made with real ingredients
• Naturally vegan, refined sugar free and nut-free
• Delicious for all the family

If you already need to make this hot chocolate right now, skip ahead to the recipe card below. Or, first let’s discus the recipe in more detail.

What ingredients do I need?

You only need a few ingredients to make this delicious cosy drink:

• Plant-based milk: any milk is great here although my favourite for hot drinks is oat milk (one that is just oats, water and maybe some salt and sunflower oil like the Jord or Rude Health Brands) but you can use your preferred dairy-free milk.
• Pumpkin puree: you can find this in tins and you want this to be 100% pumpkin.
• Maple syrup: for sweetness. As I use dark chocolate and unsweetened milk, 1 tbsp is the perfect amount to make this sweet and soothing without the sugar overload. You can use other syrups like tapiocs, rice or date or try vegan honey. Alternatively, you can use 1 tbsp of coconut or caster sugar.
• Vanilla essence: or vanilla powder for flavour.
• Pumpkin spices: this recipe uses a homemade blend of cinnamon, mixed spice and ground ginger to keep it simple. You can also add some ground clove and nutmeg, too, if you are feeling fancy.
• Dark chocolate: use the best quality chocolate for the richest hot chocolate. I like an 80% or higher dark chocolate. Make sure you chop the chocolate really small so that it melts evenly.

To serve this hot chocolate, I added on:

• Vegan whipped cream: there are a few whipped creams on the dairy-free market like oat or coconut or a vegan blend. Use your favourite and beat until really fluffy.
• Chopped chocolate: for more chocolate.
• Crushed cookies: for texture and I love using cinnamon-spiced biscuits here.
• Mini marshmallows: make sure these are vegan. After all, what is a hot chocolate without mini marshmallows?

How do I make this using the Chocolatier?

This hot chocolate is so easy to make and comes together in 5 minutes. I always use my Chocolatier from Salter (code nourishingamy20 saves you 20% too!) which makes this a breeze to make:

• Swap the bottom part for the warming mixer (not the whisk-shaped one)
• Add all the ingredients into the chocolatier
• Select the third function which is for warming and mixing (not frothing)
• Allow to warm through
• Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream, marshmallows and more

The Chocolatier is also great for frothing milk, warming milk and it even has a cold froth option which is great for adding a cold froth to hot coffee in the summer. I use it every day for my coffee!

How do I make this without a machine?

If you don’t have a chocolatier machine:

• Add all the ingredients to a small saucepan
• Whisk and warm until your desired temperature and everything is combined
• Pour into a glass and serve however you like

How do I make these pretty glasses?

These glasses make the hot chocolate even better to drink.

• Melt some extra chocolate
• Crush some cookies (these are Biscoff cookies)
• Dip a heat-proof glass into the chocolate and then straight into the cookies
• Allow the chocolate to set for 10 minutes

Try not to put these in the fridge as when you pour in your hot chocolate, it will really cool down the drink too quickly!

How long will this keep?

This is best drunk straight away while it’s warm!

Is this hot chocolate nut-free, gluten-free and dairy-free?

Yes, this drink is nut-free (please check your chocolate and milk), gluten-free and dairy-free.

I love this, what other recipes can I make?

I hope you will love this hot chocolate and for more cosy ideas, how about my:

• Vegan White Hot Chocolate Bombs
• Easy Vegan Hot Chocolate Bombs
• Homemade Vegan Eggnog
• Mini Vegan Panettone
• Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

I look forward to hearing what you think of this Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate so please let me know in the comments below. If you do make this hot choccy, I’d love to see your drinks so please tag me, I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest  – please say hello!

With PS hot choc love x

p.s. the original recipe was made with Salter to show off their amazing Chocolatier but this post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. I truly love the Chocolatier and use it every day.