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!
Tom AndersonPecus
Too much chocolate
Adam
Ok then don’t put as much chocolate next time
Camille
Not for me.
mimi
didn’t have chocolate chips or vanilla. just did the cocoa powder milk sugar then made whipped cream. delicious 😋
HonemadeFoodie
Got this saved to my home screen 😂 It is so good. I just eyeballed it no need for measuring because you can tweak it to how you like it. Love it.
Allison
I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Fatima
Hi, thanks for the delicious hot chocolate recipe. Yummy it was so good, definitely a favorite 😋
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Fraser
Good if you don’t have any hot chocolate mix. I did find it to be a bit bitter but it might be because of the Cocoa powder that i used. Fixed it with an extra 4 tsp of sugar. But otherwise great!
Nicole Smith
As others have written, this recipe is perfect for a family sized portion (or good night in with a friend and a movie!), with room to tweak and make it your own. This is my go-to for cocoa!
Allison
Yay! I’m so glad!
June
Amazing recipe. It’s the best tasting hot chocolate. Changes I made are I ground all the dry ingredients, heated milk in the microwave and then stirred everything together. Instant hot chocolate.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Chi
Tried it with regular full cream milk and no choc chips and I loved it.
Came out so great
schatzi
Made this with Purecane sweetener and Lily’s milk chocolate chips, served with ChocZero sugar free marshmallows. YUM,feeling very spoiled!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Star
Amazing recipe 😋
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by!
Teena
Very yummy! I will leave out the chocolate chips next time or maybe only use half, as it was a little too sweet for me.
Allison
Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙂
LaQuisha Sharpe-Anderson
Thank you for providing smaller serving sizes! I’ve never seen a recipe or an author do that.
Allison
You’re welcome! 🙂 Enjoy!