This post may contain affiliate links.
Hot Chocolate made completely from scratch is rich, velvety, and a million times better than anything from a packet, with real melted chocolate and a splash of cream in every sip. My girls ask for a mug *the second it gets chilly outside*, and it has become our favorite cozy treat all winter long. If you love a chocolatey drink, do not miss our fun Grinch hot cocoa too.
Melting real milk chocolate chips into warm milk and cream is the trick that makes this taste so thick, smooth, and luxurious.
Hot Chocolate Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 8 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 13 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 853kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Rich, deeply chocolatey, creamy, and cozy
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our hot chocolate dip
Quick Answer
To make hot chocolate from scratch, whisk whole milk, heavy cream, unsweetened cocoa powder, and sugar together in a saucepan and heat over medium until scalding, about 181 degrees, stirring often so it does not scorch. Do not let it boil. Take it off the heat, add milk chocolate chips and vanilla, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and the drink is smooth, then pour into mugs and top with whipped cream. Using real melted chocolate plus cocoa powder is what makes it taste thick, rich, and creamy.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Real melted chocolate. Stirring in milk chocolate chips on top of cocoa powder gives the drink a thick, glossy, melt-in-your-mouth richness a powder mix cannot match.
- Cream plus whole milk. Half cream and half whole milk makes it luxuriously smooth and full-bodied without being too heavy to sip.
- Cocoa powder for deep flavor. Unsweetened cocoa builds that classic deep chocolate base, and you control exactly how sweet it gets.
- Scald, do not boil. Heating just to scalding warms everything through and melts the chocolate gently, while boiling can scorch the milk and make it grainy.
- A rest before whisking. Letting the chips sit in the hot liquid for 5 minutes softens them so they whisk in completely smooth.
- Just a little sugar. Because the chocolate chips add sweetness, only a couple tablespoons of sugar are needed to round it out.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is unbelievably rich and creamy, made with real chocolate instead of a powder packet.
- It comes together in about 15 minutes with a handful of pantry ingredients.
- It is endlessly cozy and fun to dress up, right alongside treats like our hot chocolate mug cake.
Key Ingredients
Just six simple ingredients turn into the richest, creamiest mug of hot chocolate. Here is what each one does.
- Whole Milk and Heavy Cream: Using half of each gives the drink a rich, full body that is smooth and creamy but still sippable.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: The deep chocolate base. It brings classic cocoa flavor and lets you control the sweetness.
- Milk Chocolate Chips: The secret to a thick, glossy drink. Real melted chocolate makes it taste decadent.
- Granulated Sugar: Just a couple tablespoons to round out the flavor, since the chips add sweetness too.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash rounds out and deepens the chocolate flavor.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This cozy drink is so easy to make your own.
- Make it darker: Use semisweet or dark chocolate chips and a touch more sugar for a deeper, less sweet cup.
- Add a flavor: Stir in a little peppermint, caramel, or hazelnut for a flavored twist.
- Make it boozy: A splash of Baileys or peppermint schnapps turns it into our boozy hot chocolate for grown-ups.
- Go dairy-free: Swap in oat milk and a plant-based cream plus dairy-free chips.
- Try white chocolate: Use white chips for a creamy white hot chocolate instead.
How to Make Hot Chocolate
- Place the whole milk, heavy cream, cocoa powder, and sugar in a medium saucepan.
- Whisk together and heat over medium until scalding, about 181 degrees, 5 to 8 minutes, stirring often. Do not let it boil.
- Take it off the heat, add the chocolate chips and vanilla, and let sit 5 minutes. Whisk until completely smooth and melted, then pour into mugs.
- Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a mini candy cane if you like, and serve warm.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Heat it gently to just scalding, never boiling, so the milk stays smooth and does not scorch.
- Whisk often as it heats to keep the cocoa from clumping or sticking to the bottom.
- Let the chips rest in the hot liquid for a full 5 minutes before whisking so they melt completely.
- Use good chocolate. Since it is the star, a quality milk chocolate chip really shows in the flavor.
- Adjust the sweetness to taste by adding a little more sugar after the chocolate melts in.
- Warm your mugs with hot water first so the drink stays hot longer in the glass.
- Make a batch ahead and keep it warm in a slow cooker, like our Grinch hot cocoa, for a crowd.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
There is nothing cozier than wrapping your hands around a warm mug of this. Pile it high with whipped cream, a sprinkle of chocolate shavings, and a candy cane for a festive touch, or drop in a handful of mini marshmallows.
It is perfect for movie nights, snow days, and holiday mornings. Serve it with a plate of our hot chocolate mug cake or warm cookies for the ultimate chocolate fix.
Hosting? Set up a hot chocolate bar with bowls of toppings and a pot of this alongside our white hot chocolate so everyone can build their own.
Hot Chocolate FAQs
Hot cocoa is usually made from just cocoa powder, sugar, and milk, while hot chocolate is made with real melted chocolate. That melted chocolate is what gives this version its thick, rich, almost silky texture compared to a thinner cup of cocoa.
Yes. Make the full batch, then keep it warm in a slow cooker on low or gently reheat it on the stove, whisking so it stays smooth. It also keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheats beautifully over low heat.
Absolutely. Semisweet or dark chocolate chips make a richer, less sweet drink, and white chocolate chips make a creamy white version. Just taste and adjust the sugar, since different chocolates bring different sweetness.
Keep the heat at medium, whisk often, and pull it off the stove right when it reaches scalding, about 181 degrees, with steam and tiny bubbles at the edges. Never let it come to a rolling boil or the milk can scorch and turn grainy.
Yes. Swap the whole milk and heavy cream for oat milk and a plant-based cream or full-fat coconut milk, and use dairy-free chocolate chips. The result is still wonderfully rich and creamy.
This makes about four cozy servings. It doubles easily for a crowd, just use a bigger pot and keep whisking so it heats evenly. For a party, keep the doubled batch warm in a slow cooker.
Craving more chocolate? Pair a mug of this with our gooey hot chocolate mug cake for the coziest night in.
Love a cozy drink? Our copycat Starbucks pumpkin spice latte tastes just like the cafe original.
Classic Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whipped cream for serving optional
- Chocolate shavings for serving optional
- Mini candy canes for serving optional
Instructions
- Place the milk, heavy cream, cocoa powder, and sugar in a medium-sized saucepot.2 cups whole milk, 2 cups heavy cream, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Whisk together and bring to scalding, 181°F, stirring occasionally about 5-8 minutes. Do not boil.
- Take off the heat and add the chocolate chips and vanilla, let sit for 5 minutes.1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whisk until smooth and the chocolate is melted.
- Pour into glasses.
- Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a mini candy cane, if using.Whipped cream for serving, Chocolate shavings for serving, Mini candy canes for serving
Notes
- Don’t Boil the Hot Chocolate: Heat the milk and cream mixture over medium heat, but be sure not to let it boil. This will keep your hot chocolate smooth and creamy.
- Use High-Quality Chocolate: For the best results, use good-quality milk or dark chocolate. It really makes a difference in the flavor.
- Whisk Until Smooth: Make sure to whisk the hot chocolate well after adding the chocolate chips to ensure it’s fully melted and smooth.
- Make a Big Batch: If you’re serving a crowd, this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. Just adjust the cooking time slightly to make sure it heats evenly.
- Customize the Sweetness: If you prefer your hot chocolate less sweet, reduce the sugar by a tablespoon. If you’re using dark chocolate, add an extra tablespoon of sugar.
- Top It Off: Don’t forget the toppings! Whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, or even a candy cane make this hot chocolate extra special.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Follow @ThisSillyGirlsKitchen on Instagram and @danadevolk on Pinterest for more!
