Homemade Hot Chocolate

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This recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate is so quick and easy to make. No more mixes! This recipe uses your milk of choice, chopped chocolate, spices and it’s topped with a delicious my Coffee Marshmallows or Mint Chocolate Chip Marshmallows.

Mug of Homemade Hot Chocolate with marshmallows on top.

When the weather hits even a little brisk, I love to transition from my Iced Pumpkin Spice Lattes to warm Matcha Lattes to a Gingerbread Latte. Hello, I love a flavored drink!

I don’t think anyone would argue that hot chocolate is the coziest of cozy drinks. And since this is lil’ blog is called A Cozy Kitchen I think I’ve gone way too long without sharing a proper recipe for it. So, let’s talk about this perfect Homemade Hot Chocolate.

Mugs of Homemade Hot Chocolate with marshmallows on top.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Homemade Hot Chocolate

  1. Milk – If you’re a dairy-free queen, feel free to use oat milk or almond. I love a nice low-fat dairy milk so it’s not too, too thick.
  2. Sugar – I don’t use too much sugar; just the right amount.
  3. Cinnamon stick – You can use some spices, if you like. I like simmering it with a cinnamon stick and a pinch salt. This adds a nice depth that isn’t detectable.
  4. Vanilla caviar – I love using a scrape of vanilla. I usually use an already used up vanilla bean from my Homemade Vanilla Extract. You don’t need a ton just 1/4 of the beans from a pod. Feel free to use a splash of vanilla extract if you don’t have a vanilla bean.
  5. Chocolate – I love a good rich bar of chocolate. I’m using semi-sweet but feel free to use bittersweet or dark chocolate. I would steer clear of milk chocolate because I fear it might be too sweet and if you do, you can leave out the sugar and add it to taste.
  6. Cocoa Powder – Baking cocoa powder will make this hot chocolate not too thick.

For the rest of the ingredients, please see the recipe card below!

Milk, sugar, cinnamon stick, cocoa powder, salt, chocolate and vanilla bean on counter.

Hot Cocoa vs. Hot Chocolate!

Let’s talk about the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate.

  • Hot cocoa is cocoa powder dissolved into milk or (God forbid) water. I have good memories of hot cocoa, actually.

But during the holidays, it was always hot chocolate. My mom would tell us stories about how in Peru, on Christmas Eve, right before midnight mass, a big pot of hot chocolate was made. They’d take big blocks of chocolate, melt it and then mix it into warm milk until it dissolved.

  • Thick hot chocolate is just melted chocolate into milk. It’s what they also call drinking chocolate.

But sometimes it’s too rich for me; hence why I like this iteration: half melted chocolate and half cocoa powder. It makes the best combination of the best texture and viscosity, sweetness and spice.

How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate!

1. Using a sharp knife, chop the chocolate into small pieces.

2. Add the cocoa powder, chopped chocolate, sugar, vanilla bean caviar (or extract) cinnamon stick and pinch of salt to a medium saucepan.

3. Warm it over medium-low heat until the chocolate has melted. Serve it immediately.

Recipe Tip

  • Milk Chocolate – If you want to use milk chocolate (say that’s all you have), feel free to eliminate the sugar in the recipe.
  • Stir regularly – Stir it regularly to avoid a skin from forming on the top.
  • Dairy-free – If you’re looking for a healthier hot chocolate/less indulgent, check out my Oat Milk Hot Chocolate. It’s made with cacao powder, maple syrup and collagen powder.

Hot Cocoa vs. Hot Chocolate!

Let’s talk about the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate.

  • Hot cocoa is cocoa powder dissolved into milk or (God forbid) water. I have good memories of hot cocoa, actually.

But during the holidays, it was always hot chocolate. My mom would tell us stories about how in Peru, on Christmas Eve, right before midnight mass, a big pot of hot chocolate was made. They’d take big blocks of chocolate, melt it and then mix it into warm milk until it dissolved.

  • Thick hot chocolate is just melted chocolate into milk. It’s what they also call drinking chocolate.

But sometimes it’s too rich for me; hence why I like this iteration: half melted chocolate and half cocoa powder. It makes the best combination of the best texture and viscosity, sweetness and spice.

Hot chocolate in saucepan with whisk.

Recipe FAQs

Is It Better to Make Hot Chocolate with Milk or Water?

This is a common question. I like my hot chocolate with milk (or a milk alternative) compared to water. I like the richness that milk or a milk alternative give hot chocolate. Water makes it a bit too thin in my taste.

What Are Good Toppings for Hot Chocolate?

My favorite toppings for hot chocolate are marshmallows, fluffy whipped cream and chocolate shavings. I like to keep it simple!

Mugs of Homemade Hot Chocolate with marshmallows on top.

What To Serve with This Cup of Homemade Hot Chocolate

If you tried this Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

5 from 15 votes

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Make this warm cup of Homemade Hot Chocolate. This recipe has melted rich chocolate with warmed milk, spices and a coffee marshmallow.

Equipment

  • 1 medium saucepan

Ingredients 

  • 4 cups whole milk, or milk of choice (oat, almond, soy)
  • 1/4 cup cane sugar
  • 1 whole cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 whole vanilla bean, scraped (or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract)
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 3 1/2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
  • Pinch kosher salt

Instructions 

  • To a medium saucepan, placed over low heat, pour in all of the ingredients. Heat until a very gentle simmer and whisk until the chocolate has melted and is cohesive. Remove the cinnamon stick and vanilla bean and discard.
  • Divide amongst mugs and garnish with whipped cream, marshmallows or chocolate shavings.

Notes

Tips and Tricks
  • Milk Chocolate – If you want to use milk chocolate (say that’s all you have), feel free to eliminate the sugar in the recipe.
  • Stir regularly – Stir it regularly to avoid a skin from forming on the top.
  •  

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Drinks, Holiday
Cuisine: American, Christmas, Holiday
Like this Recipe? Please Rate & comment below!

Cozy Latin-Inspired Comfort Food Recipes

Hi! I'm Adrianna and this is my cozy space on the internet that is super-charged by butter, flour and copious amounts of pasta. Stay awhile, will you!

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56 Comments

  1. I never knew the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate, but I’m about to go pick up some chocolate so this can happen tonight. This looks amazing!

  2. I love your blog, and I love chocolate, and I love fancy ass stuff that I can actually make at home 🙂 Of course, it is supposed to be 77 here tomorrow….Mother Nature is so confused.

  3. My friend is Colombian and he puts cubes of queso fresco in his homemade hot chocolate. It is an amazing marriage of savory and sweet. The cheese doesn’t melt it just kind of soaks of up the chocolate. This is a Colombian breakfast staple, served with fresh crusty bread for dunking.

    1. My dad is Colombian and I’ve never heard of this. It sounds crazy amazing. I need to bother him and ask him if he knows of this AND then try it. Thanks for sharing!

  4. Lovely an yummy! I hear you…I’m from Spain and for us hot chocolate MUST be super thick and rich, we cannot have it any other way… Lol so thick it can almost holdthe spoon sticking up 😉 and if you have fresh home made churros around… Heaven on a plate! Thanks for sharing!

  5. this looks divine!! i am going to make this (possibly spiked with caramel vodka??!!) for christmas with my family!!

  6. A couple of things. 1) Obsessed with those coffee marshmallows 2) You own the world’s best mugs! 3) Chocolate > cocoa 4) Love your fancy-ass series.

    That’s all.