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Home » Recipes » Drinks

Orange Hot Chocolate

By Erin · December 20, 2020 · Updated September 26, 2021 · 18 Comments

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hot chocolate being poured into a mug

Cozy up with a glass of this delicious Orange Hot Chocolate. It's made with simple ingredients in under 5 minutes, and the orange adds even more flavor to this classic recipe.

a glass of hot chocolate with whipped cream and chopped chocolate

Hot chocolate is a wintertime essentially around here. I mean, is there anything cozier?

This orange hot chocolate is a fun spin on traditional hot chocolate. Plus, in my opinion, the chocolate-orange combination isn't utilized enough.

If you're in need of other wintertime essential beverages, be sure to check out my cinnamon sesame milk, boozy hot chocolate and of course my favorite cinnamon tequila sour.

Recipe features

  • A delicious hot chocolate recipe that just so happens to be dairy-free (as long as you use dairy-free chocolate and milk :))
  • The orange adds even more flavor to this recipe
  • The whole thing comes together in about 5 minutes!

ingredients with text over top

Ingredient notes:

Dark chocolate - I used 70% dark chocolate; feel free to use whatever chocolate you want depending on the kind you like.

Milk - Any kind! I almost always use almond milk or oat milk for all of my recipes, but any milk will do.

Cocoa powder - No substitution; make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder works too.

Sugar - Optional. I think hot chocolate should be on the sweet side, and the entire recipe only calls for two tablespoons, but you can definitely omit it if you want.

Orange juice - Preferably freshly squeezed; The recipe calls for two tablespoons, but you can adjust it based on your personal preference.

Method

First: Melt the chocolate. Begin by adding the chopped dark chocolate and the milk to a saucepan, whisking frequently over medium heat until the chocolate has melted, being careful that it doesn't burn.

melted chocolate and milk in a saucepan

Second: Make the hot chocolate. Once the chocolate has melted, add the remaining ingredients (cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla, and orange juice), and stir everything together. Heat over low for 3-5 minutes, or until it's warmed to your liking.

Third: Add toppings. Toppings are a must! I like adding whipped cream and extra chopped chocolate on top, but a little orange zest would be good too.

Tips and tricks

  • I know you can buy orange extract, but I haven't tried it in this recipe. If you've used it and love it, feel free to use it in place of the vanilla extract. But, start small -- no more than ½ teaspoon -- and go from there.

Can I use chocolate chips instead of chopped chocolate?

Yep! Again, I'd opt for dark chocolate or at least semi sweet over milk chocolate.

Can this be prepped in advance?

Yes; however, this is a single-serve hot chocolate recipe. If you want to double, triple or even quadruple the recipe, you can adjust the serving size in the recipe card where it says "serving size".

To make ahead, prep the exact same way, wait for it to cool a bit then pour it into a sealed container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, pour back into a saucepan and stir until it's warmed to your liking.

a glass of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and an orange wedge

More chocolate recipes

  • Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
  • Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • The BEST Paleo Brownies

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!

a glass of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and an orange wedge

Orange Hot Chocolate

Cozy up with a glass of this delicious Orange Hot Chocolate. It's made with simple ingredients in under 5 minutes, and the orange adds even more flavor to this classic recipe.
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • ½ cup dark chocolate approx. 2 oz., chopped
  • 2 cups almond milk or milk of choice
  • 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoon cane sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

Instructions

  • Melt dark chocolate and almond milk together in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently to avoid burning it.
  • Once melted, reduce to low heat and add remaining ingredients.
  • Simmer ingredients on low for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's warmed to your liking.
  • Remove from heat and add toppings (whipped cream, chopped chocolate, etc.). If needed, add an additional 1 tablespoon orange juice. Enjoy!

Notes

*Calories are per serving and are an estimation
*Feel free to use more/less orange juice based on your personal preference 
*Want to keep this dairy-free? Simply use dairy-free chocolate and dairy-free milk. 

Nutrition

Calories: 732kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 671mg | Potassium: 858mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 68IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 678mg | Iron: 12mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!

UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published in February 2017. It was updated with new text and photos in December 2020.

 

« Easy Paleo Chili
Winter Kale Salad »

About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Daniel says

    February 14, 2017 at 7:30 am

    5 stars
    How good do this look! Sometimes you just can't beat a comforting hot chocolate 🙂 I love that this one is pretty healthy too!

    Reply
  2. thalia says

    February 07, 2017 at 4:56 pm

    5 stars
    omg!! blood orange hot chocolate is such a good idea! i have to make this - perfect for Valentine's day! Xx

    Reply
    • Erin says

      February 09, 2017 at 8:50 am

      I agree--thanks Thalia!!

      Reply
  3. Vida says

    February 05, 2017 at 10:42 am

    Just to let you know, the pin for the honey garlic chicken brings me to this hot chocolate recipe.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      February 05, 2017 at 12:01 pm

      Ahhh ok thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  4. Kevin | economicalchef.com says

    February 04, 2017 at 9:48 pm

    Wow, really unique take on hot chocolate! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  5. Marcy says

    February 04, 2017 at 9:50 am

    Looks delicious and I love your gorgeous photos!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      February 09, 2017 at 8:50 am

      Thank you Marcy!

      Reply
  6. Carlos At Spoonabilities says

    February 03, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    5 stars
    I never try blood orange and I been looking everywhere here in Miami but not luck:(. Your Hot Chocolate with blood orange is unique. I'm very intrigued to know the flavor profile.
    How you describe the taste?
    I love your pictures!!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      February 09, 2017 at 8:50 am

      I hope you can find blood oranges soon! I think they go out of season come March. This tastes just like regular hot chocolate with a hint of citrus.

      Reply
  7. annie says

    February 03, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    I'm allergic to wheat, so I bake with gluten free flour quite often. My favorite is bob's GF cup to cup (the one in the blue bag, not the red bag). Even when using the cup to cup, my cakes would always come out too dense and heavy. My solution (this works every time) is to 1) measure by spooning the flour, not scooping it and 2) sift *while* you measure. I like to sift the flour three times. It only takes a few extra minutes and yields fluffier results.

    Also, use a little more baking powder than you normally would, but don't change the amount of baking soda.
    Oh! and let the batter sit for about five minutes after you add the leveners. Is that a word? Leveners?

    Love this hot chocolate! Gorgeous photos as always.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      February 09, 2017 at 8:49 am

      I agree--Bobs 1 to 1 baking flour is my favorite, but I still want to learn how to bake with almond and/or coconut for people who can't find Bob's. If that makes sense. But! I did buy the Bob's flour to lift my spirits, so I'm going to try baking with that this weekend. Thank you for the tips!

      Reply
  8. Allyson (Considering The Radish) says

    February 03, 2017 at 10:36 am

    Geez louise this looks fantastic. Oranges and chocolate are such a great combination, but I've never thought to make hot chocolate with oranges. Hot chocolate FTW!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      February 09, 2017 at 8:47 am

      It's SO good (if I do say so myself) 😉

      Reply
  9. Julia Mueller says

    February 03, 2017 at 8:11 am

    Oh yes, the ol' gluten-free cake debacle...it can be a challenge at first, but once you get the formula, BAM, it's the most magical thing 😉

    THIS HOT CHOCOLATE?! I love the orange-chocolate combo, and I'd 200% add whisky to this beauty to make an adult boozy cocktail. Definitely should whip this up over the weekend for an apres-ski belly warmer!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      February 09, 2017 at 8:47 am

      SUCH a challenge. I'm not giving up and might give GF baking another whirl this weekend. Thanks friend!

      Reply
  10. Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It says

    February 03, 2017 at 8:07 am

    Oh my gosh, how do you come up with all of these amazing recipe ideas?! This looks amazing Erin, and your photography is gorgeous.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      February 09, 2017 at 8:46 am

      Thank you!! I've always been a fan of orange+chocolate, so I figured why not give blood orange+chocolate a whirl 😀

      Reply

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