Hot Chocolate

Creamy, dreamy hot chocolate — you’ll never go back to buying mixes or packets after trying this recipe and seeing how simple it is to make!

Use this hot chocolate recipe to warm up on a cold day, as the staple for a hot chocolate bar, or alongside these perfect oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Hot Chocolate

Hands down, hot chocolate is my favorite drink. Come Fall and Winter I basically have a mug of hot chocolate glued to my hand at all times. Recently I’ve been going crazy with pairing hot cocoa and creme brulee together. Probably my favorite go-to treat at the moment!

Although hot chocolate packets are easy and convenient, I’m convinced that once you try this hot chocolate recipe, you’ll never want to go back! This cocoa is so fast to make, uses staple ingredients you probably already have, has so much flavor, and is easy to customize.

Read on to learn how to make your own hot cocoa and ditch those packets from hot chocolate brands!

How do you make your own hot chocolate?

You won’t believe how simple it is to make homemade hot chocolate!

 

You’ll start by whisking together cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and just a pinch of salt (to help intensify flavors and balance out the sweet). Pour in some hot water and bring the mixture to a simmer. Next, pour in milk and/or coffee creamer and bring it to the temperature you’d like. Finally, remove from heat and enjoy. With a massive mound of whipped cream of course. 🙂

 

Scroll down to the recipe below for specific quantities and detailed instructions.

Is hot chocolate made with milk or water?

While you can make hot chocolate with water, it’s much more flavorful and creamy with milk. This recipe calls for milk and I think you’ll agree it’s best with milk!

One of the my FAVORITE parts of making hot chocolate is customizing it each time. From mix-ins, to toppings, to sauces, the possibilities are endless. I’ve listed some of my favorites below.

Topping Ideas:

• Miniature Chocolate Chips
• Crushed toffee (heath) bars
• Miniature peppermint sticks
• Regular peppermint sticks
• Lindt truffles (add one truffle to your cup of hot chocolate for chocolate overload in the best way possible)
• Pirouette Cookies
• Miniature white marshmallows or miniature peppermint marshmallows
• Dehydrated marshmallows, (I’ve found these on the coffee/hot chocolate aisle in most grocery stores)
• Cinnamon sticks
• Different flavored coffee creamers
• Whipped topping
• Caramel Sauce
• Hot fudge sauce
• Peppermint Stick Ice Cream (one scoop in a cup of hot cocoa and you’ll never go back to plain!)

The following variations aren’t for everyone, but they’re a fun to mix things up every once in a while 🙂

Variation Ideas:

• Flavor your hot chocolate: use peppermint extract, orange extract, raspberry extract, or coconut extract. Use a different coffee creamer flavor (hazelnut, creme brulee, etc.)
• Make it spicy: (think Mexican Hot Chocolate): to this batch add about 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon (or to taste) of chili powder.
• Add some spice: a pinch of cinnamon can totally change your cocoa!
• Make dark hot chocolate: use special dark cocoa powder instead of regular.

Pair your cocoa with one of these treats:

• Tart dried fruits (think dried cranberries) or fresh clementines
• 7 Layer Bars (Chocolate overload!)
• Carmelitas (Reader Favorite)
• Oatmeal Cookies

5 from 3 votes

Print

Hot Chocolate

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

10 mins

 

Creamy, dreamy hot chocolate -- you'll never go back to buying mixes or packets after trying this recipe and seeing how simple it is to make!

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: hot chocolate

Servings: 4 -6 cups of hot chocolate

Calories: 72 kcal

Author: Chelsea

Ingredients

Base Hot Chocolate Recipe

• 1/4 cup dutch process cocoa powder (use a good high quality for the BEST hot chocolate, but Hershey's works great here too; if not using dutch process use 1/3 cup cocoa powder)
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1/3 cup hot water
• 3-4 cups whole milk
• Optional: replace 1/2 cup milk with French vanilla coffee creamer,
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Add ins

• Whipped Cream
• Miniature or dehydrated marshmallows
• Chocolate shavings (using a vegetable peeler, peel a chocolate bar!)

Variation Ideas

• Instead of vanilla extract, try orange extract for an orange hot chocolate or peppermint extract for a minty hot chocolate
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a saucepan or pot, add in the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt. Whisk. Pour in the hot water and whisk constantly.

2. Bring to a boil, over medium high heat, keep the mixture on a low boil for one minute. Stir in the milk (add to preference -- for stronger hot chocolate add less milk and for a more mild hot chocolate; add more milk. IF desired, add coffee creamer in place of 1/2 cup of milk*). Bring the hot chocolate to your desired heat.

3. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

4. Pour into cups and garnish as desired with whatever add-ins you'd like! (See a more comprehensive list in the post.)

Recipe Notes

*Everyone's preference for hot chocolate is different and a lot of the end result depends on the cocoa powder you use. This is my favorite cocoa powder. I love 3 and 1/2 cups milk with 1/2 cup coffee creamer, but my kids and husband all prefer 4 cups milk with a splash of creamer. So play around with milk and creamer to get to YOUR perfect hot cocoa!

How to Make A DRY Hot Chocolate Mix:

The “mix” is crazy easy — just 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa powder. If you want to make this ahead of time you can. Whisk together and store it in an airtight container in a cool dark place. Scoop out 3/4 cup whenever you want to make this recipe.

How to Make A Hot Chocolate Recipe For One:

2 tablespoons unsweetened dutch process cocoa powder

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Tiny pinch of salt

1 cup whole milk (OR 3/4 cup whole milk and 1/4 cup vanilla coffee creamer)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small pot, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt. Add in the hot water and whisk. Bring to a boil and then add in the whole milk. Bring to the temperature you’d like and then remove from heat and stir in the extract. Enjoy while hot.

*While I have my background in Exercise and Wellness (B.S.), all the content in this post is for informational purposes only. Please consult a doctor or dietician for any specific dietary needs/questions.