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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!
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword hot chocolate
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 -6 cups of hot chocolate
Calories 224kcal
Author Chelsea Lords

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

  • In a saucepan or pot, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt. Pour in the hot water and whisk constantly.
  • Bring to a boil, over medium-high heat, and 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 serving temperature.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
  • Pour into cups or mugs and garnish as desired with whatever add-ins you'd like! (See a more comprehensive list in the post.)

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!
 
Nutrition information does not include whipped cream or coffee creamer.

Nutrition

Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 326mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 297IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 216mg | Iron: 1mg