Decadent Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
This rich and creamy homemade hot chocolate recipe is perfect for the winter months, the holiday season, and curling up on a cold night. Made with just four simple ingredients, this easy hot chocolate recipe can be whipped up in no time and is sure to be a hit with the whole family! Not to mention, you can top it with any of your favorite hot chocolate toppings. And it tastes way better than any hot cocoa mix!
Hot chocolate is one of those things you just can’t help but love. Whether you’re a child or a grown-up, there is always something special about a cup of good hot chocolate.
Rich, creamy hot chocolate, preferably topped with lots of whipped cream and sprinkles or chocolate shavings, is a delicious winter treat most of us have been enjoying for our entire lives.
For most of my life, we had store-bought hot cocoa mix made with hot water instead of milk. And while I’m sure it was a far cry from real hot cocoa, it was something we always enjoyed—especially after long afternoons spent playing in the snow and sledding, or on cold nights curled up watching Christmas movies.
And let’s be honest, the holiday season just wouldn’t be complete without a good cup of hot chocolate. For years, my family and I switched to an easy homemade hot chocolate mix and the occasional cup of French hot chocolate when I was craving something richer.
But I always dreamed of creating a more grown-up version of hot chocolate—something that would capture all the warm and happy feelings of the colder months but be richer, creamier, and chocolatier than a hot cocoa mix.
And I’m happy to say that that is exactly what this recipe is! I’m not going to claim it’s the best hot chocolate recipe, or even the easiest. But I will say it’s downright delicious, takes about five minutes to make, and will leave you with a creamy, decadent hot chocolate that is sure to be a hit with everyone, regardless of their age!
How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- whole milk (you can also use skim milk or a dairy-free milk, but the finished hot chocolate won’t be as creamy. Soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, and even coconut milk all work great!)
- heavy cream, or your favorite non-dairy cream
- vanilla extract
- milk chocolate, roughly chopped (be sure to use a good-quality chocolate—no Hershey’s for this recipe!)
- whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and sprinkles for topping (optional)
Chocolate Mix-In Ideas
The best part of making homemade hot chocolate is that you can easily add any of your favorite flavors to create your perfect cup!
- crushed candy cane or peppermint extract
- a cinnamon stick or a dash of cinnamon
- dried chili peppers
- a shot of espresso
Directions
In a small saucepan, combine the milk and heavy cream. Heat over medium heat, stirring often, until the milk is hot and small bubbles appear around the edge of the pan.
Add a splash of vanilla extract and whisk to combine.
Remove the pan from the heat and add your chopped chocolate. Whisk until the chocolate is completely melted, then pour the hot chocolate into a large mug.
Top with your favorite hot chocolate toppings. I love to top mine with whipped cream and sprinkles or chocolate shavings.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
I made this recipe a single-serve recipe, but you can easily double, triple, or quadruple it to better suit your needs.
Personally, I love using milk chocolate for this recipe to give my homemade hot chocolate as much chocolatey goodness as possible. But you can also use dark chocolate, semisweet chocolate, or even chocolate chips. Just be sure to use a good-quality chocolate.
If using only chocolate doesn’t make this hot chocolate sweet enough for you, feel free to add any of your favorite sweeteners. Brown sugar, white sugar, or even maple syrup are all great options for adding an extra touch of sweetness.
If you’d like to make your own homemade whipped cream for topping your hot chocolate, here’s my quick and easy recipe!
Combine the following in a large bowl:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Beat with an electric mixer on high until stiff peaks form. Enjoy!
Be Sure To Check Out These Delicious Hot Chocolate Recipes, too!
Dark Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk you can also use skim milk or a dairy-free milk, but the finished hot chocolate won’t be as creamy.
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or your favorite non-dairy cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract more or less to taste
- 3 oz milk chocolate roughly chopped. be sure to use a good-quality chocolate—no Hershey’s for this recipe!
- whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and sprinkles for topping optional
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the milk and heavy cream. Heat over medium heat, stirring often, until the milk is hot and small bubbles appear around the edge of the pan.
- Add the vanilla extract and whisk to combine.
- Remove the pan from the heat and add your chopped chocolate. Whisk until the chocolate is completely melted, then pour the hot chocolate into a large mug.
- Top with your favorite hot chocolate toppings. I love to top mine with whipped cream and sprinkles or chocolate shavings.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
