Coconut Milk White Hot Chocolate

White hot chocolate is a sweet and creamy holiday drink, made with milk and melted white chocolate, spiced with vanilla, cardamom and nutmeg. You can even add a little bourbon or dark spiced rum, for a festive, indulgent cocktail.

You might also love these recipes for European hot chocolate, homemade hot cocoa mix, and homemade vanilla bean marshmallows.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy. In just 5-10 minutes, you can make a creamy cup of white hot chocolate to sip on while watching your favorite Christmas movies.

Versatile. Use coconut milk, whole milk and cream, or your favorite non-dairy milk. Any type of milk will work, but the creamier the milk, the richer your white hot chocolate will taste. You can add bourbon or spiced rum, and adjust the spices however you like. Serve it plain, or with marshmallows or whipped cream.

Perfect for the Holidays. I love a special drink to serve for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and this one looks so beautiful sprinkled with nutmeg and ground vanilla, and decorated with star anise.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Ingredients

• Milk. You can use any milk of your choice, or a combination of milk and cream. If using coconut milk, it does give this drink a strong coconut flavor. Choose a higher fat milk, like whole milk or canned coconut milk, for the richest, creamiest consistency.
• White Chocolate. A bar of good quality white chocolate will melt more smoothly in the milk, but white chocolate chips work well, too. Since white chocolate is so sweet, you don’t need to add any additional sugar to the recipe.
• Spices. I added vanilla extract, as well as a pinch of ground cardamom and nutmeg, which added a really wonderful flavor. My husband really liked his drink with a little bourbon, too.
• Star Anise. For garnish.

Instructions

• In a saucepan, combine the milk, white chocolate, vanilla, cardamom and nutmeg. Over medium low heat, warm the mixture, stirring frequently, until the chocolate is melted and smooth, and the milk is hot but not boiling.

• Remove from the heat, and pour into 2 large cups or 4 small cups. Stir in the bourbon, if using, and place the star anise on top of the hot chocolate for garnish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is white chocolate dairy free or vegan?

No, most white chocolate contains even more dairy than milk chocolate, so it’s not a vegan ingredient.

Can I use any type of milk?

Yes, any type of milk, non dairy or not, will work for this recipe. I’d recommend milk with more fat for a richer, creamier flavor and texture. Unsweetened canned coconut milk is very thick and creamy, as is a combination of whole milk and heavy cream.

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