Classic Homemade Hot Chocolate

This Hot Chocolate is rich, creamy, and made from scratch with real melted chocolate and cream for the coziest, most decadent mug.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword Hot Chocolate

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 8

Total Time 13

Servings servings

Calories 853kcal

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

Nutrition is not calculated with additional toppings.

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.