Amy’s Spiced Hot Chocolate

Name: Amy’s Spiced Hot Chocolate
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 litre/35 fl oz/4¼ cups plant-based milk of choice, plus 2–3 teaspoons extra milk or water; 1 litre/35 fl oz/4¼ cups plant-based milk of choice, plus 2–3 teaspoons extra milk or water; 2 cinnamon sticks or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 2 cinnamon sticks or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom or 2 green cardamom pods (optional); 1 litre/35 fl oz/4¼ cups plant-based milk of choice, plus 2–3 teaspoons extra milk or water; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom or 2 green cardamom pods (optional); 4 tablespoons raw cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon tapioca flour (for a thicker hot chocolate) (optional); 1 teaspoon tapioca flour (for a thicker hot chocolate) (optional); Tiny pinch of sea salt (optional); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ½ teaspoon vanilla powder; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ½ teaspoon vanilla powder; Tiny pinch of grated/ground nutmeg; 4 tablespoons raw cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder

Preparation info

Serves:
4

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
10 min

Appears in

We Cook Plants

By Sarah Bentley

Published 2025

About

“This cosy drink is a lovely twist on regular hot chocolate. It’s simple to make and bursting with warming spices. I made a huge vat of spiced hot chocolate and served it at the Winter Warmer event for over 55s held annually by Hackney Council and it went down a treat with people coming back for seconds and thirds.”

Ingredients

1 teaspoon ground cardamom or 2 green cardamom pods (optional)
1 litre/

Asia
India
Drinks
Gluten-free
Vegan
Winter

Method

Lightly crush the cardamom pods (if using).
Combine the 1 litre/35fl oz/4¼ cups of milk and all the spices in a pan and warm on a medium heat until it starts to simmer.
To a small bowl, add the cacao or cocoa powder, along with the tapioca flour (if using) and 2–3 teaspoons of extra milk or water. Mix with a spoon until it forms a smooth paste, then a