Make hot chocolate for a crowd with this easy, sweet, and creamy Crock Pot Hot Chocolate!
We have a crock pot filled with hot chocolate, Hocus Pocus is playing on the TV, and we’ve broken into three bags of Halloween candy. We’re kicking off the holiday season the best way we know how.
Let’s talk Hot Chocolate! If you’ve tried my Hot Chocolate recipe you know that it is incredible (check out all those 5 star reviews!). It’s creamy, sweet, chocolaty, and so easy. I used that recipe as inspiration for this Crock Pot Hot Chocolate.
How to make Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
Start by gathering the following ingredients:
- Milk
- Cream or half and half
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Granulated sugar
- Chocolate chips
- Vanilla Extract
- Warm some of the milk in the microwave or on the stovetop. Whisk in the cocoa powder (heating the milk will ensure that the cocoa powder blends quickly and easily).
- Add the milk/cocoa mixture and all the other ingredients into a slow cooker.
- Heat over high heat, whisking the mixture occasionally.
- Once the hot chocolate is warm and the chocolate chips are melted, reduce the heat to low or “keep warm”.
Recipe tips
- Use cream for a richer hot chocolate.
- Choose good quality chocolate chips; the flavor will come through.
- Semisweet chocolate chips are my favorite choice here, but you can also use milk chocolate or bittersweet chocolate (the flavor will vary a bit).
- Adjust the hot chocolate to suit your taste. If you want a deeper chocolate flavor you can add more chocolate chips or cocoa powder. If you want it sweetener you can add more sugar.
Toppings and flavor variations
- Marshmallows: Marshmallows should be added to the crock pot right before serving (they will melt if they’re in there too long). You can also add marshmallows to each mug of hot chocolate.
- Whipped cream: Add a dollop of whipped cream to each mug as you serve it.
- Chocolate shavings: Sprinkle the top of each serving with some finely chopped chocolate. It will melt slightly adding a rich chocolate flavor to each sip.
- Espresso: A shot of espresso is a delicious addition to each serving (it tastes like a mocha from a coffee shop).
- Bailey’s Irish cream: Spike the adults’ hot chocolate by adding a shot of Bailey’s.
More hot chocolate recipes
- Homemade Hot Chocolate
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- White Hot Chocolate
- Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Nutella Hot Chocolate
- Spiked Hot Chocolate
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
Recipe
Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 6 cups milk (I use whole or 2%), divided
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups heavy cream or half and half
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ cups chocolate chips (I use semisweet)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- marshmallows, for topping
Instructions
- Heat 2 cups of milk in the microwave or on the stovetop. It just needs to be warm; don't boil it. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until combined (this helps the cocoa powder to blend really easily). Add this mixture to the slow cooker along with the remaining 4 cups of milk and all of the other ingredients.
- Cook on high heat, whisking occasionally. It will take 30 minutes or so for the chocolate chips to melt, so be sure to whisk regularly until that happens. Once the chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is really warm, reduce the slow cooker to low or "keep warm".
- Serving: Give the hot chocolate a whisk or stir before serving. Top each serving with marshmallows. Note: If you add the marshmallows directly into the slow cooker they will eventually melt.
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Mel
Excited to serve this for our Halloween family get together. Instead of trick or treating we’re eating GOOD FOOD together and watching HarryPotter movie marathon. This is going to be perfect for everyone to serve themselves through the evening. Thanks for this yummy and easy to assemble recipe!
Allison
Yay! Enjoy!
wilhelmina
Best hot chocolate ever! This is so rich and delicious, no box mix could ever compete!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. ?
Emily Housos
I love this hot chocolate so good !!!!?
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by.
Ytheait
Perfect for a party! Lots of fun!
Dara weiner
Can’t wait to try this for my mom’s birthday party. How long do you think the hot chocolate could stay on warm in the crockpot. Would like to prepare ahead of time but take out about 2-3 hours after party starts when it is getting dark outside. Do you think it can be on warm for three hours before serving?
Allison
That should be ok. Just make sure it doesn’t get too hot.
Abby
Would honey work as a replacement for sugar?
Allison
You can try it but I think it might add a strong flavor.