Best Hot Chocolate
122 Comments
Updated Dec 06, 2024
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Are you ready for the best hot chocolate you’ll ever taste? This recipe is sumptuously rich, velvety smooth, and perfect for warming up throughout the winter season.
Why You’ll Love This Hot Chocolate
There’s nothing quite like a cozy mug of hot chocolate in your hands on a cold, wintery day. It’s decadent, slightly indulgent, and one of the best parts of the holiday season. Right up there with making eggnog and the perfect batch of no bake cookies. So why is this the best hot chocolate recipe? Let me tell you!
- It’s rich, thick, and creamy: Unlike store-bought hot cocoa packets that have a watery texture, this homemade hot chocolate is lusciously thick and silky smooth. That’s due the to melding of hot milk with semi-sweet chocolate, cacao powder, and a dash of maple syrup.
- It’s super easy to make: There’s just 4 ingredients – that’s it! And you likely already have them in your pantry already. But if you’d like to make some ingredient swaps, keep reading.
Homemade Hot Chocolate Ingredients
- Milk: You can use dairy or dairy-free milk, including cashew milk, almond milk, or oat milk. The creamier the better! And since this recipe has sugar in it, I’d choose unsweetened milks (if you’re buying them from the store).
- Chocolate: An essential ingredient for making hot chocolate! Whether you’re using semi-sweet bars or chips, just make sure to finely chop it. The the richness of the chocolate from milk chocolate to dark chocolate is really personal preference, but I have a few extra tips in a section below.
- Cacao Powder: The cacao powder (or cocoa powder) plus the chocolate is what makes this recipe so phenomenal. Trust me, you need both.
- Maple Syrup: Maple syrup is a great natural sweetener, but feel free to swap in honey, coconut sugar, or your sweetener of choice.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below
The Best Type Of Chocolate To Use
Unlike its close cousin hot cocoa, which is made from only cocoa powder, hot chocolate requires that you actually use chocolate. You can use your favorite brand of chocolate, though I recommend a semi-sweet or dark chocolate that’s hovering around the 50 to 60 percent range.
Dark chocolate has a distinctly rich flavor that tastes amazing when whisked with milk. And when you’ve finely chopped the chocolate, it’ll melt into the most luxurious, velvety texture. But if you’re not a fan of the bitterness of dark chocolate, don’t worry. A splash of maple syrup sweetens it perfectly.
How To Make Hot Chocolate
Simmer the milk. Add the milk, cacao powder and maple syrup to a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer and whisk together until there’s no clumps.
Add the chocolate. Add the finely chopped chocolate and stir for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the chocolate is fully melted and combined.
Serve. Pour into your favorite mugs and serve. If you want a little extra holiday cheer, top the mugs with whipped cream and a little shaved chocolate!
Hot Chocolate Flavor Variations
While simple hot chocolate is a classic for a reason, there’s many ways to amp it up, if you so choose. Here’s a few fun and delicious ideas.
- Peppermint: Add one drop of peppermint extract into each cup.
- Boozy: Pour in a bit of bourbon or brandy for an extra fun night in.
- Salted Caramel: Dollop whipped cream (or coconut whipped cream) and drizzle salted caramel sauce over it.
- Spicy: Stir in chili powder and cinnamon for Mexican hot chocolate with a kick.
- Hazelnut: Add a few spoonfuls of homemade Nutella for a hazelnut flavored Nutella Hot Chocolate.
- Classic: Top it off with marshmallows and a sprinkle of cacao powder.
How To To Store
- In the fridge: Pour any leftover hot chocolate into airtight glass jars, and store in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. It may separate, but that’s fine if it does. It will recombine when you reheat it.
- To reheat: Add the hot chocolate to a saucepan and gently reheat on medium heat, until warmed through. Alternatively, you can warm a mug in the microwave.
More Cozy Winter Drinks
- Golden Milk – The best turmeric milk recipe for winter.
- Chai Spiced Coconut Milk – A warming chai spice-infused creamy drink.
- Turmeric Tea – This soothing tea is loaded with benefits.
- Elderberry Tea – Keep your wellness in tip top shape with this one.
I hope you enjoy this classic hot chocolate recipe. If you make it, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
Best Hot Chocolate
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 4 cups milk (dairy or dairy-free)
- 3 tablespoons cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup, or honey
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped (or approx ⅔ cup chocolate chips)
- Optional: ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk, cacao powder, and maple syrup to a simmer. Stir until there's no clumps.
- Add the finely chopped chocolate and whisk for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until the hot chocolate is smooth.
- Pour the hot chocolate into mugs, and if you'd like, add your favorite toppings (see ideas above).
Lisa’s Tips
- If you’re using chocolate chips, I still recommend doing a quickly chop with your knife to finely chop the chocolate. Otherwise, you might end up with clumps of chocolate in the bottom of your mug.
- Keep an eye on the stove! Milk can easily boil over, and that’s never fun.
- This is a really thick and luscious hot chocolate, though the type of milk you use will affect the level of creaminess. Nut milks naturally won’t be as thick as full-fat milk. If you’re using full-fat milk and would like it a bit thinner, just swap one cup of milk for one cup of water.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally posted December 2020, but updated to include new information.
This was my first time ever making a drink from scratch. It was a snow day and I wanted to help warm my kiddo and husband up after they came in from shoveling. They were super surprised and we all loved it! Thank you so much and this recipe is definitely going to be made again.
The perfect drink for a snowy day! I’m glad the whole family enjoyed this hot chocolate, Beth.
So creamy and delicious!
Thanks, Vicky! I’m happy you loved it.
This is the best hot chocolate. Started making it this winter and my whole family loves it.
Oh wonderful! I’m glad everyone enjoyed this hot chocolate.
Great hot chocolate! I was so happy to find this recipe so I could make hot chocolate for my son who is on a special diet
I’m glad you and your son both loved it!
This is my second time making this recipe and it turned out perfectly! Thank you for this silky, creamy, and chocolaty recipe! I made some for my family on Christmas too! ( they loved it! )
Hi Adah – I’m so glad you and your family are loving this hot chocolate recipe. Merry Christmas!
I liked the recipe as is but my grand kids wanted twice the sweetness as I did, so for the sweet-tooth’s, make sure to double or triple the Maple syrup.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Really good
great recipe
This is truly the yummiest, creamiest hot chocolate! And SO east to make. It was a big success at my Valentine’s tea party!
Thank you So much for sharing it.
Hi Deborah – Happy to hear this hot chocolate recipe was a hit for Valentine’s!
Just amazing! We used soy milk and bittersweet chocolate instead of semi-sweet (all we had) and it was just the right consistency and taste (perfectly sweet). Thank you!
Hi Hina – Happy to hear you loved this hot chocolate recipe!
Best Hot Chocolate ever. Never can I go back to the instant “stuff” that is called hot chocolate. Followed your recipe exactly, well done. Added mini marshmallows as we were out if whip cream. Fresh fruit on the side made it a nice afternoon treat on a sub-zero cold day.
Hi Jerry – I’m glad you love this hot chocolate recipe!
Hi, Would I follow the recipe as is if I’m using Carob powder? Thanks
Hi Milann – Yes, that should be fine!
This recipe is rich and creamy and simply far better than any packet you’ll ever try! I add a dash of cinnamon over the whip.
A dash of cinnamon is the best. Enjoy!
I just made your hot chocolate recipe. It was delicious – almost decadent. Next I will try your chai tea latte. Thanks for t he wonderful recipes.
You’re more than welcome, Jenny! I’m so glad you enjoy them. :)
This was delicious! I just made it for my family on Christmas. They loved it!
Happy to hear your family loved it, Nicole!
Delicious! Although I keep ending up with clumps of chocolate at bottom, even after finely chopping the chips. Any tips? Maybe I put the chips in too early. Thanks, loving this and the golden milk recipe!