Instant Hot Chocolate with Water Dairy-Free

In the days before dairy-free hot chocolate mixes were a thing, we had to make them ourselves.

And we even made it so just hot water could be added, easy for when we were out and about.

See our simple hot cocoa mix recipe below, it definitely works in a pinch. 

I know, hot chocolate with just water sounds a little iffy.

But when you are plum out of dairy-free milk and all the kids in the neighborhood want hot cocoa on a snow day...you find a way to make it happen.

Surprisingly, the kids all loved my emergency hot cocoa made with water. None of them batted an eye.

And I decided this was a recipe worth sharing, for anyone else finding themselves in a hot cocoa pinch. 

INDIVIDUAL COCOA PACKETS

If you manage a milk allergy, this recipe is also great for creating your own hot cocoa mix for on the go.

Choose marshmallows for your creamy ingredient and toss the ingredients into a to-go cup with a lid.

Then simply add hot water when you arrive at your destination! 

This is perfect for milk allergy families who can't buy hot chocolate at festive events or parties.

We've done this several times ourselves for pumpkin patches or Christmas parties.  

Now here's the recipe!

INSTANT HOT CHOCOLATE MIX

Makes One Serving

See video in this post for more info.

INGREDIENTS 

2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 tablespoons dairy-free chocolate chips
dash of salt
2 tablespoons of something creamy (see list below)
splash of vanilla extract (optional)

CREAMY INGREDIENT IDEAS

Add 2 tablespoons of any of these creamy ingredients to your hot cocoa. If you have milk allergy, make sure you use a dairy-free version. If you're making a cocoa pack for on-the-go, marshmallows are an easy option. 

• whipped cream
• coffee creamer
• ice cream
• marshmallows
• dairy-free milk

DIRECTIONS

Heat 6 ounces of water in your tea kettle (affiliate).

Put 2 Tbs. cocoa, 2 Tbs. powdered sugar, 1 Tbs. chocolate chips, and dash of salt in the bottom of your mug.

Mix dry ingredients together.

Pour hot water over mixture in the mug and stir vigorously until chocolate chips are melted. 

Add 2 Tbs. of one creamy dairy-free ingredient: marshmallows, milk, whipped cream, canned coconut milk, coffee creamer, ice cream, etc.

Add a splash of vanilla extract (optional).

Top with extra marshmallows or dairy-free whip (optional).

Sip and enjoy!

Hope you like this dairy-free instant hot cocoa with water as much as we do.

You can save this easy hot cocoa on Pinterest!

You may also like our favorite dairy-free hot cocoa packets we've found since creating this post!

This post was originally posted in December 2015.