Vegan Frozen Hot Chocolate

Frozen hot chocolate has become enough of a thing, that a few times this summer, my dear husband has seen it on a menu or a blog, and the title has spiraled him into a diatribe about how the name makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE AT ALL.

He just says that it is cold chocolate milk, but colder. Which, really, is totally true. But colder chocolate milk doesn’t sound nearly as decadent and fancy as frozen hot chocolate, does it? The truth is, the name tells you exactly what it is—a creamy, chocolatey drink like hot chocolate, but FROZEN. Like with ice and stuff. Perfect for summer!

There are a ton of frozen hot chocolate recipes out there, and some of them are even a little complicated (I mean, really, who wants to get out a double boiler to make a frozen drink in the middle of July?), but my version? It’s pretty much as simple as can be.

It’s five ingredients total—and that’s including if you want to put coconut whipped cream on top. This recipe requires absolutely no heating, and all the elements can be made ahead of time and kept handy for whenever you’re craving a frosty, chocolately treat.

The key to keeping this super easy breezy? Almond Breeze Chocolate Almondmilk. This almondmilk is such a tasty choice for quick summer desserts like this. Super creamy, chocolatey, and a little bit sweet, it works wonderfully as a base for this frozen hot chocolate. I actually use it in two forms in this recipe—frozen into ice cubes and chilled.

If you end up loving this recipe as much as I do, I recommend freezing up a few trays of Almond Breeze ice cubes and storing them in a zip-top bag in the freezer you can quickly make this treat whenever you’re craving it. Not only is it awesome in this recipe, but it’s also a fantastic addition to your morning iced coffee (trust me, you want to try it).

My version of frozen hot chocolate just happens to be vegan—and it works wonderfully well! I use maple syrup to sweeten the mixture just a touch, because I like the hint of maple flavor with the chocolate, but if you aren’t avoiding animal products, you could also use honey. It would be equally delicious!

Those of you who aren’t plagued with a raging sweet tooth might even be able to get away with no sweetener at all—just taste as you go.

I also added in a heaping scoop of Dutch processed cocoa to make this really nice and rich. You can use either “regular” or Dutch-processed cocoa, but I prefer the Dutch-processed cocoa in raw applications like this because it is a lot less acidic and sharp. It’s just a touch of a mellower flavor—it doesn’t have that bite that you can sometimes get from regular cocoa. More of a milk chocolate fan? Ain’t no thang. Just leave out the cocoa all together. Enjoy!

Vegan Frozen Hot Chocolate

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This Vegan Frozen Hot Chocolate is a great way to enjoy your favorite cozy beverage in the middle of summer! Adjust the chocolate level and sweetness to your liking.

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Ingredients

For the Frozen Hot Chocolate:

• 1 cup chilled Almond Breeze Chocolate Original Almondmilk
• 1 heaping tablespoon cocoa powder (optional)
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
• 12 Almond Breeze Chocolate Original Almondmilk ice cubes

For the Topping:

• 1 14-ounce can full fat coconut milk, chilled
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Add the chilled Almondmilk, cocoa powder (if using), and maple syrup (if using) to the basin of a high-power blender. Blend on low until the cocoa powder is just mixed in.
2. Add in the Almondmilk ice cubes and blend on high until frosty. Pour into serving glass.
3. Scoop off the coconut milk fat from the top of the can (reserving the water for another use), and place in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a whisk. Add in the powdered sugar, and whip on medium high until the mixture resembles whipped cream—about two minutes.
4. Spoon mixture on top of the frozen hot chocolate.

Notes

Prep time does not include time to freeze Almondmilk.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1128Total Fat: 80gSaturated Fat: 61gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 96gFiber: 5gSugar: 78gProtein: 14g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.