Easy Vegan Hot Cocoa

Ever since eating a vegan diet and no longer buying Swiss Miss, I have been trying different ways to use cocoa powder as a way to make hot chocolate.

(I know I could buy the vegan powders at natural food stores, but they can be pricey and I'd prefer to make my own.  Plus cocoa powder is so versatile I could use it for hot chocolate, desserts, and adding a chocolate taste to other foods.) 

After multiple attempts of creating a hot chocolate that was perfect, not too sweet but not too bitter from the unsweetened cocoa powder, I finally discovered a recipe of the perfect ingredients for a delicious, sweet treat that's vegan. Plus it's made in the microwave which makes it quick and simple!


Ingredients:

• About 1 1/4 cups almond milk (enough to fill a regular sized mug)
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (unsweetened)
• 1/2 tablespoon agave
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Directions:

1. In a regular sized mug, fill the mug halfway with the almond milk.  Heat for 1 minute.
2. Add cocoa powder and stir until most clumps are gone.  Heat another minute, watching carefully so it does not overflow.
3. Stir.  Add the rest of the almond milk, agave, and vanilla extract, if desired.  Stir and heat for about another 30 seconds or until desired temperature is reached, watching carefully.  Enjoy!

What I love about this recipe is it is very adaptable.  If you want a sweeter hot chocolate, add more agave.  If you want your hot chocolate to have extra chocolate flavor, add more cocoa powder. If you want a thinner hot chocolate, replace some or all of the almond milk with water.