Name: Vegan Frozen Hot Chocolate
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups unsweetened plant-based milk (vanilla or chocolate); 1/4 cup cocoa powder (reduce to 2 tbsp if using chocolate milk); 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp cinnamon; Pinch of sea salt; 3-4 cups ice cubes; Whipped cream, for topping

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This vegan frozen hot chocolate is a refreshing twist on the classic holiday beverage we all know and love! It’s rich, chocolatey, and best enjoyed during the winter season. The easy recipe is made with 6 healthy ingredients including plant-based milk, cocoa powder, and pure maple syrup. It’s dairy-free, soy-free, and ready in just 5 minutes. You can choose from a variety of mix-ins and toppings to make it exactly the way you like it!

vegan frozen hot chocolate in a glass with whipped cream on top

Need to get your hot chocolate fix but already warm enough sitting beside the fireplace? Celebrating the holidays somewhere sunny and warm? Living Down Under? Fear not! This frozen hot chocolate has come to save you. You can now enjoy a creative, refreshing twist on classic hot chocolate without the heat. It’s everything you love about the traditional beverage (rich, chocolatey, and sweet!) but chilly and frozen. Essentially, it’s like a hot chocolate smoothie or a hot cocoa milkshake.

This recipe is quite similar to my warm and cozy Vegan Hot Chocolate. However, this time we are skipping the warmth and blending each ingredient with ice instead. It all comes together rather quickly, with just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of your time.

This frozen hot chocolate is:

Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free
Refined sugar-free // Naturally sweetened with maple syrup
A guilt-free treat to satisfy your hot chocolate cravings
Quick and easy // Made in 5 minutes
Easily customizable, with several options for mix-ins and toppings
Kid-approved // An easy dessert to make with the family
A unique twist on a typical holiday drink

vegan hot chocolate in two glasses with whipped cream on top, surrounded by pieces of dark chocolate, cinnamon sticks, and a bowl of cocoa powder

What is frozen hot chocolate made of?

Plant-based milk: You can use any variety of plant-based milk for this recipe, so choose your favorite! Include oat milk, coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, or any type you enjoy.
Cocoa powder: I suggest using a high-quality cocoa powder for the best flavor. If you end up using chocolate plant-based milk, only include 2 tablespoon cocoa powder when adding the ingredients to your blender.
Maple syrup: This frozen hot chocolate is refined sugar-free. Instead, it’s sweetened with real maple syrup. Alternatively, you can use coconut sugar, medjool dates, coconut nectar, or agave.
Vanilla extract: A dash of vanilla extract balances the rich chocolate.
Cinnamon: A quarter teaspoon of ground cinnamon add a delicious warm flavor. Feel free to include more if you’re a cinnamon lover.
Sea salt: Only a pinch of salt is needed.
Ice: It wouldn’t be “frozen” without the ice! Add 3-4 cups to achieve a thick, icy, and refreshing beverage.

a marble and wood cutting board topped with bowls of cocoa powder, vanilla extract, maple syrup, almond milk, ice cubes, and cinnamon

How to make healthy frozen hot cocoa

For the full ingredients list and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card below.

Frozen hot cocoa is ridiculously easy to make. It requires three simple steps:

Combine the ingredients in a high-speed blender.
Blend the ingredients until smooth.
Transfer the beverage to glasses. Add your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

a glass filled with vegan frozen hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick

Recipe variations

Much like regular hot chocolate, there are various ways to switch up the flavor of this frozen holiday dessert. Add the following mix-ins to create a unique twist on the recipe:

Peppermint: ½ to 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Mexican: a generous pinch of cayenne pepper
Mocha: replace half of the plant-based milk with coffee or add instant espresso
Peanut Butter: add 2-4 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
Caramel: add 2-4 tablespoon caramel sauce
Pumpkin Spice: add 1-2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Ideas for toppings

You can keep it simple with dairy-free whipped cream or go all out with syrup, candy, and cookie crumbles. Check out the best toppings for frozen hot chocolate below:

Whipped cream
Crushed Oreos
Crushed candy canes
Caramel sauce
Chocolate shavings, chocolate chips, or cacao nibs
Holiday sprinkles
Chocolate syrup
Vegan candy coated chocolate or M&M-style candies
A dash of ground cinnamon
Crushed nuts (pecans or walnuts)
Peanut butter, almond butter, or hazelnut butter

an overhead photo of vegan frozen hot chocolate in a glass with whipped cream, surrounded by pieces of dark chocolate, cinnamon sticks, and a bowl of cocoa powder

More vegan hot chocolate recipes

More vegan holiday recipes

If you try this Vegan Frozen Hot Chocolate, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Instagram and YouTube!