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Home » Drinks » Homemade Hot Chocolate

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Published: Dec 22, 2018 by Allison · 695 Comments

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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

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.

Homemade Hot 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

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.

Homemade Hot Chocolate

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!

Homemade Hot Chocolate

MORE HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPES:

WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE

A close up of a glass cup on a table filled with white hot chocolate.

SPIKED HOT CHOCOLATE

Glass of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

NUTELLA HOT CHOCOLATE

Hot chocolate in a glass topped with marshmallows.

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Recipe

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate. A combination of cocoa powder and chocolate chips make this hot chocolate extra flavorful and delicious! Ready in minutes.
4.95 from 587 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved!
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 1 minute minute
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 6 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 (see note for smaller servings)
Calories: 323kcal
Author: Allison - Celebrating Sweets

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

SMALLER SERVINGS
2 servings:
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
¼ cup chocolate chips
⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 single serving:
1 cup milk
1 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoons chocolate chips
1-2 drops vanilla extract

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 121mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 445IU | Calcium: 309mg | Iron: 1.1mg

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!
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Comments

  1. Malar

    October 14, 2022 at 3:58 am

    5 stars
    Omg! It’s the best hot chocolate I ever had. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe. Me and my daughter loved it.

    Reply
    • Allison

      October 14, 2022 at 1:51 pm

      Yay! Thanks for the kind review. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ann

    October 17, 2022 at 7:48 am

    5 stars
    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!!

    Reply
    • Allison

      October 17, 2022 at 7:58 am

      You’re welcome! Thank you for the kind review. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jean

        November 04, 2022 at 7:07 am

        5 stars
        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.

  3. JaNae

    October 18, 2022 at 7:48 am

    5 stars
    I was wondering if the milk in this recipe could be substituted for non-dairy powdered milk?? Thanks

    Reply
    • Allison

      October 26, 2022 at 9:37 am

      That’s not an ingredient I’m familiar with. You can used a regular plant based milk.

      Reply
    • Gaby B

      November 09, 2022 at 12:57 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
    • KC Riley-Gyer

      November 13, 2022 at 8:53 pm

      JaNae, just make up your powdered milk like you always do to drink then follow the recipe as normal and it should be fine 🙂

      Reply
  4. Mason

    October 19, 2022 at 6:02 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Allison

      October 26, 2022 at 9:26 am

      You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Alexis

    October 25, 2022 at 3:47 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing!! Me and my daughter LOVED this recipe! I have never seen her drink a cup so fast!

    Reply
    • Allison

      October 26, 2022 at 8:28 am

      Haha. Love that! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Gwen

    November 01, 2022 at 10:45 am

    4 stars
    Any suggestions how to get the cocoa powder to dissolve in the milk and sugar? It took a while to mix in.

    Reply
    • Allison

      November 01, 2022 at 11:19 am

      Once the milk is warm it will dissolve with no problem.

      Reply
    • Gaby B

      November 09, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
  7. Quinn

    November 05, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    5 stars
    I have done this so many time, it’s prefect everytime

    Reply
  8. April R

    November 07, 2022 at 5:35 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Allison

      November 08, 2022 at 8:21 am

      Yay! I’m so glad. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  9. Jhonine Maralit

    November 12, 2022 at 1:01 pm

    4 stars
    It was really good! Although, I do not know why the chocolate chips did not dissolve into the drink all the way.

    Reply
    • Allison

      November 16, 2022 at 8:50 am

      They should melt completely. Your milk likely wasn’t hot enough. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  10. D Shaw

    November 18, 2022 at 5:22 am

    5 stars
    I didn’t have chocolate chips so I used butterscotch

    Reply
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aboutHi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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