Vegan Hot Chocolate in a jar

This easy Vegan Hot Chocolate in a jar complete with vegan marshmallows makes a great homemade cozy gift idea. This mason jar hot cocoa Christmas gift makes a creamy, rich, and delicious dairy-free cocoa. Rich cocoa powder, just the right amount of sweetness, a hint of vanilla, and a whole lot of cozy that’s what this hot chocolate is all about. Just what you want to warm you up on those cold winter evenings. And the best part? This hot cocoa in a jar recipe is so simple. With only a few pantry stables you will be ready to make a tasty homemade hot cocoa in a jar ready for gifting. Friends and family will love this extra chocolatey easy-to-make hot chocolate in a jar.

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Hot chocolate in a jar gift tip:

These easy hot cocoa in a mason jar gifts make great party gifts, housewarming gifts as well as “hygge basket” gifts for any occasion. People love getting a pamper basket of homemade cookies and hot chocolate all year round.

The story behind this Vegan hot chocolate powder kit recipe

First, it started with a question. A friend asked me what I would gift to another friend if it was a gift from the heart. Not something I could get from a wishlist or a mall. It had to be something special, preferably homemade and that holds a special meaning. Well, that got me thinking about what I really love about winter and Christmas. For me, the cozy season means a warm mug of creamy hot chocolate. Something decadent without being heavy, sweet without being overly sweet, and completely luxe, rich and velvety. 

I immediately knew I wanted to make a dairy-free hot chocolate in a jar and gift it to my friend. It took a few tries before I got the recipe just how I wanted it. And I’m happy to say everyone now has this hot cocoa kit on their Christmas wishlist.

Vegan hot chocolate – just add water kit ingredients 

This easy plant-based hot cocoa mix only requires 6 pantry stable ingredients. We’re working with:

• Sugar, granulated or coconut sugar if you prefer 
• unsweetened cocoa powder 
• coconut milk powder or soy milk powder 
• salt
• vanilla powder 
• vegan mini marshmallows

What you need to make Vegan hot chocolate mix

• A 1-quart mason jar with a lid
• Cute string or ribbon 
• A festive holiday card (or my easy printable gift card with instructions)
• A pen to jot down the easy recipe 

How to make vegan hot chocolate in a mason jar

This is so easy that anyone can do it. Just grab a clean mason jar, a cute ribbon or string, and a festive Holiday gift card. (You can grab my gift card here and print it right away)

Jot down the recipe “how to” guide on the card and tie it to the mason jar using the ribbon. Wrap the ribbon around the jar several times to make it look good and tie in a little bow. Voilà! You have a cute mason jar ready to fill with hot cocoa mix.

Layering vegan hot chocolate mix in a jar

Making the jar look good is all about layering. Make nice clean layers to add to the cozy holiday effect. 

Pro tip: you can use a canning funnel to make it easy to pour all the ingredients into the jar without making a mess. 

Dairy-free Hot Chocolate Instructions 

You can print the easy how make hot chocolate instructions on a gift card or write it by hand. Or you can grab a copy of my gift card with instructions here and print it. 

Directions:

• Mix the contents of the jar in a bowl.
• Scoop 1/3 cup hot cocoa mix into a mug. Pour in 1 cup HOT water and stir to combine.
• Store leftover cocoa mix in an airtight container.

Vegan hot chocolate kit ideas

Want to make your hot chocolate jar gift extra festive? Here are a few easy, fun, and delicious ways to take your homemade hot cocoa kit to the next level.

Peppermint hot chocolate kit – Attach a few peppermint candy canes to the jar for a colorful festive look. The candy canes make a festive spoon that also adds a touch of peppermint to the cocoa. 

Cinnamon sticks – Tie a couple of cinnamon sticks to the jar and let people use them as a fun spoon that gives the cocoa a dash of cinnamon.

Gingerbread cookies – attach a gingerbread cookie to the jar as a delicious treat to go with the creamy hot chocolate.

Vegan dark chocolate twigs – yum! Decadent dark chocolate is always a good idea. Tie chocolate sticks to the jar or add a handful of vegan dark chocolate chips as a topping along with the marshmallows.

A very easy vegan hot chocolate recipe with coconut milk powder 

Coconut milk powder makes a great substitute for regular milk powder. It makes for a creamy and luscious velvety hot chocolate. Coconut milk powder is naturally vegan and has a rich depth of flavor. It’s the secret to a great creamy and luxe vegan hot chocolate jar kit gift that no one will suspect is vegan.

As a general rule, coconut milk can be substituted for milk powder at a 1-to-1 ratio, unless stated otherwise on the packaging or in the recipe.

Note: Coconut milk powder should not be confused with desiccated coconut, which is the dried and shredded flesh of coconuts. 

Vegan hot chocolate tips and tricks 

What makes vegan hot chocolate with cocoa powder so creamy?

Want to know the secret to a super luscious and creamy hot chocolate that only needs a cup of hot water and a quick stir with a spoon? It’s all about the ingredients. Particularly the coconut milk powder. Using coconut milk powder makes this hot cocoa instantly creamy and irresistibly rich and silky. It’s a quick and easy way to get a velvety cup of creamy chocolate in an instant without any fuss. Just heat water to a boil, add the hot chocolate mixture to a cup, pour hot water on top, stir with a spoon, and your instant cup of creamy hot chocolate is ready to drink. Yum!

What dairy-free milk powder substitutes can I use to make vegan hot chocolate with water?

Several delicious vegan milk powders will give you a creamy irresistible hot cup of cocoa. Here are my top 3 dairy free milk powders:

Coconut milk powder – using coconut milk powder in hot cocoa makes for an instant creamy hot chocolate with a rich deep flavor that enhances the chocolate flavor and texture.

Soy milk powder – soy milk powder is a great substitute for regular milk powder in hot cocoa. Soy milk powder has a long shelf life and can substitute regular milk powder at a 1-to-1 ratio. It creates a delicious and silky hot chocolate milk powder substitute.

Rice powder – rice powder is another great substitute for regular milk powder. It has a long shelf life and is a less calorie-dense option than coconut milk powder. Rice powder makes for a creamy and silky hot chocolate while also making the hot chocolate mix taste sweeter. Rice powder can usually substitute other milk powder at a 1-to-1 ratio.

Serving size of vegan hot chocolate mix – just add water recipe

A 1-quart jar will make around 12 cups of delicious creamy hot chocolate. The hot chocolate mix can easily be stored in a cupboard in an airtight container for up to 2 months. 

When ready to make a warm cup of cocoa, just scoop 1/3 cup of vegan hot chocolate mix into a cup and pour 1-cup hot water on top. Stir to combine and they’re ready to enjoy a delicious steaming hot cup of chocolate.

Vegan Topping ideas for hot chocolate 

Vegan and dairy-free hot chocolate toppings come in a wide variety of delicious flavors. Here are a few of my favorite plant-based hot cocoa toppings 

• Coconut Whip Cream – creamy rich coconut cream whipped to fluffy peaks is the quintessential hot chocolate topping.
• Cashew Whipped Cream – Cashew whip Cream is one of my favorite plant-based hot cocoa toppings. It’s light and fluffy just like regular whipped cream, and also has that creamy richness and delicious melty texture. 
• Vegan Marshmallows – if you adore marshmallows and their melty sticky texture, then you need a generous topping of vegan marshmallows.
• Whipped foam – for a lighter, less calorie-dense more healthy hot chocolate topping you can top it with whipped foam. Just use a frother to froth oat milk into a light foam and sprinkle a little grated chocolate on top for instant deliciousness.
• Grated Chocolate – every hot cup of cocoa needs a little fresh grated chocolate if you ask me.

What to serve with hot chocolate 

• Fluffy vegan saffron bread (St. Lucia bread recipe) – delicious, fluffy saffron bread with the fluffiest pull-apart texture and mouthwatering saffron flavors.
• Easy vegan chocolate chip cookies – because what goes better with chocolate than more chocolate? Let’s just make it an all-in abundant chocolate experience 

• Vegan Hot Chocolate buns – mmm, delicious chocolate flavors, fluffy bun texture, and the best real bread texture.
• Chocolate chip scones – buttery, delicious, and everything a scone should be. 
• Spicy Pear Cake – the best holiday flavored naturally vegan and utterly delicious cake you can imagine. Served with a hot cup of cocoa, a slice of this easy vegan pear cake is just what foodie dreams are made of.

Frequently asked questions 

Grab the Gift Tag with directions here

Are you looking for more easy vegan hot drinks? You might like these fan favorites:

• Easy vegan Hot chocolate recipe
• 10-Minutes Starbucks Pumpkin Spice latte plant based copycat recipe