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!
Malar
Omg! It’s the best hot chocolate I ever had. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe. Me and my daughter loved it.
Allison
Yay! Thanks for the kind review. 🙂
Ann
So much better than the packaged stuff. My 16 year old son and myself LOVE it!!! The recipe is so easy to follow. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!!
Allison
You’re welcome! Thank you for the kind review. 🙂
Jean
This is really good! I used dark chocolate chips and maple syrup instead of sugar. I also added a bit of half-and-half. Really easy to make.
JaNae
I was wondering if the milk in this recipe could be substituted for non-dairy powdered milk?? Thanks
Allison
That’s not an ingredient I’m familiar with. You can used a regular plant based milk.
Gaby B
I would believe it works with anything 🙂 The cocoa and the flavored ingredients cover the taste of any simple liquid we use – try first with only a cup and see if you like it 🙂
KC Riley-Gyer
JaNae, just make up your powdered milk like you always do to drink then follow the recipe as normal and it should be fine 🙂
Mason
This recipe for hot choc. has quickly become one of our household favorites. Out of personal preference we’ve cut down the sugar by about a tablespoon or so, and it’s absolutely perfect! Not too sweet, and not too bitter. Thank you for sharing your recipe with us, Allison!
Allison
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Alexis
Amazing!! Me and my daughter LOVED this recipe! I have never seen her drink a cup so fast!
Allison
Haha. Love that! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Gwen
Any suggestions how to get the cocoa powder to dissolve in the milk and sugar? It took a while to mix in.
Allison
Once the milk is warm it will dissolve with no problem.
Gaby B
An answer for Gwen and others interested: to dissolve easily the cocoa powder, try to dissolve all cocoa in a small quantity of warm/hot milk or water, for example in 1/4 cup of liquid (4-5 tablespoons of hot milk or water) – you can do it in a cup or in a glass mixing with a small tablespoon (you can add in the hot liquid also the sugar, to melt faster) – after cocoa dissolution you can mix with the rest of the milk and the other ingredients. I am sure it works, as I do it always like this 🙂
Quinn
I have done this so many time, it’s prefect everytime
April R
Delicious and super easy, love it! Chocolatey and went great with our home made muffins this morning! My 2 yr old and I will be making this again soon!
Allison
Yay! I’m so glad. Thanks for stopping by!
Jhonine Maralit
It was really good! Although, I do not know why the chocolate chips did not dissolve into the drink all the way.
Allison
They should melt completely. Your milk likely wasn’t hot enough. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
D Shaw
I didn’t have chocolate chips so I used butterscotch