The Best Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Mixes and Recipes (2024)

Did you know there are now almost 50 brands of dairy-free hot chocolate mixes available? Most of them are also vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free, and some are even paleo friendly! In this post, we cover the best dairy-free hot chocolate mixes, summaries of the rest, and our favorite recipes for making your own mug of hot cocoa.

The Best Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate + More Brands & Recipes

This vegan hot cocoa round-up started with a simple request from a reader over a decade ago. Kris wanted to know if there were any options for dairy-free hot chocolate. There sure are! Back then, I was able to share the recipes from my books, Go Dairy Free and Eat Dairy Free, and suggestions for about a dozen mix brands. Now, there are nearly 50 brands and many more flavors to choose from! This guide is fully updated, and you can jump ahead with these links:

Top 10 Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Mixes
More Vegan Hot Cocoa Mixes
Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipes

Vegan Options:All of the dairy-free hot chocolate mixes and recipes listed in this post are vegan-friendly, unless otherwise noted. But if concerned about the sugar source for store-bought varieties, you will need to contact the manufacturer.
Allergen Notes: All items listed below were dairy-free by ingredients at the time of our review. Almost all are gluten-free, too. We’ve noted any top allergens contained in these dairy-free hot chocolate mixes. But ingredients are subject to change at any time, and all products are at some degree of risk for allergen cross contamination, whether they have a “may contain” statement or not. Always read the label before consuming any food, and make sure you are familiar with this may contain information. Only you can decide what foods are safe for your needs.
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links to retailers that we buy from, too. We might receive a commission if you make purchases through these links. These commissions donotdirect our content, but do help to support the maintenance of our site. We appreciate your support!

The Best Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Mixes (Our Top Picks!)

There are many vegan and dairy-free hot chocolate and hot cocoa brands on the market, so we thought we would start with our favorites. Our priorities were taste, availability, and options when picking this top ten list. But there are many good brands out there. After you scan these beloved picks, keep scrolling for the other forty dairy-free and vegan hot chocolate brands on the market!

Swiss Miss Non Dairy Hot Cocoa Mix

Their other hot chocolate mixes are still made with dairy, but this popular brand is also launching a non-dairy version (yes, it’s dairy-free). It’s made with coconut milk powder.

Sweetened with: Sugar, we assume
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Non-Dairy (their other hot chocolate mixes all contain milk)
Availability: Albertsons family of stores, Meijer, Giant, Stop & Shop, Target (online only), Amazon

Good & Gather Hot Cocoa Mixes

Target has transitioned their Archer Farms brand to Good & Gather. It was a benefit for their Hot Cocoa Mix, as the entire line is now dairy-free and kosher pareve, including the Salted Caramel. But use caution – they have had a couple flavors with dairy in the past, and you never know when one might pop up.

Sweetened with: Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Double Chocolate, Cinnamon, Peppermint, Pumpkin Spice, Sea Salt Caramel

Equal Exchange Organic Hot Chocolate

At last check, they had three organic hot chocolate mixes, but only the Spicy (with chili and cinnamon) and Dark are dairy free and vegan.

Sweetened with: Organic Evaporated Sugar Cane Juice or Organic Cane Sugar
Contains: No top 8 allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Dark, Spicy (the Original variety is made with dairy milk)
Availability: Target, Whole Foods, local co-ops, iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon

Castle Kitchen Premium Hot Chocolate

This “just add water” mix boasts a dairy-free and vegan label, and it comes in three dark chocolate flavors.

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Double Dutch, Classic Caramel, Marvelous Mint
Availability: Amazon

Silly Cow Farms Hot Chocoate

Don’t let the dairy image fool you. These adorable little jars of dairy-free hot cocoa may well be within limits for you. They all appear to be made without top allergens, but double check!

Sweetened with: Natural Cane Sugar
Contains: We did not see any top allergens listed
Varieties: Marshmallow Swirl, Chocolate Chocolate, Chocolate Truffle, Chocolate Moo-usse, Peppermint Twist, Pumpkin Spice, Coconut Cream, Double Udder, Maple, Sea Salt & Caramel, Java Chocolate Chip, Ginger Snap, Udderley Milk
Availability:Albertsons family of stores, HEB, Giant, other major grocers, Amazon

Lake Champlain Hot Cocoa Mixes

Though they are a traditional chocolatier, Lake Champlain never forgets their vegan contingency. In fact, it looks like all of their hot cocoa mixes are non-dairy. Although they seem gourmet, they are sold in large 1-pound canisters, and are readily available.

Sweetened with: Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Traditional, Spicy Aztec, Mocha, Peppermint, Marshmallow
Availability: Whole Foods, local natural food stores, Lake Champlain, Amazon

Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa Mixes(select varieties)

This brand keeps waffling back and forth. They started with an amazing line of canister hot chocolates that were all dairy-free. Those were available for years, until one day they decided to add milk to most of their formulas. But then, as we clamored for dairy-free options to return, they reemerged with some sweet chocolate goodies that are made without milk. Then, they added a couple varieties with milk back into the mix. Both their seasonal Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix and regular Premium Hot Cocoa Mix contain milk, but the ones below do not.

Sweetened with: Sugar
Contains: Soy
Varieties: Chocolate Caramel, Double Chocolate, Mocha, Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa
Availability:Albertsons family of stores, Ghirardelli, Amazon

Coconut Cloud Vegan Hot Cocoa

If you want a creamy “just add hot water” option, then reach for this mix. It’s enriched with powdered coconut cream and MCT oil. We like that it also comes in single serve packets, which are great for on-the-go, gift baskets, and stockings. And, they are always whipping up new flavors!

Sweetened with: Organic Cane Sugar and Tapioca Syrup
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Original, Toasted Marshmallow, Salted Caramel, Peppermint, Birthday Cake
Availability: Whole Foods, Publix, Amazon

Nibmor Organic Hot Cocoa

Nibmor is known for their smooth vegan chocolate, and we expect no less from their dairy-free drinking chocolate. They most recently added an extra creamy variety made with coconut milk powder.

Sweetened with: Organic Cane Sugar and Organic Coconut Palm Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Traditional, Mint, Extra Creamy
Availability: Kroger family of stores, natural food stores, Vitacost, Amazon

Starbucks Hot Cocoa Mix

In their packaged line, Starbucks seems to offer a couple of hot cocoa flavors that are made without milk ingredients, including the Classic that’s sold at Costco. But at least one flavor (Caramel) is made with dairy, and so is the Keurig variety, so read carefully.

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar
Contains: Select varieties contain soy
Varieties: Classic, Double Chocolate, Marshmallow (not vegan), Peppermint (Caramel contains milk)
Availability: Costco,Albertsons family of stores, Starbucks, Stop & Shop, HEB, Giant, Amazon

More Dairy-Free & Vegan Hot Chocolate Mixes

There are even more to choose from, with keto, paleo, and classic vegan options. I know you will love many of these, too! We obviously haven’t had the chance to try them all. They are listed alphabetically.

Abuelita Chocolate by Nestle (NOT Cocoa Mixes)

Their hot cocoa mixes contain dairy, but their drinking chocolate tablets and bars are pure non-dairy chocolate.

Sweetened with: Sugar
Contains: Soy
Varieties: Tablillas de Chocolate Caliente, Marqueta Bar

Apotheker’s Organic Hot Cocoa Mixes

These mixes are created with simple ingredients by an all-natural chocolatier.

Sweetened with: Maple Sugar
Contains: Most contain no top allergens; Peanut Butter contains peanut and coconut
Varieties: Classic, Herbal, Peanut Butter, Mint, Smoke & Spice

Bare Life

This kosher pareve mix is made purely with organic coconut milk powder, coconut sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla beans, and Himalayan salt.

Sweetened with: Coconut Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Classic / Coconut

Bixby Drinking Chocolate

They make a handful of “European Style” drinking chocolates, but only a few are vegan.

Sweetened with: Sugar or Organic Dried Cane Syrup
Contains: Soy
Varieties: Rich Dark, Mayan Style, Peppermint (creamy dark & milk and smooth white contain milk)

BomBombs Vegan Hot Chocolate Bombs

These dark chocolate bombs make a wonderful gift! But use caution. They do make varieties with milk.

Sweetened with: Sugar
Contains: Soy
Varieties: Vegan

Cacoco Drinking Chocolate

Touted as “superfood” drinking chocolate, you can bet that this vegan chocolatier makes a rich and relatively nutritious mug of hot cocoa. We have taste-tested this dairy-free hot chocolate, and even reviewed it.

Sweetened with: Coconut Sugar; select flavors also use Stevia
Contains: Coconut
Varieties:Pure Dark, Extra Dark, Rich Dark, Golden Dark, Dark Mocha, Spicy Dark, Mint Dark

Cocoa Cravings Drinking Chocolate

These certified organic, gourmet hot cocoa drinks and drinking chocolates, come in unique flavors and are enriched with Ayurvedic herbal extracts.

Cocoa Metro Belgian Drinking Chocolate

They offer both an instant drinking chocolate, which can be enjoyed hot or cold, and a hot chocolate specific mix.

Sweetened with: Organic Cane Sugar
Contains: Soy
Varieties: Original

Cocoa Felice Hot Cocoa Mix

Boasted as more traditional, this vegan mix uses real European Dutch process cocoa.

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed
Varieties: Rich Dark, Mayan Style, Peppermint (creamy dark & milk and smooth white contain milk)

Cocoringa Moringa Cacao Hot Chocolate

If you like to pack in veggies with every sip, then this dairy-free hot chocolate should be tops on your list! It also contains pre and probiotics, and has no added sugar. Consequently, it has less than 2 grams of total sugars!

Sweetened with: Oligosaccharide (from chicory root)
Contains: Coconut
Varieties:Classic

Double Donut Vegan Hot Chocolate

This coffee shop mixes up several hot chocolate flavors, but only the “Vegan” one is dairy free.

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties:Dairy Free

Elements Truffles

Yes, this brand is listed in our Healthy Dairy-Free Chocolates Round-up too. They do indeed make dairy-free truffles! But they also have a Healthy Hot Cocoa Mixes.

Sweetened with: Coconut Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Turmeric, Ashwagandha

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Hot Cacao Mix

This functional food company makes organic hot cacao with just six ingredients, including mushrooms! It’s touted as not only vegan, but also paleo hot cacao.

Sweetened with: Organic Coconut Palm Sugar and Stevia
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Original with Reishi, with Cordyceps

Franzese Hot Chocolate

Boasting true Italian tradition, this drinking chocolate just happens to be dairy free.

Sweetened with: Sugar; the Salted Caramel also contains Fructose
Contains: The Salted Caramel contains soy
Varieties: Traditional, Salted Caramel

Gnosis Raw Chocolate Elixirs

These pure chocolate powders are filled with superfoods and can be enjoyed hot or cold. Gnosis is a vegan and dairy-free chocolate company.

Sweetened with: Coconut Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Pumpkin Spice (seasonal), Immunity, Superchoc, Simplicity, Mayan Heat, Passion, Goddess

Guittard Drinking Chocolate

This popular chocolatier makes a ground drinking chocolate that is easier to find than many others.

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed
Varieties: Grand Cacao

InJoy Organics

This sugar-free, keto-friendly, and dairy-free hot chocolate is made with real dark chocolate and just five ingredients.

Sweetened with: Erythritol and Stevia
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Classic, Mint, Orange

Jummy Cocoamy Organic Hot Chocolate Mix

This “healthy” hot cocoa brand is dairy-free and a good source of prebiotics, fiber, and iron! It also comes in a few popular flavors.

Sweetened with: Organic Cane Sugar, Blue Agave, Tapioca Syrup
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Original, Hazelnut, Caramel, Mocha

Laird Superfood Hot Chocolate

This rich hot cocoa is a superfood blend made with cinnamon powder, the company’s creamy coconut milk powder, and functional mushrooms. And they’ve launched an oatmilk hot chocolate.

Sweetened with: Coconut Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Original

Lakanto Sugar-Free Drinking Chocolate

This is one of the few dairy-free hot chocolate options that is low-glycemic, keto-friendly, and sugar-free. It’s also stocked with calcium, magnesium, and probiotics.

Sweetened with: Erythritol and Monk Fruit Extract
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Original

Maud’s Loco Hot Cocoa

K-cup users will love this kosher parve selection of hot cocoas.

Sweetened with: Sugar, Sucralose
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Original, Chocolate Coconut, Hazelnut Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Churro, Peppermint Bark

MilkBoy Swiss Chocolate Drink

Don’t let the dairy-laden name fool you. This classic brand is dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free. They even recommend mixing it with almond or coconut milk.

Sweetened with: Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties:Original

Mrs. Bryant’s Hot Cocoa

This remarkably simple dairy-free hot cocoa contains just three, everyday, vegan ingredients.

Sweetened with: Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Dutch Colony

My Organic Cocoa (MOCO) Hot Chocolate Mix

Touted as “gourmet” hot chocolate, this brand has a rustic, homemade feel. It’s made with simple classic ingredients, but is boosted with maca.

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Classic, Mexican, Peppermint

Nomad Drinking Chocolate

This naturally vegan brand wanders between classic and exotic flavors, like Ruby Bliss which is pink from beets!

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar or Organic Raw Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: 45% Dark, 55% Dark, Ancient Maya, Ruby Bliss

Nomu Vegan Hot Chocolate

This South African brand makes a few hot chocolate mixes, including this vegan variety. It’s available in the U.S., too!

Sweetened with: Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Vegan

OM Mushroom Powered Hot Chocolate

You will discover a range of benefits in this functional dairy-free hot chocolate. It’s only lightly sweetened, but filled with medicinal herbs and mushrooms to help you unwind.

Sweetened with: Organic Maple Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Original

RDCL Super Cocoa

The ingredient list on this hot chocolate mix might not be short, but it sure looks healthy. It’s somehow packed with vegetables, fruits, grains, and superfoods.

Sweetened with: Stevia
Contains: No top allergens listed in ingredients
Varieties: Original

St. Claire’s Organic Hot Cocoa Mix

This allergy-friendly hot cocoa brand has been around for many years. It comes in several lightly-sweetened, nourishing flavors that are soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free.

Sweetened with: Organic Molasses Granules
Contains: No top allergen ingredients listed
Varieties:Traditional, Vanilla, Raspberry, Cherry, Caliente, Ginger, Mandarin, Peppermint

Sweet Cheat Hot Chocolate

This sugar-free, keto-friendly, dairy-free hot chocolate mix has just 1 gram of net carbs.

Sweetened with: Inulin Fibre and Monk Fruit
Contains: No top allergen ingredients listed
Varieties: Traditional

Sweet Freedom Liquid Chocolate

Their Choc Shot is a squeezable fruit-sweetened liquid that you add to your milk beverage for lump-free, dairy-free hot chocolate! It’s available in Original, Orange Spice, and Coconut. This is a UK brand, but it can be bought on Amazon in the U.S.

Sweetened with: Fruit Extracts
Contains: No top allergen ingredients listed
Varieties: Original, Orange Spice, Coconut

The Chocolate Conspiracy Chocolate Drink Mix

This organic, fair trade mix can be enjoyed hot or cold. It’s made purely with unroasted single-origin Peruvian cacao beans, mesquite powder, and coconut sugar.

Sweetened with: Organic Coconut Palm Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Original

Theo Drinking Chocolate

If you’re looking for a pure chocolate experience, this is the one. It’s organic, 55% cacao, and made with just four simple but rich ingredients.

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar
Contains: No top allergen ingredients listed
Varieties: Original

Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Hot Chocolate Sticks

These single-serves are sold in a pack of eight. They are made without dairy, but do have clear notes for potential milk cross-contamination in manufacturing.

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar
Contains: Soy
Varieties: Original

Treehouse Originals Coconut Drinking Chocolate

All of their other varieties contain milk, but the Coconut variety is listed as dairy-free. It’s made with coconut milk powder instead of milk.

Sweetened with: Coconut Nectar and Cane Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Coconut

Whittard Vegan Hot Chocolate

Several varieties from this UK company appear are dairy-free by ingredients, and identified as vegan by the company.

Sweetened with: Sugar
Contains: No top allergens listed in the ingredients of select varieties
Varieties: Luxury, Peanut Butter, Salted Caramel, Mocha, 70% Cocoa, Marzipan, Ginger, Orange, Cinnamon, Chilli, Rocky Road (some other varieties, like the White flavors, do contain milk)

Wildly Organic Hot Chocolate Mix

You might enjoy the creamier sip of this dairy-free hot cocoa mix, since it’s enriched with coconut milk powder.

Sweetened with: Organic Coconut Sugar
Contains: Coconut
Varieties: Original

You Wont Believe its Parve K-Cups

You won’t believe it comes in K-cups! These single-serve beverages are dairy-free and compatible with your coffee maker.

Sweetened with: Cane Sugar and Sucralose
Contains: No top allergens listed in the ingredients of select varieties
Varieties: Original

Homemade Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate & Hot Cocoa Recipes

Aside from the easy recipes in Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbookand Eat Dairy Free: The Everyday Cookbook, here are some more rich, chocolaty dairy-free sipping formulas:

Basic Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa – This simple option can be made with hot water, but it also has Creamy, Gingerbread, Mayan, and Nutty Variations
Healthier Hot Chocolate – For a milky finish, this recipe uses brown rice milk powder and includes three flavor variations (pictured below).
Mama’s Single-Serve Hot Chocolate – Sarah shared her favorite hot coco recipe for one, topped with marshmallow creme for a twist.
Nourishing Spiced Hot Chocolate – I bet you never thought you’d see a hot chocolate recipe with prunes!
Hot Chocolate Cubes – These are fun to make, gift, and enjoy. They make a rich drinking chocolate.
Crockpot Hot Chocolate – For parties, Sarah makes this easy hot chocolate. It cooks low and slow for steaming hot chocolate on demand.
Hot Cocoa Mix – I like to keep this quick dairy-free mix on hand to whip up a batch of hot cocoa any time. It includes Spice, Mocha, and Mint variations.
Hot Spiced Carob Milk – Craving something a little different? This carob version of hot chocolate is a favorite in my home and many others!

Fast & Easy DIY Options

In a pinch, keep this basic ratio in mind: roughly 1 tablespoon cocoa powder per 1 cup of liquid, and sweetener to taste. For a light hot cocoa, some prefer to use just water. For something a little richer, use anything from rice milk on up to cashew milk or coconut milk (the fatty kind!). Or consider melting in some dairy-free chocolate chips for a little cocoa buttery luxury.

If you’re feeling lazy, follow my husband Tony’s lead and just heat up your favorite dairy-free chocolate milk beverage.

Classic Hot Cocoa Toppings

Most marshmallows are dairy-free, but there are also tasty vegan (gelatin-free) brands like Dandies. If you’d rather have a coffeehouse-style hot cocoa, use my Dairy-Free Whipped Cream Recipe or buy one of these Vegan Whipped Cream Brands.