Chef notes
I have never been a big fan of hot drinks. This has the richness and flavor of hot chocolate, but it is cold and refreshing, thanks to the addition of the soda water. It's one of my favorite dairy-free, gluten-free drinks to make during the holiday season.
Swap options: Substitute almond milk or 2% milk for the oat milk. Substitute store-bought club soda if you do not have a siphon bottle. Add chocolate shavings as a garnish.
Special equipment: Soda siphon bottle and cocktail shaker.
Ingredients
- 4 cups oat milk (substitute other nondairy milk such as almond milk or use 2% milk)
- 3/4 cup dark cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 5 cinnamon sticks, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 5 cups soda water from siphon
- 4 orange slices
Preparation
1.In a heavy-bottomed saucepan set over medium-high heat, whisk together oat milk, cocoa powder, orange juice, sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, vanilla and salt, and bring to a boil.
2.Add dark chocolate chips and whisk constantly, until the chocolate has completely melted. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
3.Pour 1½ cups of the chocolate mixture into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 3 to 4 times and pour into a glass.
4.Top with soda water from siphon (or 1 to 1¼ cups club soda).
5.Repeat three times and garnish each glass with an orange wedge, cinnamon stick and straw.
