Last Updated on March 8, 2026

A simple fast and easy Brown Sugar Hot Cocoa that is rich, creamy and full of chocolatey goodness with a little something different for sweetness – brown sugar!

So why did I add brown sugar to a already great tasting hot cocoa?

The brown sugar adds a caramel and a slight toffee taste to the hot cocoa, which is hard to accomplish in vegan recipes.

This hot chocolate is so easy to whip together making it perfect for a cool night cuddled under a warm blanket.

A simple drink that uses only 6 ingredients and can be ready in just a few minutes.

And because you are making your own hot chocolate from scratch you can control the sweetness and the amount of chocolate.

Customizing your hot cocoa

Sprinkle different spices on the top of your hot cocoa.
Make it a mocha! Add coffee or a shot of espresso to the cup before pouring in the hot cocoa.
Top your cocoa with vegan marshmallows.
Dollop a fresh homemade whipped cream on the top of your hot chocolate, try this whipped topping, the Whipped Coconut Cream.

Ingredients needed for this hot cocoa

Milk – I used an unsweetened plain almond milk. Try different unsweetened non dairy milks for your hot chocolate, such as oat, hemp, coconut, soy, or cashew. Try to use the unsweetened milks for this recipe, this will help to control the sweetness of the hot chocolate.
Chocolate – This can be your favorite chocolate chips or a chopped chocolate bar. The chocolate will give the hot chocolate a smooth texture and a sweet rich flavor.
Cocoa Powder – Use an unsweetened cocoa powder for the hot chocolate. This adds a richer and more intense chocolate flavor to the hot drink.
Brown Sugar – I added a brown sugar to this hot cocoa as my sweetener, this gives a caramel and toffee flavor to the hot cocoa.
Pure Vanilla Extract – The vanilla will enhance the chocolate in the hot chocolate.
Salt – Salt will also enhance the chocolate in the hot drink.

How to make a Brown Sugar Hot Cocoa

In a medium sized sauce pan, add the non-dairy milk, chocolate chips, brown sugar, and cocoa powder.

Continue by warming everything on medium heat, stirring with a whisk until the chocolate has melted and everything is hot.

Next stir in the vanilla and salt.

Taste the hot chocolate for sweetness before pouring into the cups, this is the time to add more sweetener if needed.

Remove the hot chocolate from the heat and pour into mugs.

Top the hot chocolate with vegan marshmallows, whipped cream, or a spice of your choice and serve.

Lisa