As the weather cools down, warm yourself up with a comforting cup of vegan pumpkin hot chocolate. Loaded with pumpkin, chocolate, and a hint of warming spices, it’s a perfect drink for those crisp fall evenings.
Cooler days and longer nights. Oversized sweaters, knit scarves, and worn-in riding boots. Brisk afternoon walks in the fragrant air and cozy evenings spent curled up on the couch with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. All.things.fall.
Admit it, I just made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Maybe even a little wistful? For comfort; for stillness; for peace. We spend so much of our lives being busy, busy, busy, that it feels nice to have even nature tell us to stop and smell the flowers… or cozy up and sip the cocoa, as it were…
I asked you guys yesterday whether you’d prefer to see hot chocolate or a smoothie on the blog today, and hot chocolate won by a landslide. I guess I’m the only one sipping on ice cold smoothies while wearing a hoodie and mitts? Throwing a fireplace in the mix when things get really chilly? 😉
Either way, I’m more than happy to share this recipe with you, especially since it gives me an excuse to cozy up on the couch and relax. It’s been kind of a long and hectic week, which is why I’m currently buried under a pile of blankets with a mug of hot chocolate within arm’s reach and Disney’s Aristocats playing in the background. Nostalgia at it’s finest.
But back to the hot chocolate… This one just so happens to be dairy-free and refined sugar-free, but you’d never know it unless I told you… which I just did 😉 The base is a creamy vanilla almond milk, spiked with pumpkin puree, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and warming spices. That’s it! No shady ingredients, thickening agents, or spoonfuls of sugar. Just wholesome foods you can feel good about eating. Or drinking, in this case.
So grab some blankets and your favourite book/movie and take some time to relax. To breathe. To refocus. What needs to get done will get done, even if you take 20 minutes off to cozy up to a mug of vegan pumpkin hot chocolate… topped with a healthy dollop of coconut whipped cream, naturally.
I’d love to know if you make this (or any!) recipe! Tag @runwithspoons on Instagram and Twitter, and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy and delicious recipes straight to your inbox!
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Vegan Pumpkin Hot Chocolate
- Total Time: 7 mins
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- dash of nutmeg
- dash of cloves
- coconut whipped cream (I love this tutorial)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together almond milk, pumpkin puree, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and spices. Bring to a boil and continue stirring to ensure that everything is well-combined. Reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and transfer to mugs. Top with vegan whipped cream or your favourite hot chocolate toppings.
- Prep Time: 2 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
Looking for a baked treat to enjoy alongside your drink? Try one of these!
Flourless Pumpkin Pie Muffins
Soft and Chewy Pumpkin Granola Bars
Almond Joy Oatmeal Cookies
Ohhh yum. This has my name ALLLL OVER IT! Yes, you most definitely made me feel warm and cozy!
I have to make this! Like, on Sunday when I plan to hopefully just stay at home (and doing all the things you described about fall!) Is it bad that I don’t want to make any plans on the weekends so I can bask at home in the comfiness of fall? Seriously the best season ever. Can’t wait for Sunday! Or tomorrow…we will see how long I can wait!
Nothing wrong with wanting to stay home at all! That’s what I wanted for my weekend as well 🙂
This makes me want to snuggle up with a good book on the couch and really embrace Fall. Alright, that’s it. I’m doing; Sunday is my day to vegetate with a good book, maybe a fire and mug of cocoa or tea. It sounds lovely doesn’t it?! Thanks for inspiring my future relaxation session.
Pumpkin hot chocolate–yum! I got so excited that the weather had been cooling down down up but it’s warming back up 🙁 I had my boots and scarves ready and everything.
Frozen…I’m obsessed. Love it!
“Let it go… let it gooooooo” 😉 Someone mentioned Frozen a few comments back and now I’ve got the song stuck in my head 😆
Yum this looks perfect for a chilly fall day. The first Disney movie I thought of was The Great Mouse Detective. Kind of random but it was one of my favorites growing up.
As if we didn’t already know it, you are a GENIUS in the kitchen! 🙂
Ahhhh, thank you! Making this for the weekend, going to be a chilly one…..perfect. Actually, going to make one for my Husband also…..he will never know its Vegan lol.
Arlene
<3
I hope you both enjoy it, Arlene!
Wow. This. Yes. Amazing.
Don’t give me the stank eye but Aristocats is one of the few Disney movies I never warmed up to. I’ll go with Cinderella for a spontaneous pick here. Can we hsve a blogger meet-up at yours watching Disney movies and sipping this wonderful hot chocolate? It was a rare treat at our house when my mum made hot chocolate from scratch on few weekends. And even more rare topped with whipped cream. Actually, I might have only had that a handful of times before.
So, I wrote a post today about how to stay happy during fall/when it starts getting colder. Clearly you don’t have that problem because it’s obvious how much you love it haha
As much as I love curling up and reading, I love sunlight even more, and that’s pretty hard to come by these days 🙁
But, that won’t stop me from making this hot chocolate, because…pumpkin.
p.s. I’m not a fan of whipped cream, so I’ll have to go with marshmallows 🙂
Have you ever looked into buying a solar lamp? I know those can be really helpful for people who struggle with the lack of sunlight during the fall/winter.
This looks amazing! Happy Friday!
Happy Friday to you too, Lauren!
Little Mermaid! I am all about the marshmallows 🙂 Can’t wait to try this!
You’re definitely not the only one still drinking smoothies, but there is something about (gorgeous) pictures of hot chocolate that make me feel happy inside during fall (well, Cali fall, that is). I need to stop being lazy and buying canned whipped cream and make my own. Until then I will de-veganize this with my canned stuff. 😉
Yummmo! I’m all about the homemade, thick, REAL whipped cream atop my hot chocolate.
I just watched Lady and the Tramp last night. I love hot chocolate! I’ll definatly make this soon.
Wooooo you listened to the masses! So glad my vote won 😉 this looks so great – and a nice way to make almond milk hot chocolate seem a little more decadent (it can seem watery in my opinion). Thanks!!
So glad you shared this recipe…however….please bless us with the smoothie recipe too. By the way: you are overall an amazing person and your photographing: Amazing!
Aww thanks so much, Heather 🙂 Your comment just brought a huge smile to my face.
I’m not a huge hot chocolate person, but I bet I could mess around with this and make a killer healthy pumpkin coffee.
It’s still not cold here in California, but I’m so looking forward to the next few months when I can pull out sweaters, hot beverages, and curl up in all the blankets.
Mmm…this looks and sounds so perfectly comforting! I can’t wait to brew a cup and curl up on the couch with a movie. I’m so jealous of you!! 🙂
First Disney movie for me is always Alice in Wonderland <3 <3 <3
MARSHMALLOWS!!! They are my weakness. The jumbo ones covered in dark chocolate if we're getting technical 😉
I want one right now! For once it’s actually cool and cloudy in AZ (it’s supposed to rain). This would be perfect to warm me up.
Oh my goodness I love the aristocats! I swear everybody wants to be a cat is one of my favourite Disney songs. Also love Hercules, sword and the stone and Peter Pan 🙂
This hot choc looks amazing! can’t get vanilla almond milk here but will try with some regular almond milk and some vanilla extract!
You DID make me all warm and fuzzy inside…until I saw your recipe and realized that I can’t make it! 🙁 🙁 Do you have any suggestions on how to make this in the microwave? I NEED this in my life Amanda. NEED. 😉
Confession: I don’t actually know how to use a microwave. I grew up without one and it never really caught on!
Pumpkin hot chocolate sounds awesome! I’ don’t think I’ve ever heard of that before!
I think with the fall, hot cocoa wins out. There is nothing like the warmth of hot cocoa while relaxing! Smoothies are too cold for me right now. 🙂
I have a serious craving for this right now. That sounds amazing.
Your description of Fall makes me want to fly over to Canada now so I can experience a bit of it haha. Yesterday it dropped to about… 65? Brrrr…. I want to be able to snuggle up under blankets!
But in all seriousness, this looks AMAZING. Nothing better than a comforting drink to enjoy (especially while watching the Aristocats…. such a classic)!
I just so happen to know someone who lives in Canada and has a spare room 😉
Wow to this! And so easy so none of us have a single excuse not to make it this weekend!
Ohmyyy, way to ease us into the recipe!…mmhmm a mug of this heart-warming potion and Tangled (<-favourite movie right there!) please.
I'm all about the whipped cream in my hot chocolate.
Umm YUM. Oh my goodness this recipe just topped my ‘must make this weekend’ list, right in time for my sister’s visit! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Now this is a pumpkin recipe I have to try! I love hot chocolate and it is so comforting at this time of year.
Great idea! Especially for those who don’t love coffee but they can still enjoy a delicious fall beverage. Not me, I love coffee so would probably make this a pumpkin mocha!
You win the internet today. This looks amazing. I wish I had the capacity to make t his at my desk right now. I may leave early to go home and make this. Bowing down.
Are you debuting a new photo board today too?!! Or am I just that nonobservant? I’m also a weirdo who sips on smoothies in the wintertime, but this hot chocolate sounds way better right about now!
You’re actually super observant because that is indeed a new photo board 😛
Aladdin. But not sure why I said that first. I did love it though! I liked Tangled a few years ago too. And The Little Mermaid back in the day and Peter Pan on DVD which we watched over and over when my son was sick years ago. I didn’t love Frozen. I don’t know, it was fine but wasn’t over the top the best in my opinion.
Aladdin is high up on my list of favourites; and I agree about Frozen — “Let It Go” gets stuck in my head like crazy though…
Look AMAZING! I also highly recommend making hot chocolate with coconut milk (from a can)! You have to water it down a bit but it’s SO creamy and delicious!
I’m off to make a cup of this RIGHT NOW! wanna come over and share? 😉
I’ll bring the cookies 😀
The Little Mermaid {obsessed} and I love marshmallows on my hot chocolate 🙂 It always reminds me of my childhood!
Beauty and the Beast came to my mind immediately, when thinking of Disney movies. Classic childhood favorite of mine; and I LOVE Belle’s yellow/golden gown 😀
Perfect hot chocolate recipe for these cooler temperatures!
That’s my absolute favourite Disney movie of all time <3
Wow – there’s a third of a cup of pumpkin in these??? I cannot. wait. to. try these TONIGHT!!!! Thanks so much for posting this – I was so hoping you would!
Your sure are right about how the weather forces us to slow down – my spring and summer have been so incredible busy – and I am not kidding when I say I am looking forward to a few snow days here in Atlanta! Our city cannot handle a smidgen of snow and so EVERYTHING shuts down even for an inch of the white stuff – while it might be an inconvenience to some – to me – it’s those days that I get to stay in my pj’s ALL DAY!!!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!