The coziest, most delicious homemade hot chocolate takes just minutes to prepare! Come in from the snow and warm up with a rich, decadent sip of this creamy, chocolatey, easy hot cocoa. Don’t forget the marshmallows or whipped cream on top!
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Childhood memories wouldn’t be complete without plenty of little hands gripping warm mugs of this easy homemade hot chocolate! Piling the marshmallows on top, making mountains of whipped cream, and sitting by the fire as our toes thaw — these are the winter essentials. Best of all, you probably have everything that you need to make a small batch of this cocoa right now. Grab your milk, chocolate, cocoa, and sugar, because this is about as simple as it gets!
Hot Cocoa vs. Hot Chocolate
These terms are often used interchangeably, but there actually is a difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa. Hot cocoa is typically made with cocoa powder, milk and sugar. Those little packets of Swiss Miss mix are perfect examples of hot cocoa — not hot chocolate. Hot cocoa is usually creamy, sweet and light, but may be lacking in a rich chocolatey flavor.
Hot chocolate, by contrast, is literally melted chocolate that’s combined with milk. You often don’t need to add sugar, since the chocolate already has sugar in it. The result is a thick, rich, decadent beverage that’s typically more chocolatey than hot cocoa. It’s like the grown-up, adult version of hot cocoa!
A Few Tips Before You Make this Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
- This recipe includes both chocolate and cocoa powder for the perfect balance of creamy, smooth, and rich flavor in every mug.
- You can use chocolate chips or a chocolate bar. If I’m serving the hot chocolate to my boys, I choose a sweeter, more mild chocolate flavor (like a Hershey’s bar or milk chocolate chips). Adults typically prefer the richer, less-sweet taste of semisweet chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, or dark chocolate. I like Lindt 78% dark chocolate.
- I like unsweetened baking cocoa powder made by Hershey’s, but any similar brand will work.
- Adjust the amount of sugar to suit your taste. If you want a less-sweet hot chocolate, cut the sugar in half. If your kids like a sweeter drink, add more sugar.
- If you really want to amp it up and make this an adults-only beverage, spike it with a bit of whisky, bourbon, or rum. Ho ho ho…these will be some very happy holidays for Santa!
How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate
Once you’ve pulled together your ingredients, a warm mug of hot chocolate will be ready in a matter of minutes! You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Do not let it boil. Stir or whisk until the chocolate melts, the sugar dissolves, and the beverage reaches your desired temperature.
- Pour the hot cocoa into mugs and let your family and friends pile on the toppings! Around here, it’s always a challenge to see who can add the most marshmallows or the tallest pile of whipped cream.
- For a fun and festive Christmas party or just a special afternoon treat with the kids, set up a hot chocolate bar and let each of your guests customize their own mugs. Fun toppings include whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, chocolate curls, or miniature chocolate chips, cinnamon or other warm spices for dusting, caramel sauce, sprinkles, peppermint sticks or candy canes for stirring, whisky, bourbon, or rum for the adults to spike their drinks, pretzels or other salty snacks, little butter cookies or shortbread for dipping, gingerbread men or cut-out sugar cookies. Or, enjoy it all year long with sweet banana bars.
Recipe Variations
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate: add a drop or two of peppermint extract. This stuff is really strong, so start with a small amount and add more (slowly), to taste.
- Mocha: Add coffee to the hot chocolate and make your own homemade mocha.
- Milk Alternatives: You can use any milk that you have on hand — including almond milk (for a dairy-free option), skim milk, whole milk, or even heavy cream. The thickness and richness of your milk will impact the creamy texture of your hot chocolate.
- If you don’t have a bar of chocolate, you can substitute with chocolate chips.
- Small Batch Hot Chocolate: Cut all of the ingredients in half and make just enough of this homemade hot chocolate recipe for one!
- Microwave: warm the mixture in the microwave just until the chocolate melts and the milk is heated through. Do not let it boil. Just stir every 30 seconds or so to prevent the chocolate from scorching.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 ounces chocolate or about ¼ cup of chocolate chips (use dark or semi-sweet for a richer flavor)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups milk (I use 2%)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sugar (or more or less, to taste)
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, marshmallows, shaved chocolate
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly until the chocolate melts, the sugar dissolves, and the beverage reaches desired temperature. Do not let the mixture boil.
- Pour into a mugs and garnish with desired toppings.
Notes
- Choose a high-quality dark or semisweet chocolate for the best, rich flavor. I like Lindt 78% dark chocolate. Chocolate chips will also work!
- Adjust the amount of sugar to suit your taste. If you want a less-sweet hot chocolate, cut the sugar in half. If your kids like a sweeter drink, add more sugar.
Nutrition
More Easy Chocolate Recipes
One Bowl Buttermilk Chocolate Cake
3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Chocolate Pudding Pie
25 minutes mins
Chocolate Bundt Cake {Using Cake Mix!}
3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
This recipe was originally published in December, 2020. It was updated in December, 2024.
I don’t like hot chocolate as a rule but I sure do like this recipe! I used one cup whole milk & 1 cup heavy cream I had leftover from Thanksgiving. Yum!!
I love your recipes, thanks!
Williamsburg, VA
Thank you for the feedback! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!