This Vegan Date Sweetened Hot Cocoa needs only three simple ingredients and a few minutes of prep to make a thick, rich chocolate drink.
Hello friends! Welcome to another entry in the Winter Warm-Up Drink Series. After sharing a tea latte and an iced coffee earlier this month, it felt right to offer a cozy cup of hot cocoa next. This Vegan Date-Sweetened Hot Cocoa is simple and satisfying: pick your favorite unsweetened non-dairy milk, soften a few dates to add natural sweetness, and blend in cacao powder for deep chocolate flavor. I enjoyed mine topped with almond milk whipped cream, but it’s delightful on its own. Have you tried sweetening a drink or dessert with dates before?
I had a big container of dates sitting around for months and kept experimenting with ways to use them. I made a spiced date cake at Christmas that was a hit, but otherwise the dates mostly waited for inspiration to strike. I spotted a date-sweetened cocoa recipe in a cookbook and adapted it for this series—perfect timing for a warm, comforting drink.
If you’re aiming to satisfy chocolate cravings with a slightly healthier twist, this drink delivers. For the recipe as written, a two-cup serving contains about 216 calories and roughly 5.6 g of protein. If you pour smaller servings, the calories drop accordingly, making it an easy treat that won’t derail your day.
Also, today I’m linking some fellow bloggers’ warm drink ideas—delicious inspiration if you want to explore more seasonal beverages:
- An Old Fashioned by Books n’ Cooks
- Gingerbread Smoothie by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Malted Hot Cocoa by Our Good Life
- Masala Chai by Palatable Pastime
- Salted Nutella Latte by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Soursop Soother by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Vegan Date-Sweetened Hot Cocoa by The Baking Fairy
- Winter White Hot Chocolate by Family Around the Table
If you enjoy playful hot chocolate variations, here are some of my past creations: Earl Grey Hot Cocoa, Strawberries & Cream White Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate, and Spiked Italian-Style Hot Chocolate. Earlier in this series I also shared a Dirty Earl Grey Latte and a Small Batch Vanilla Cinnamon Cold Brew Latte.
vegan date sweetened hot cocoa
Ingredients
- for 1 serving
- 2 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk (cashew milk works well)
- 5 pitted dates
- 2 tablespoon cacao powder
- pinch salt
Instructions
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Place the non-dairy milk and pitted dates into a microwave-safe cup.
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Heat for 2–3 minutes, until the milk is very hot and the dates have softened.
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Transfer the hot milk and softened dates to a blender. Add the cacao powder and a pinch of salt.
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Blend until completely smooth, pour into a mug, and enjoy. Top with vegan whipped cream and a dusting of cacao if you like.
