This rich, creamy Caramel Hot Chocolate tastes absolutely decadent yet is completely dairy free, paleo, vegan and made with only whole food ingredients. Melted dark chocolate in almond milk is swirled with an easy homemade dairy free caramel sauce for this ultimate winter night treat.
The caramel kick is not over! In fact, after this, I feel like the possibilities are just opening up. Remember the Chocolate Caramel Fudge Cups? I hope you do, because even though it feels like I made them 2 months ago, I think it was just last week. Like I said yesterday, it’s been quite a long week for me!
Anyway, after I made those fudge cups, my daughter Emily wanted me to make caramel hot chocolate. Of course my talented little blog-helper had a great idea, given that it’s now December, the holiday season, and people want hot, dessert-y drinks. Plus, my hot chocolate recipe from last year has been begging for a makeover for a while, so I took this as the opportunity to do just that. Let’s face it, creamy hot caramel sauce makes anything and everything a whole lot more attractive (and delicious), don’t you think?
Do you need more selling on the caramel sauce? Okay, I’ll tell you what’s in it, and how easy it is to make.
Because I only needed this caramel sauce in liquid form, it’s a lot more basic than the caramel fudge from last week. Just 2 ingredients – coconut sugar and coconut milk – heated while stirring, create this yummy syrup. And you should know, in case you’re not a fan of coconut flavor, that when this is finished you do not taste the coconut milk at all. Nope – just delicious dairy free caramel syrup – you seriously will not know what hit you after the first taste! Try not to start eating it by the spoonful though, it’s definitely sweet!
As for the hot chocolate, it uses just two ingredients – almond milk plus your favorite dairy free dark chocolate – you choose! One of my favorites – and what I used for this recipe – is Theo’s 85% Dark Chocolate. If you haven’t tried this brand yet, I highly recommend it! Not just for this hot chocolate, but for your general dark-chocolate-loving fun times 🙂
So, for 4 ingredients total I’m telling you this is 100% worth it the next time you have a chocolate craving. Plus, I left you with just enough extra caramel sauce to save for a rainy day, or to lick out of the bowl whenever you damn well feel like it. Hint – you might want to do that sooner than later though, because as soon as someone else finds it, they’ll most likely be the one doing the licking.
Just saying.
And let’s get on with this recipe already for Caramel Hot Chocolate! Emphasis on the caramel. Sorry, I’ll stop now!
Caramel Hot Chocolate {Paleo & Vegan}
Ingredients
For the Caramel Sauce:
- 5 tbsp 1/4 cup + 1 tbspOrganic Coconut Sugar
- 3/4 cup full fat canned coconut milk whisked until smooth
For the Hot Chocolate:
- 16 oz almond milk divided into 4oz + 12 oz
- 2.5 - 3 oz dairy free dark chocolate - 70-85% cocoa - broken into small pieces*
Instructions
First, make the Caramel Sauce
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In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the coconut sugar and coconut milk, stirring continuously until combined.
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Continue stirring and bring to a boil, scrape the sides while stirring to make sure the sugar doesn't burn.
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Once boiling, lower the heat to a simmer and continue to stir and cook for 5-7 minutes, until deep golden brown, shiny, and thickened. Remove from heat and set aside while you prepare the hot chocolate.
For the Hot Chocolate
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In a separate saucepan, add 4oz of the almond milk plus all the dark chocolate. Over low heat, stir the mixture until all the chocolate is melted (flecks of chocolate will still be present)
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Add the rest of the almond milk and heat, stirring, until bubbles begin to form.
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Serve right away in big mugs and swirl in caramel sauce as desired - the more you put in, the sweeter and creamier it will be! Makes 3-4 servings.
Recipe Notes
*For deeper chocolate flavor, use 3oz and for a lighter flavor, 2-2.5 oz
What winter/holiday treats are you in the mood for lately?
Any fun weekend plans? Do tell!
My son asked for hot chocolate when he was home last weekend. I wish we would’ve had this recipe. Looks so good Michele! He’ll be back for Christmas and we’ll make it then.
Thanks Jill! Such a yummy one 🙂
Yum. I love hot chocolate this looks really easy and I have the ingredients which is always a plus. I can’t believe Hanukkah is this weekend already!
Easy ingredients and lots of stirring – that’s it! And don’t remind me, I still have shopping!
I wish I could just lay inside under a blanket all day drinking this! Looks delicious! We never have hot chocolate in the house but we usually have all those ingredients.
Hope you try it out!
Yum! I just mad vegan hot chocolate last night. I need to try the caramel sauce next time. It sounds delicious!
It’s crazy delicious!
And I just died. May I rest in peace.
I hope that you are totally recovered!~
Feeling a lot better except for the whole antibiotic-stomach stuff. Not fun, can’t wait until it’s all over!
bring this over and we’ll have a chocolate and eggnog party! OH YUM!
That sounds way too good! I definitely need to make your eggnog 🙂
You seriously make paleo seem so easy and effortless! Most people would never believe that you can drink creamy caramel hot chocolate on paleo! great job making me drool 🙂
Haha thanks!
Yum, what a treat! and I love how Emily helped and thought of the idea she’s so beyond her years! It must be so fun to be creative with her mom. Some of my best memories are with my mom and/or grandmother in the kitchen. It’s just so exhilarating to learn something new and make something for yourself at that age! Even at this age, really
I really love when my kids help me, hope to make some of those great memories 🙂
I want a big cup of this and a fireplace to drink it by. I love how simple the ingredients are!
Yes, very simple! And that sounds like such a great idea 🙂
Caramel and chocolate are so good together!!! My brother is the only one who drinks hot chocolate anymore. I loved it as a kid, but it always gave me a stomachache no matter what (I would suffer for the bliss!). but I do miss a mug after coming in from playing in the snow! (Don’t forget the frozen cool whip! Haha!)
I wonder if dairy free would work for you now? Skip the cool whip lol 😉
Perfect to drink with some dark chocolate caramel gelt for Hanukkah, I think!
Totally! Chocolate on chocolate is always good 🙂
i’ll have some of that caramel right now! that sounds great right now, with apples 🙂
Yup, I imagine it would be amazing with anything – and so easy!
I’m actually going to make this right now – Storm Desmond has hit Ireland, with wind & rain swirling outside the house so hot chocolate sounds just perfect. Besides, your photo of caramel dripping from the spoon into the hot chocolate is just too good!
I hope you made it and liked it!
God this was good. Although, I probably, no in fact, I KNOW I ate more caramel than actually made it all the way into the hot chocolate. Great recipe, THANK YOU!
You go ahead and feel free to stay on the caramel kick because I for one am I huge fan. And in liquid form no less, count me in.
There will be more to come, my kids won’t let me quit now 🙂