Vegan chocolate milk is a delicious and nutritious alternative to cow's milk. It is high in protein and vitamin C and contains no cholesterol or saturated fat. It's easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients, such as almonds, water, and dates. So give chocolate almond milk a try! You won't be disappointed.
What can be more satisfying than making your own almond milk? Make your own chocolate almond milk, fully customized to your liking! It is way cheaper than store-bought almond milk, and you can easily adjust it to your liking; more cacao powder, sweetness, creaminess, no added sugar, it is all adjustable! We absolutely love it!
If you love chocolate milk and want to satisfy those chocolate cravings with a healthier alternative to dairy products...make your own! You can drink it and use it on your baked goods, a dark-chocolate chia pudding, or chocolate smoothie.
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💚 Why you will love it
- Nutritious alternative
- High in protein
- Zero cholesterol
- Customizable sweetness
- Easy homemade
🧾 Ingredients
- Raw almonds are the main ingredient in the recipe and provide a creamy, nutty flavor and a rich texture to the almond milk.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder is added to the almond milk to create a chocolatey flavor and enhance the sweetness of the pitted dates.
- Pitted dates are used to sweeten the almond milk naturally and provide a caramel-like flavor.
- Fresh water is used to blend the ingredients together and create a smooth, creamy texture for the almond milk.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
- Dates - sub for maple syrup, agave syrup, monk fruit, or date paste.
- Almonds - use raw cashews, or you can also follow the same process to make this dairy-free drink with homemade soy milk, or oat milk.
Hint: if you use sweetened cocoa powder, you need to skip the sweetener. Otherwise, your chocolate almond milk will be way too sweet.
🍽 Equipment
It is essential to use the appropriate kitchen equipment to get your homemade chocolate almond milk right.
- Blender - use a high-speed blender, nutribullet, or food processor.
- Cheesecloth - replace it with a nut milk bag, a fine mesh strainer, or a very thin towel.
🔪 Instructions
To make chocolate almond milk is super easy and only takes only a few minutes.
Step 1: Soak almonds overnight.
Step 2: Blend soaked almonds with water.
Step 3: Strain almond milk with nut milk or cheesecloth.
Step 4: Squeeze all the almond milk out and return the liquid to the blender.
Step 5: Add pitted dates and cocoa powder to the strained milk.
Step 6: Blend the vegan milk thoroughly.
Hint: to make super THICK chocolate almond milk, reduce the amount of filtered water by half.
Serve at room temperature, enjoy as hot cocoa, or enjoy your homemade chocolate milk chilled in the fridge or with ice cubes.
💡 Expert tips
Choose the right plant milk: Your vegan chocolate milk base can significantly affect the taste and texture. Almond milk offers a light and slightly nutty flavor, while oat milk provides a creamier texture. Soy milk is another excellent option for a protein boost. Experiment with different types to find your favorite.
Quality of cocoa matters: The cocoa powder you use will significantly influence the richness and depth of your chocolate milk. Opt for a high-quality, unsweetened cocoa powder for the best flavor. Dutch-processed cocoa powder will give you a smoother, less acidic taste than natural cocoa powder.
Sweeten to taste: Adjust the sweetness according to your preference. You can start with the recommended amount of sweetener and then add more if needed. Natural sweeteners like maple or agave syrup blend well and add a subtle flavor complexity. Remember, the sweetness can also be influenced by the type of plant milk you use, as some are naturally sweeter than others.
Blend for smoothness: Use a blender to avoid any lumps and ensure your chocolate milk is perfectly smooth. Blending helps to thoroughly mix the cocoa powder with the plant milk, creating a silky texture. If you don't have a blender, a whisk and some elbow grease will do the trick; make sure to whisk vigorously.
Chill for best flavor: Vegan chocolate milk tastes best when chilled. After blending, let it cool down at room temperature for a few minutes, then refrigerate for at least an hour. This enhances the flavors and gives it a refreshing edge, especially on warm days.
📖 Variation
Vanilla almond milk - simply add one teaspoon of vanilla extract while adding dates and the unsweetened cocoa powder.
If you want more creamy chocolate flavor, reduce the amount of water and use more dark chocolate.
🥢 How to serve
We love this comforting chocolate milk with almond biscotti, mini banana muffins, or vegan zucchini muffins.
🫙 Storage
Store chocolate in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, in the fridge for up to three days. It is usual for almond milk to separate, as it has no preservatives; just give it a good shake before consuming.
You can also freeze it using ice cube trays.
❓ FAQ
Soaking almonds in water before blending is recommended as it helps to soften them, making them easier to blend, and it may also aid digestion. Almonds naturally contain phytic acid, an anti-nutrient that can hinder mineral absorption such as calcium and iron.
Soaking nuts has been found to reduce the phytic acid content, although the reduction is minimal (less than 5% according to a study). However, if you're short on time and have a high-speed blender, you can still achieve great results without soaking the almonds for your almond milk.
Since homemade almond milk doesn't contain preservatives, it can be stored in your refrigerator for 3 days. It's best to prepare only the amount you'll need within that timeframe. Alternatively, you can freeze it in ice cube trays for later use in smoothies. I bet it would make a deliciously indulgent chocolate smoothie!
Use the remaining almond pulp to make your own almond meal add it to your smoothies, or make these delicious low-calorie protein balls.
Looking for more vegan chocolate recipes? Try out our easy lava cakes and our Chocolate Pangiallo Romano cake.
🥛 More DIY plant milk recipes
⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
📋 Recipe
Vegan Chocolate Milk
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds raw
- 4 tablespoons cocoa powder unsweetened
- 4 Medjool dates 4 tablespoons date paste, or maple syrup
- 4 cups water
Optional
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch sea salt
Directions
- Soak almonds overnight. Make sure they are fully covered in water. Then strain the water before blending.
- Blend the soaked almonds and fresh water for 30 to 40 seconds.
- Strain the liquid with a cheesecloth and a large bowl.
- Pour the resulting almond milk back into the blender and add the unsweetened cocoa powder, dates, and optionally a pinch of salt and any other flavoring you would like such as vanilla extract.Blend until creamy.
- Serve immediately, or heat in a small saucepan or chill in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.
As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.
Jacqui
I used to drink dairy based chocolate milk in elementary school and this veganized version brought me right back! Nostalgic and delicious taste!
Gus
Hey Jacquie, I am glad you liked our veganized version; that truly makes us very happy! Thanks for your review!
Andrea
I wish I had this recipe years ago. Thanks so much for sharing!
Gus
No regrets! Homemade vegan chocolate milk as of now! 🙂
Neha
Oh I love chocolate milk and I have never tried it with dates! I am so trying this recipe out!!
Saif
I love chocolate milk. I actually drank almond milk before and it taste way better than the ordinary milk. Can't wait to make this drink recipe tomorrow.
Liza
What a fantastic recipe! I never knew how easy it was to make homemade almond milk, and the addition of chocolately cocoa and sweet dates is over the top! Another winner from Our Plant Based World!
Sharon
The vegan chocolate milk was so creamy and delicious. I love that it is made with homemade almond milk. Thank you guys for the recipe!
Mahy
I can't believe that it is vegan, yet it is! I bet noone will be able to tell the difference.
Gus
Yep! It is almost unnoticeable! Thanks for your review, Mahy!
Emily
Thanks for the awesome recipe. I'm trying to go fully vegan and this will definitely be one of my go-to recipes.
Gus
Thank you for trying our recipe, Emily! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed it and that it will become one of your go-to vegan recipes; to make transitions easier, one of the best things we can do is to find the comfort foods and drinks that have some nostalgia sentiment.
Gina Abernathy
Great way and healthier to calm my chocolate cravings!
Amy
You can't beat chocolate milk and what's better than a vegan version?! So good!
Heather
This looks so tasty and delicious. I love chocolate milk, but love that this is a healthy vegan version made with dates...can't wait to try!