Pistachio cardamom hot chocolate is a delicious vegan, gluten-free dessert. If you love unique hot chocolate recipes, you need to try this!
I love the flavor combination of pistachios and cardamom. Last year I made pistachio cardamom cookies and to this day they’re one of my favorite dessert recipes on the blog.
This particular recipe evolved from my love of homemade almond milk. I make it regularly but I also love to experiment with other nuts and ingredients (check out my homemade coconut milk).
Pistachio milk is wonderful by itself with or without the cardamom. Use it in smoothies, cereal, even coffee.
Or heat it up, throw in some cocoa and a few other ingredients and voila: pistachio cardamom hot chocolate. Vegan, dairy free and delicious. (disclaimer: the toasted marshmallow in the photograph is not vegan).
Looking for more hot chocolate recipes?
Be sure to check out my White Hot Chocolate, and my Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream Melting Hearts!
Pistachio Cardamom Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
Pistachio cardamom milk:
- 1 cup shelled, unsalted, raw pistachios
- 2 cups filtered water
- 2 cardamom pods
Pistachio cardamom hot chocolate:
- 2 cups pistachio cardamom milk (see above)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 3 1/2 tablespoons light agave nectar, or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- pinch kosher salt
Instructions
To make pistachio cardamom milk:
- Cover pistachios in cold filtered water and refrigerate overnight. The next day, drain and rinse the pistachios. Add them to a blender or food processor with 2 cups filtered water and 2 cardamom pods. Puree on high speed for 1 minute.
- Drain pistachio milk through a nut milk bag or several layers of cheesecloth. Use within 3 days. Yields 2 cups.
To make hot chocolate:
- Heat pistachio cardamom milk over medium heat. Ladle a small amount of the milk into a bowl with the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth, then pour the mixture into the pistachio milk. This will prevent the cocoa from lumping.
- While the mixture is heating, whisk in agave nectar, ground cardamom, vanilla and salt. Once the mixture is hot, serve immediately.
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
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OK, it’s so cold today and this seriously could not sound more appealing! I just want to crawl back into bed with a big mug of this!
Thanks Marie!
First– I love pistachios. This hot chocolate looks cah-ray-zee good. That toasty marshmallow? Gahhhhhh.
Second– your summation of reasons for choosing the Depeche Mode song was RIGHT ON.
One of my favorite bands :)
Wow, I think you really picked some great songs to reflect certain periods in your life! What a great introspection, something that more of us should try doing!
I love the flavors that go into your hot chocolate. Somehow I always put cardamom in fruity desserts, but not chocolaty ones. Great idea!
I’d love to see others do posts like this one. I’d be fascinated to read them.
Two flavors I really love, and kudos to you for giving us personal peek into your past :) Take care!
Thanks Gerry, it made me nervous to do so!
it’s amazing that we’ve known each other for as long as we have and i’m only just now getting a glimpse into who you were before we met. i love it, thank so much for sharing this part of you.
Thanks for the supportive words. I’ve enjoyed writing these posts even though it was hard to hit publish. I had this scheduled to go live at midnight and actually cancelled the post at the last second and dialed everything back a bit. These aren’t stories I often tell and I’m happy you read them. I don’t think many of my “real world” friends read the blog.
I love those flavors together! I have to pick up some pistachios and make this.
Oh wow, I’m a sucker for cardamom … but never thought about it in hot chocolate before. Delicious.
How perfect for National Pistachio Day! :) It was meant that you posted this today. :) Your pictures are stunning. I love your pistachio cardamon milk. I must give it a try especially as a hot chocolate.
Thank you! Such a strange coincidence :)
Wow….what a great combination….it’s like an Indian hot chocolate :)
I love the idea of making pistachio milk paired with cardamom and chocolate I am sure it was delicious as it sounds. I am looking forward to reading the third part in your series. Thank you for giving us all a little glimpse into your life.
Thanks for motivating me to share :)
I haven’t heard most of these songs before. I’ve been kind of lazy cultivating new music in the past few years. Thanks for the kick in the butt. Will check them out for sure. And will DEFINITELY try making the pistachio milk in this recipe. What a great idea! My head is exploding thinking about the uses. Oh, and cardamom. Love.
Thanks Christine!
Something about music that tells a more complete story than words. I think you and I were cut from the same cloth in a way. I was never the supper happy bubbly girl, even when I wanted to be. I’m so incredibly grateful for everything I have and am today because I can pretty clearly see how things COULD be if certain people or events didn’t intervene at crucial points in my life.
And I loooooove these photos, so gorgeous.
Thanks Jackie :)
I honestly don’t know most of these songs, but I love the way in which you used them to share parts of your life. it’s crazy how music can evoke such memories. There’s a country song with the line “funny how a melody sounds like a memory”. Truer words can’t be spoken. I can hear a song and instantly be brought back in time to such a vivid memory.
I’m also obsessed with this recipe and pictures. It puts the cup of tea I’m currently drinking to shame.
Thanks so much for the kind words. Some of these bands are kind of obscure so I’m guessing you’re not the only one who hasn’t heard of them.
Wow, Jen! Your photos are stunning! Love the props and the light! And the hot chocolate of course :) PINNING!!
Yay, thank you!
I could go for a mug of this hot chocolate right now!
Amazing! Great shots, too. And I now can’t stop thinking about eating my cereal in this pistachio cardamom milk :)
You sound like me (er I sound like you?). I had my battle with depression about a year and a half ago. I managed to stay away from meds and blogging was my way of bouncing back. You’re right – you truly need to love yourself before you can love anyone/anything else. And I’ll admit I don’t know any of these songs!
I was very intrigued by the pistachio part when I first read the title this morning. Now that I got a chance to visit, wow pistachio milk?! I’m getting ready to make regular ol’ hot cocoa, but I would totally make this tonight if I had pistachios in the house.
I have weird taste in music :)
Pistachios and cardamom are such a great match, and make me think of exotic places and things. How great to pair the two with chocolate. It sounds like a much-needed balm for the soul.
It’s inspiring to see you opening up (you’re almost convincing me to do the same. Almost). :) Beautifully written post, love the soundtrack too! As for the hot chocolate- it’s just what I need on this cold, blustery night!!
Thanks. I had to edit this one quite a bit to reach a point where I was confortable sharing but the response has been really sweet :)
Cardamom and chocolate sounds unbelievable together, and then you throw in pistachios. Amazing.
Without a doubt, the opening pic of this post is hands down, the fave pic I’ve ever seen you take on your site. And you have tons of gems, but that one is extra special! I LOVE IT. As an aside, where do you prop shop? Ebay, thrift stores, etc? Just curious!
Thank you so much, Averie! I’ve been finding some stuff on etsy and ebay but there’s also an amazing place not far from me called Antique Row. About 15 shops lined up. Prop heaven.
Jen,
I’m enjoying reading your words. No clue on much of the music, but I like how you weave everything together into a coherent flow. That sounds so technical, and I don’t mean it that way–your post has heart and soul, as well. Thank you.
I lived in Finland, so to me cardamom is a baking spice, on par with cinnamon, so it’s nice to see it paired with sweets here, and very inspired to make pistachio milk.
Thanks so much, Kirsten. Give the songs a listen, you might like them :)
Music, stories, and a warm drink? Isn’t this what life is all about? What a perfect and beautiful post! Thank you for sharing…and brightening up a cold Wednesday morning. I hope you are having a great week!
Thanks Monet :)
Oh my gawd, Jen… this looks like heaven in a cup!!!! I want to dive right in.
Thanks Ashley!
Wow, love this lovely recipe and your photos are amazing!
Love your honesty. I feel I “know” you so much better. Thank you for sharing this peek into your life. And the hot chocolate, of course.
YES! Pistachio milk!! Why do I never think of these things? Almond milk, cashew milk… I never think that it’s possible to have *other* nut milks, even though I own a nut bag. Sigh. I blame being sick for a week. Anyway, this sounds incredible! Brilliant idea. Will need to try it the next time I head to Whole Foods so I can snag some pistachios (if I don’t eat them all on the way home, anyway). And YES BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE! <3
Thanks Kelly! The nut milk bag makes it so much easier. I keep wondering what else I can make using it!
Love this creative spin on hot chocolate. Music plays such a huge role in my life and always has. I have to say I’ve never heard any of these songs before, but it’s always fun to discover new music.
This sounds delicious… although I am not sure my husband will share his pistachios for this.. I am thinking I will have to try this when he is away :).
Pistachio and chocolate is one of my favorite combinations. Cardamom is an intriguing twist. I’ll have to give it a try!
I LOVE THIS! I made something similar recently with homemade cashew milk but this looks way better. And your photos? So stunning!
Thank you so much, Winnie! I love homemade cashew milk as well.
How did I miss this series? Glad you posted one of my favorite Depeche Mode songs. Your words…what can I say? Thanks for sharing. Parallel past experiences it seems at times. Not always easy to look back and reflect. Love the soft, reflective mood of your photos.
Such unique flavors for hot cocoa!
Your recipe and music selection…..Como não amar?
Hi Jennifer,
Once I had seen this Pistachio Cardamom Hot Chocolate recipe, I had to try it , simply because it was a combination of flavors I had not tried and it sounded like a quick challenge to stretch my palate , just enough without compromising. Today I made the Pistachio Cardamom Hot Chocolate , and I believe I will make it again ; however I think I will double the amount of pistachios and perhaps add a little more vanilla ( using the same amount of water as in the recipe. I can see that this recipe will have great appeal for those who are lactose intolerant or those who are ready for a change in the per usual hot chocolate, dare I say “decadent” . Thanks for sharing.