The Ultimate Vegan Hot Chocolate

*see edit below*

I am so happy. You see, I have always loved hot chocolate, not those pissy watered down instant jobs but real decadent hot chocolate. Finding an acceptable vegan version has been a bit of a nightmare as so far I have hated the taste of all dairy free milks heated up. That was until I tried coconut milk. OMG. This is not only the best vegan hot chocolate I have ever had but hands down the best hot chocolate I have ever had - and believe me, I've had a lot!!

Now I do need to warn you all here. This makes a very, very rich and thick hot chocolate, it's how I like it - yes, you are seeing the cinnamon stick actually dent the beverage there!! Think of this more like a dessert than a casual drink, hence the claim of 'ultimate' ;)

Now I'll post my version here but I have made it by adding some hot water to thin it out and that works just fine, the drink doesn't lose any flavour that way and is more like "regular" hot chocolate. So, if hot chocolate's that are so thick they take awhile to get to your mouth are not your kind of thing, do just add some water:) For me though, this is perfect!

Serves 2:
50g dark vegan chocolate, chopped (I used Bourneville's baking chunks and didn't need to chop)
200ml reduced fat coconut milk
1.5 fl oz kahlua
1 cinnamon stick

Place the chocolate, milk and cinnamon stick in a saucepan over low heat and stir constantly until the chocolate fully melts and there is no graininess - take your time it will all come together. Remove the cinnamon stick, stir in the kahlua and serve!

*Edit* - I wanted to make a thinner, more casual, not as rich non-alcoholic version of this that my son could enjoy. Keep in mind he's never liked hot chocolate but he loved this. As did we, it's no where near as rich as the one above but still super chocolatey. I first made it chocolate mint with peppermint extract, then chocolate orange with orange extract - lots of possibilities!

50g dark vegan chocolate, I use bourneville chunks
100ml reduced fat coconut milk
100ml rice milk
1/4 tsp extract, peppermint or orange, whatever you like
more rice milk to thin

Place the chocolate and milks in a saucepan and heat up gently until all the chocolate melts, whisk up until super smooth, you don't want any little flakes of chocolate left. Stir in the extract and heat up till hot. Pour into 2 mugs then top up with some more cold rice milk to thin out and cool down a bit. Drink right away!

♥