My usual go-to drink for the holidays is my vegan eggnog. But now it’s sharing the spotlight with this vegan hot chocolate, or as I’ve always called it, vegan hot cocoa. The idea to make this any holiday drink in the slow cooker first came after I made my slow cooker apple cider years ago. The aromatic smell that filled our then apartment was beautifully warming and intoxicating. Slow cooker hot chocolate is the winter version! Enjoy friends! If you make this Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
Brown sugar or white sugar – Either one works, but I prefer brown sugar for the warmth it adds. You can easily up the sugar if you want more. I like my hot cocoa more dark chocolate-y so if you want yours sweeter, add more sugar a tablespoon at a time. Unsweetened cocoa powder – Use the best kind that you can get or your favourite since this makes the entire recipe! Sea salt – Don’t leave this out! It balances out the cocoa perfectly. Remember I use sea salt, so if you’re using table salt, use less. Vegan milk – I prefer soy milk here for its high protein content, which helps to make this thick and smooth and creamy, but you can also use cashew milk or another semi-thick vegan milk. Coconut milk – You can also use a separate very thick vegan milk here, but you need something to help with the thickness. You don’t taste any coconut flavour after it’s been cooked. Vanilla extract or paste – This is optional, but recommended! You could even add more here, or another extract such as peppermint!
Combine the ingredients. Add the sugar, sifted cocoa powder and salt to the slow cooker, then add the milks and vanilla. Mix. Whisk vigorously for at least 3 minutes until fully incorporated and the cocoa is no longer floating on top but is fully mixed in. Cook. Add the lid and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring halfway through if you’d like. Enjoy! It’s okay if some chocolate is at the edges when you open the slow cooker; just stir it all back in for another minute or so!
