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!
Savvy Danielle
What happens if I let it sit out for a few hours? Will it still be okay to drink?
Allison
I think the food safety is rule is two hours or less. If you need to keep it warmer for longer I would recommend this crock pot hot chocolate.
Savvy Danielle
oh thank you!
Gyattmoungus
=] I Would recommend adding crushed Oreo.
Richard Russell
It really tastes like chocolate.
I made it with 85% chocolate and it was amazing, delicious, really good…
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Finley
This recipe was very good and I recommended it to my Friends and they loved it too!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Terry
This was sickeningly sweet and rich in the best way possible. I loved it.
Allison
Haha! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Parker
Delicious. I made two servings by the recipe and loved it! So much more pleasing than powdered mix. But of course my kitchen curiosity always makes me adventurous so using the same recipe I altered a bit: 1 cup of caramel iced coffee, 1 coffee reg whole milk, ½ cup dark chocolate chips, dash of ground cinnamon, splash of vanilla, 1 large peppermint marshmallow . I love to play around with food. But you have to start with an excellent base recipe, like this one. Thank you to the originator. Happy Holidays!
Allison
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Shannon
Had to make this dairy free for my family and we used water instead of milk. My kids said it was the best they’ve ever had. Still very rich and creamy.
Allison
That’s great to hear! Sometimes we do unsweetened almond milk, if you want to try that. Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa
So rich and delicious!
Allison
That’s great to hear. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Jennifer
Simple, sweet and creamy. I added whipped cream on top and sprinkled mini-chocolate morsels.
Allison
That sounds great! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
MimiJ
This recipe makes a delicious pot of hot chocolate. It will be my go-to from now on.
I cut the sugar amount in half and used skim milk. Topped it with whipped cream & cinnamon.
It was rich & not overly sweet. Thank you!
Allison
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Mia Jones
Can I use heavy cream or should I dilute it with some water to make it thinner ?
Allison
That will be quite rich. I think that’s a good idea to dilute it.
Hannah
This is my go-to hot chocolate and has been for the last year. Growing up, my dad would always make homemade hot cocoa that was so much better than anything else I’d had. And even considering nostalgia, this is better yet! I live in MN and this is my winter dessert; I keep whole milk, Dutch cocoa, and Ghirardelli chips in the pantry for it. I will say, it needs salt. Like all sweet things do.
Allison
Thanks for sharing your experience, Hannah! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂