A Warm Solstice Treat for Yule and Winter Nights
As Yule approaches and winter deepens, warmth becomes more than a comfort — it becomes a ritual. We light candles, gather under blankets, and find small ways to brighten the longest nights of the year. This simple vegan hot cocoa brings the warmth of the hearth into your hands: rich, velvety, lightly spiced, and crowned with a cloud of cinnamon-kissed whipped cream.
It’s the kind of drink that softens the edges of cold evenings, invites quiet reflection, and reminds us that nourishment can be gentle, joyful, and compassionate. Whether sipped alone during a moment of stillness, shared during a Yule celebration, or made for family after coming in from the snow, this cocoa is winter comfort in its purest form.
Ingredients
Hot Cocoa
• 2 cups oat milk (or any creamy plant milk)
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp maple syrup (or sugar of choice)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1–2 tbsp vegan chocolate chips (optional but decadent)
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Small pinch of salt (enhances the chocolate)
Spiced Vegan Whipped Cream
• ½ cup aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)
• 3 tbsp powdered sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp cinnamon Pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
For the Hot Cocoa
1. In a small saucepan, whisk together cocoa powder, maple syrup, and a splash of oat milk to create a smooth paste.
2. Add the rest of the milk and warm over medium heat.
3. Stir in chocolate chips (if using), vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. Heat until steamy — not boiling — whisking occasionally to keep it silky.
For the Spiced Whipped Cream
1. Add aquafaba to a mixing bowl and whip with a hand mixer or stand mixer on high.
2. When it becomes frothy and begins to form soft peaks, add powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
3. Continue whipping until fluffy and spoonable.
4. Use immediately or chill to help it firm up further.
To Serve
Ladle hot cocoa into your favorite mug, top generously with the spiced whipped cream, and sprinkle with a touch of cinnamon.
For a festive Yule twist, add:
• A cinnamon stick
• A pinch of crushed candy cane
• A star anise pod floating on top
• A drizzle of maple syrup
The Humane Herald 