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This Italian Hot Chocolate is thick, creamy, and absolutely perfect for the colder months! This version is soy and dairy-free.

What is Italian Hot Chocolate?

Italian hot chocolate is not what you’d get from those powered-packaged hot chocolates! It’s rich, creamy, decadent, and basically like getting cafe-quality hot chocolate at home. Traditionally, it’s made with corn starch to make it thick, and whole chocolate to make it nice and dark, and rich.

This version is plant-based and dairy-free with almond milk instead of dairy milk and made with no added sugar chocolate chips and arrowroot starch to make it thick and creamy!

Why you’ll love this Italian Hot Chocolate

  • It’s creamy and rich. This hot chocolate is so much thicker than your average hot chocolate since it’s made with whole chocolate chips and thickened with arrowroot starch!
  • It’s dairy-free. We use dairy-free milk and chocolate to make this a more allergen-friendly treat.

The Ingredients for Italian Hot Chocolate

  • Almond milk. You can also use other dairy-free milks like coconut milk.
  • Cocoa powder and chocolate chips.  I use Hu Kitchen, No Added Sugar. You can use my discount code UNBOUND!
  • Arrowroot starch. This is used to thicken the hot chocolate.

How to make Italian Hot Chocolate

  • Make the arrowroot slurry and set it aside. 
  • Heat the milk over low heat. 
  • Add the chocolate to melt. 
  • Add the arrowroot to thicken the hot chocolate.

  • Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly before pouring into a mug to enjoy. 

What to add to your hot chocolate

  • Whipped cream. I use a dairy-free, coconut whipped cream.
  • Marshmallows.
  • Peppermint.

Is Italian hot chocolate sweet?

This particular recipe is quite dark and rich, but I’ve left the option to add coconut sugar for a sweeter hot chocolate. You can also make it sweeter with whipped cream or marshmallows!

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Italian Hot Chocolate (Dairy-Free)

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  • Author: Michelle
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 serving 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Italian Inspired
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups almond (or coconut) milk, divided
  • 1 1/2 tsp arrowroot starch
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I use Hu Kitchen, No Added Sugar – Discount code UNBOUND)
  • 2 tsp coconut sugar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Whisk the arrowroot starch with 1/4 cup of almond milk together in a small bowl. Set aside.
  2. Add the 1 3/4 cup milk to a small saucepan and heat over low heat.
  3. Once the milk is warm, add the cocoa powder and chocolate chips (and coconut sugar if desired). Stir to allow the chocolate to melt for about 2 minutes.
  4. Pour the arrowroot mixture into the pot and stir to combine until the hot chocolate thickens.
  5. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly before pouring into a mug to enjoy.

Notes

  • The hot chocolate is very rich on its own. Add coconut sugar if you’d like to sweeten it.
  • All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 536
  • Fat: 31.2g
  • Carbohydrates: 66.8g
  • Fiber: 9.3g
  • Protein: 11g