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Home » Recipes » Drinks & Smoothies » The Best Rose Hot Chocolate

The Best Rose Hot Chocolate

Published: Jan 30, 2023 Modified: Mar 24, 2025 by Elizabeth · 12 Comments

Made with just 5 ingredients, this luxurious Rose Hot Chocolate is rich, sumptuous and silky smooth, but incredibly easy to make. Can be made vegan.

Jump to Recipe
Glass mug of rose hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows.

It's taken me a long time to figure out the perfect hot chocolate recipe.

But I think I've done it with this Rose Hot Chocolate! This delicious drink is creamy, thick and silky smooth while also being incredibly easy to make.

The delicate rose flavour (from rose water) gives it a delicious twist and makes it feel like you're drinking a fancy restaurant hot chocolate.

When I'm looking for a comforting, hug-in-a-mug warm drink, this is my go to. I make it almost as much as my Rose Latte, and I love it topped with Coconut Whipped Cream, marshmallows and shaved chocolate.

Being vegan, I wanted to create a hot chocolate that was dairy-free but could also be made with regular milk if desired. And this one works perfectly, as I think you'll agree. Give it a try!

Glass mug of rose hot cocoa topped with whipped cream, rose petals and marshmallows.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

  • It's rich and luxurious - tastes like hot chocolate you'd get at a restaurant or coffee shop. Great when you want to spoil yourself. (Makes a lovely Valentines Day treat too with the rose flavour.)
  • It needs just 5 ingredients - chocolate, cocoa powder, maple syrup, rose water and milk.
  • It's the most warming, satisfying drink. Plus the rose water gives it a hint of the exotic.
  • It takes 5 minutes to make.
  • It also works well as a vegan, dairy free hot chocolate. Just make sure you use vegan chocolate and dairy-free milk.

Rose Hot Chocolate Ingredients

Ingredients to make rose hot chocolate: dark chocolate, cocoa powder, rose water, maple syrup and milk.

Dark Chocolate - Gives the hot chocolate its luxurious, rich quality. I recommend using dark rather than milk as you'll get a much stronger chocolate taste.

Cocoa/cacao powder - Cocoa - combined with chocolate - helps give the drink its deep, rich chocolatey flavour.

Milk - The creamier the milk, the creamier your hot chocolate! I use oat or soy milk, but any can be used, regular or dairy free.

Maple Syrup - My sweetener of choice for hot drinks, as it has such a rich taste. Also, it's already liquid so you don't have to wait for it to melt.

Rose water - Adds the most delicious floral notes to this hot chocolate. Any rose water should work here. I buy mine from my local Persian grocery store.

Salt - Totally optional, but I like to add it because I find it enhances the flavour and takes the whole drink up a notch!

Substitutions

Chocolate - There's really no substitution for this, as it's a pretty integral part of the recipe. You could try making this drink with only cocoa powder, but you will end up with a much thinner, weaker hot chocolate that's more like a hot cocoa. That said, if it's all you have, give it a go!

Cocoa powder - If you just have chocolate and no cocoa powder, try using it on its own. You hot chocolate may lack a little bit of depth in flavour, but it will still be tasty!

Milk - Any milk can be used. I find this recipe works really well with dairy free milks such as oat, hazelnut and soy.

Maple Syrup - You can use any other sweetener here 1:1. I like using maple because it's already a liquid and doesn't need to melt, but other liquid sweeteners like date paste would work well too. Brown sugar or coconut sugar are also great.

If desired, you could try making a low sugar version by using monk fruit, stevia or erythritol.

How to Make Rose Hot Chocolate

A white saucepan containing ingredients to make rose hot cocoa: cocoa, maple syrup, rose water and dark chocolate.
Milk being poured into a pan of ingredients - cocoa, maple syrup, rosewater and chocolate.

1) Add all ingredients to a saucepan.

2) Heat gently, whisking frequently in a zigzag motion, until chocolate is melted and fully incorporated.

Hot chocolate ingredients being stirred together in a saucepan.
Frothy rose hot chocolate being whisked in a white saucepan.

3) When hot, pour into a mug and optionally top with any of the following: marshmallows, whipped cream or coconut whipped cream, cocoa powder, shaved chocolate or rose petals.

A mug of vegan rose hot chocolate. Nearby is a saucepan containing the rest of the chocolate, and a whisk.

Expert Tips

Use a whisk - You won't regret it! As you can see, I started off using a wooden spoon to mix this rose hot chocolate, and it just wouldn't get completely smooth. Using a whisk and whisking in a zigzag motion makes all the difference because it breaks the cocoa clumps down and make a really frothy hot chocolate.

Add a pinch of salt - While not essential, it really helps bring the taste of the chocolate out and gives a full-bodied flavour.

Flavour Variations

Add these optional flavours to your mix before whisking:

Rose Hot Chocolate with Cardamom - ¼ teaspoon cardamon powder

Chili Cinnamon Rose Hot Chocolate - ¼ teaspoon ancho chili powder and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Rose Vanilla Hot Chocolate - ½ teaspoon vanilla essence

Toppings

Try topping your rose hot chocolate with any of the following (or a combination of them) to take it to the next level.

  • Rose petals
  • Coconut whipped cream
  • Shaved chocolate
  • Cocoa powder
  • Marshmallows
Glass mug of rose hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, rose petals and marshmallows.

FAQs

What's the difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa?

Strictly speaking hot chocolate is made with real chocolate, and hot cocoa is just made with cocoa powder. This drink is made with both, so would be classed as hot chocolate.

Where can I buy rose water?

You can usually find it in Persian grocery stores, but many natural or health food stores now carry it too.

Do I need to infuse milk to make this rose hot chocolate?

No! Because we're using rose water for the rose flavour, no infusing is required.

Can I make this into spiked hot chocolate?

Absolutely. I recommend adding either rum or bourbon. As this rose hot chocolate has a delicate flavour, I wouldn't add more than 2 tablespoons liquor.

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  • A grey mug of DIY vegan hot chocolate in the foreground on a marble surface. In the background is another mug and some chocolate truffles.
    DIY Vegan Hot Chocolate (sugar-free)
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Glass mug of rose hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, rose petals and marshmallows.
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5 from 38 votes

Rose Hot Chocolate

Made with just 5 ingredients, this luxurious Rose Hot Chocolate is rich and sumptuous, but incredibly easy to make. Can be vegan.
Cook Time5 minutes mins
Total Time5 minutes mins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American, gluten-free, healthy, vegan
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Servings: 1
Calories per serving: 496kcal
Author: Elizabeth Emery

Special Equipment

  • 1 saucepan
  • 1 hand whisk

Ingredients

  • 3-4 tablespoon chopped sweetened dark chocolate (or chocolate chips)
  • 2 tablespoon cocoa/cacao powder
  • 1½ cups (360ml) your favourite milk (I like dairy free milks such as oat or soy)
  • ½-1 tablespoon maple syrup (depending on sweetness preference)
  • 1 tablespoon rose water
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

Optional (toppings)

  • Whipped cream (I like coconut whipped cream)
  • Marshmallows
  • Shaved chocolate
  • Rose petals
  • Cocoa powder

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a saucepan.
  • Heat gently, whisking frequently in a zigzag motion, until chocolate is melted and fully incorporated. (I strongly recommend using a whisk rather than a spoon here, as it will break up any cocoa clumps and make the hot chocolate frothy.)
  • When hot, pour into a mug and optionally top with any of the following: marshmallows, whipped cream or coconut whipped cream, cocoa powder, shaved chocolate or rose petals.
Tried this recipe?Leave a rating above and mention @vancouverwithlove or tag #vancouverwithlove on Instagram!

Notes

Substitutions
Chocolate - You can try making this drink with only cocoa powder if it's all you have, but you will end up with a much thinner, weaker hot chocolate that's more like a hot cocoa. 
Cocoa powder - If you just have chocolate and no cocoa powder, try using it on its own. You hot chocolate may lack a little bit of depth in flavour, but it will still be tasty!
Maple Syrup - You can use any other sweetener here 1:1. I like using maple because it's already a liquid and doesn't need to melt, but other liquid sweeteners like date paste would work well too. Brown sugar or coconut sugar are also great.
You could also try a low sugar version by using monk fruit, stevia or erythritol.
 
Tips
Use a whisk - Use a hand whisk - you won't regret it! Using a hand whisk makes all the difference because it breaks the cocoa clumps down and make a really frothy hot chocolate. 
Add a pinch of salt - While not essential, it really helps bring the taste of the chocolate out and gives a full-bodied flavour.

Nutritional information per serving

Calories: 496kcal | Carbohydrates: 80.3g | Protein: 11.2g | Fat: 17.7g | Saturated Fat: 9.6g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 195mg | Potassium: 468mg | Fiber: 7.6g | Sugar: 62.2g | Calcium: 630mg | Iron: 4mg

Stress less. Cook fast. Eat well.

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If you’ve tried this recipe, please leave a comment or tip for others below. I'd love to know how you’ve made it your own!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica Formicola

    February 01, 2023 at 5:13 pm

    5 stars
    I had a mug of this last night and it was so comforting and delicious!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      February 01, 2023 at 10:20 pm

      I'm so glad Jessica! That makes me happy to hear.

      Reply
  2. Lindsay Howerton-Hastings

    February 01, 2023 at 7:11 pm

    5 stars
    LOVE how the rose water makes this almost delicate-tasting! Can't wait to make it again.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      February 01, 2023 at 10:20 pm

      Thanks Lindsay! That's one of my favourite parts too.

      Reply
  3. Mitch

    February 01, 2023 at 10:22 pm

    5 stars
    So fancy and delicious! Just the perfect drink for Valentine's Day (or night)!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      February 01, 2023 at 10:56 pm

      Thanks so much Mitch! I think so too. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Oscar

    February 02, 2023 at 12:22 am

    5 stars
    Loved how creamy this was and the addition of rose water to hot chocolate is a game changer. Great recipe, thank you.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      February 02, 2023 at 5:24 pm

      Thanks so much Oscar, I really appreciate that. I'm with you - the rose water is sooo good in hot chocolate!

      Reply
  5. Elizabeth

    February 13, 2023 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    This is such a unique and delicious hot chocolate recipe. We loved it!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      February 15, 2023 at 7:22 pm

      Oh I'm so glad you did Elizabeth! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  6. Teri

    February 14, 2023 at 11:15 pm

    I'm going to make this tonight! Perfect little Valentine's day treat.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      February 15, 2023 at 7:24 pm

      I hope you loved it! It's one of my favourites. 🙂 Happy V Day!

      Reply
5 from 38 votes (33 ratings without comment)

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