Thanksgiving may be a few days away still, but I think we’ve already arrived at hot chocolate season! Today I’m kicking off a series of hot chocolate recipes starting with this rich and creamy Dairy Free Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate. If you are or you have friends or loved ones who are lactose intolerant or just sensitive to dairy, this recipe is a winner and they won’t feel like they’re missing anything! This hot chocolate has a deep, rich chocolate flavor and is just as creamy as traditional hot chocolate.

Note: If you’re sharing this recipe at a hot chocolate bar, be sure to let folks know that it contains coconut and almond in case they have allergies! You can add a simple disclaimer to the table tent card saying “Contains almond and coconut.”

Here’s what you’ll need to recreate this Dairy Free Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate:

• Dairy free milk – I went with Silk’s Almond & Coconut milk combo because it’s nice and creamy but still neutral tasting. Use whatever dairy free milk you prefer though.
• Allergen free chocolate chips – For years, Enjoy Life was the only brand you could easily find that made dairy free chocolate chips, but Nestle makes them now too and they’re tasty!
• Sweetened condensed coconut milk – This is the main source of sweetness in this hot chocolate, plus it makes things nice and creamy! While you can smell the coconut when you open the can, the coconut flavor doesn’t carry through in the hot chocolate.
• Dutch cocoa powder – I used Dutch cocoa because that’s what I have on hand and I think it’s less bitter than regular cocoa, but either will work.
• Vanilla – You could even use peppermint extract if you want to play with the flavors a bit!
• Salt – Helps set off the chocolate flavor, don’t skip it!