Creamy homemade hot chocolate made with just 6 ingredients is the perfect cozy drink that is a breeze to make!
Once the fall months arrive, I immediately start to crave all the cozy drinks even when it still feels like summer/spring. At the top of my cozy drinks list, is hot chocolate. Personally, I feel like nothing beats a good cup of homemade hot chocolate. There is just something so comforting and almost nostalgic about. Over the years, I worked and tweaked my base recipe for homemade hot chocolate just until I got right. Consisting of just 6 ingredients, this creamy hot chocolate recipe is easily adaptable and so easy to make. The perfect cozy drink!
(NOTE: The full recipe with exact measurements is down at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.)
How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate
Key Ingredients
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – is an essential ingredient since there are no other sources of chocolate in this recipe. With that said, try to go with a good quality brand of cocoa powder. I used this brand.
- Raw Cane/Granulated Sugar
- Whole Milk – may substitute with non-dairy milk
- Liquid Sweetener of Choice – i.e. maple syrup, honey, agave or brown rice syrup
- Hot Water
- Vanilla Extract
Sweetened Whipped Cream (Optional)
Chocolate Shavings (Optional)
To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate
- Add – cocoa powder, sugar, and liquid sweetener of choice into a medium, deep-bottom saucepan.
- Whisk – pour hot water into saucepan with cocoa powder mixture and whisk until there are no visible clumps of cocoa powder and sugar. Mixture will have the appearance of a thin chocolate syrup.
- Cook – chocolate mixture under medium heat while stirring occasionally until slightly thicken, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour – and whisk milk into chocolate mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Heat – chocolate milk until just barely boiling, about 3-4 minutes. Occasionally stir hot chocolate as it simmers and make sure that it does not come to a boil. The goal is to warm up the chocolate milk until hot but not boiling.
- Serve – once hot chocolate has visible stream coming off the surface, take off heat and gently whisk in vanilla extract. Pour into individual mugs, top with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings (optional). Serve while still hot.
Homemade Hot Chocolate Variations
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate – replace vanilla extract with peppermint extract. To serve, top peppermint hot chocolate with sweetened whipped cream and crushed peppermint candy.
- Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate – replace sugar and liquid sweetener with 3 tablespoons (45 ml) salted caramel sauce in cocoa mixture before whisking in the milk. To serve, top salted caramel hot chocolate with sweetened whipped cream and drizzle with caramel sauce. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt or shaved chocolate.
- Mexican Hot Chocolate – add and whisk 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and big pinch (about 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper) into cocoa mixture before whisking in the milk. To serve, add a cinnamon stick in Mexican hot chocolate and top with sweetened whipped cream and a dusting of ground cinnamon.
Looking for More Chocolate Recipe, Checkout the Links Below:
If you make this recipe, please make sure to let me know by tagging me @nourishedendeavors on Instagram or by leaving a comment in the comment section down below so I can find out how this recipe turned out for you! If you have any questions, ask away! I would love to answer your questions! Happy baking!
Revised Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe. Originally published 1/31/20.
PrintHomemade Hot Chocolate
Creamy homemade hot chocolate made with just 6 ingredients is the perfect cozy drink that is a breeze to make!
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 5 Minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 Large/3 Small Cups 1x
Ingredients
- 3 Cups (711 ml) Whole Milk, May Substitute with Non-Dairy Milk
- 1/4 Cup (59 ml) Hot Water
- 3 Tablespoons (20 g) Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 2 Tablespoons (25 g) Raw Cane/Granulated Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) Liquid Sweetener i.e. Maple Syrup, Honey, Agave or Brown Rice Syrup
- 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Optional Toppings
- Sweetened Whipped Cream
- Chocolate Shavings
Instructions
- In a medium, deep-bottom saucepan, add the cocoa powder, sugar, and liquid sweetener of choice.
- Pour the hot water into saucepan with cocoa powder mixture and whisk until there are no visible clumps. Mixture will have the appearance of a thin chocolate syrup.
- Under medium heat, bring chocolate mixture to a boil while whisking until slightly thicken, about 1-2 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and slowly whisk the milk into chocolate mixture.
- Intermittently whisk hot chocolate as it simmers and make sure that it does not come to a boil. The goal is to warm up the chocolate milk until hot but not boiling, about 4-5 minutes.
- Once hot chocolate has visible stream coming off the surface, take off the heat and gently whisk in vanilla extract.
- Pour hot chocolate into individual mugs, top with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings (optional), and serve while still hot.
Notes
- Homemade hot chocolate is best served right after it is prepared.
- Take care that hot chocolate does not come to a boil as it cooks. If hot chocolate comes to a full boil, simply reduce the heat to maintain a light boil/simmer.
- For a vegan option, use non-dairy milk and top with vegan alternatives like coconut whipped cream and/or vegan marshmallows, if desired.
- Try to use high quality cocoa powder as it will greatly enhance the taste of hot chocolate with a rich chocolate flavor.
- For creamier homemade hot chocolate, replace 1 cup of the whole milk with half and half.
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