Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate. A combination of cocoa powder and chocolate chips make this hot chocolate extra flavorful and delicious! Ready in minutes.
Homemade Hot Chocolate: You sweet, creamy heavenly thing. If you were wondering how I would like to spend every December evening, it is curled up, with my hands wrapped around a warm mug of hot chocolate. Bonus points if that hot chocolate is topped with freshly whipped cream and a heavy sprinkle of chopped dark chocolate.
Filed under the list of things I will not consume: frosting from a tub, cool whip, and hot chocolate out of a packet. Friends, it is so incredibly easy to make Homemade Hot Chocolate. Put down that powdery packet! Throw a handful of real ingredients into a saucepan and you will have Homemade Hot Chocolate in minutes! It’s simple, delicious, and so much more satisfying than the store-bought stuff.
Homemade Hot Chocolate
This recipe is made with a combination of cocoa powder and chocolate chips. The cocoa powder adds the distinct “hot cocoa” flavor, and the chocolate chips melt into the mixture making this drink extra creamy, rich and luxurious. A splash of vanilla extract rounds out all that chocolaty flavor and makes this what I consider the perfect Homemade Hot Chocolate.
- Place the milk of your choice in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Using milk instead of water, makes this hot chocolate extra creamy and flavorful. I prefer whole milk or 2% milk, but you can choose any milk that you choose (I’ve even used unsweetened almond milk).
- Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar, and heat until warm.
- Once the milk is warm, add chocolate chips, whisking until they melt into the milk.
- Add a splash of vanilla extract.
- Serve immediately, topped with your favorite garnishes: marshmallows, whipped cream, chopped chocolate, crushed candy canes or more.
One of the wonderful things about making hot chocolate from scratch is that you can make it exactly the way you want it!
- Want it extra rich? Add some half and half.
- Want it less sweet? Use bittersweet/dark chocolate chips.
- Want it healthier? Use skim milk or almond milk, and reduce the sugar a touch.
- Want flavored hot chocolate? Add cinnamon, peppermint extract, a shot of espresso, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
The options are endless!
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Recipe
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 4 cups milk (preferably whole or 2%)
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place milk, cocoa powder and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium/medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until warm (but not boiling). Add chocolate chips and whisk constantly until the chocolate chips melt and distribute evenly into the milk. Whisk in vanilla extract, serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Joshua
Amazing recipe. I would highly recommend this. I’m going to share this recipe with all my friends because it’s so good! (Btw: Tastes like Starbucks hot chocolate)
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Rib
Delicious thank you for the recepie
Allison
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Crystal
This was delicious. I used half the amount of chocolate chips and added some cinnamon for a Mexican hot chocolate taste. So yummy!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Annette
I loved hot chocolate as a youngster but it became too sweet and overpowering as I got older. Haven’t had it in years when I came across this recipe on a cold snowy day. It intrigued me so I gave it a whirl and WOW!!! Only made the 1 cup serving because I wasn’t sure I would drink it. Used dark chocolate chips and whole milk. I am in love with hot chocolate again!!!
Allison
That’s great news! I’m glad you enjoyed it, Annette. 🙂
Glenda Wade
Great recipe and easy to make a single serving of hot chocolate.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Glenda. 🙂
Laurie
Love. It is amazing. Chocolateeeee and sweet. Reminds of the hot chocolate from Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. This recipe is a keeper.
Allison
Thanks for the kind review. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Carrie
Made this with oat milk and it was delicious. Marshmallows added a little sweetness.
Allison
Perfect! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Syd
So good!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by!
MARY
Very easy and DELICIOUS!!! Definitely a keeper.
Allison
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
TB
It’s very, very rich and a tad too sweet for my taste. Also had a hard time getting the recipe hot enough. Came out a little gritty. Did not want to burn it, but could not figure out how long to cook to make it hot. Was basically warm cocoa. Maybe I’m just spoiled because the packets come out “perfect” every time.
Allison
It was gritty because you didn’t get it hot enough. It needs to be warm enough for the sugar to dissolve and the chocolate chips to melt. You can always reduce the sugar (or use dark chocolate chips) if you want it less sweet. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Kristina
This is one of the most ridiculous reviews ever. You blame the recipe for being gritty when that was operator error because you don’t know how to scald milk?? lol! Sometimes the review sections irritate me to no end. Well at least you didn’t completely change the entire recipe and then give it a bad review despite it not being the same recipe you are reviewing. Those are the worst.