Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
Updated Dec 05, 2025
Make hot chocolate from scratch using real cocoa, milk, and sugar. Simple ingredients, fast method, and better than boxed mixes!
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Homemade hot chocolate is so good!
I didn’t grow up making hot chocolate from scratch, but once I tried it, I never went back. It’s richer, smoother, and tastes way better than anything powdered. I originally switched because the boxed mixes were either too sweet or full of things I didn’t really want, and this version uses simple pantry ingredients instead. Now I just keep everything on hand so I can whisk up a mug whenever someone needs warming up, and it’s great for a hot chocolate bar setup when people come over.
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Homemade Hot Chocolate Ingredients
- Milk: Cow or plant-based. It is your choice, oat milk, soy, coconut milk will all work.
- Sugar: I like cane sugar for this hot chocolate recipe, but you can use granulated sugar instead.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Just look for an unsweetened cocoa powder. Dutch-processed or natural will work just the same.
- Vanilla extract: Swap for almond extract or peppermint extract for a festive twist. If you use peppermint, you need just a few drops, it’s strong!
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: This is where you can go wild. Sub in dark chocolate chips or white chocolate. Chop up a similar amount of your favorite chocolate bar instead of using chips.
- Mini Marshmallows: Optional, for topping. Any variety of marshmallow works, even a tiny spoonful of Marshmallow Fluff is fun.
- Chocolate shavings: shave a chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler, use chopped up chocolate chips, M&Ms or another favorite candy, or buy chocolate sprinkles.
How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate
Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons cane sugar
- 3 ½ cups milk
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Mini marshmallows for serving
- Chocolate shavings for serving
Instructions
- Fill a small pot with the water and bring to a boil. Whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar.
- Reduce heat to medium and whisk in the milk. Cook over medium heat until the milk is heated but not boiling, about 3 minutes
- Add chocolate chips and continue to whisk until the chocolate chips melt and the mixture becomes smooth, about 2 more minutes.
- Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla extract.
- Serve with mini marshmallows, if desired.
Notes
- My Top Tip: Watch the pot! Truly! This is a super fast recipe but burning does spoil it. Cocoa really tastes best if the milk is not scorched or boiled.
- Storage: Leftovers can be cooled and kept covered in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Reheat it on the stovetop to warm through to serve.
- Freezing: This is best freshly made, but if you have lots of excess, pour leftover, cooled, hot chocolate into ice cube trays. Use the frozen cubes as an addition to your hot or cold coffee. Alternatively, use them to make a frozen hot chocolate drink.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
“I used regular milk, and it tastes delicious. Thank you for sharing great recipes!”
– Nita
Video Tutorial
Recipe Variations
- Add some coffee flavor. Add 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder in with the cocoa powder. The coffee will amplify the chocolate flavor.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or a dash of cayenne pepper for a spicy twist on classic hot chocolate.
- Sprinkles: Add a colorful array of holiday or themed sprinkles to your toppings. Kids will especially enjoy this festive touch.
Recipe Tips
- Stir vigorously in the beginning to dissolve the sugar. This allows the cocoa powder to get incorporated well before adding in the milk. Work until there is a smooth, even paste. It is hard to get the lumps out once milk is added.
- Watch the pot! Truly! This is a super fast recipe but burning does spoil it. Cocoa really tastes best if the milk is not scorched or boiled. Also, if it does boil, it can boil over the pot and make a big mess.
- Use chocolate chips or a chocolate bar cut into small chunks. This helps to speed up the process, so the chocolate dissolves faster.
- Use full-fat milk for best flavor. Any milk will work, but the fuller fat versions make the most luscious, dessert-quality cocoas.
Recipes to pair with Homemade Hot Chocolate
- What’s hot chocolate without a little homemade Whipped Cream?
- Or pair with classic holiday cookie like these Biscotti or my Tahini Shortbread Cookies
FAQs
Dutch-process cocoa powder, as opposed to “natural” cocoa powder, is processed to lessen chocolate’s acidity. This matters in recipes using baking soda, but will not affect hot cocoa, except for the fact that the Dutch-processed type is usually richer and darker.
Gritty hot chocolate is the result of not fully dissolving the cocoa-sugar mix. Whisk, whisk, whisk in the beginning to make sure the cocoa powder is fully incorporated and the sugar is dissolved in the hot water, and keep whisking after adding the milk.
Comments
I want to try this. At what point would you add cinnamon or peppermint extract?
I love that idea! You would add it off the heat, just like you would with the vanilla extract in the recipe.
Hi I loved the recipe, it made me warm in winter and now I’m all warmed up! thank you so much for this website, it’s amazing, I love it 🤗☕♨️🔥
Aww, so glad you loved the recipe! Thank you, Amaya!!
Very good Hot Chocolate
Glad you enjoyed it!
Do you think this could be reheated in a crockpot and served at a party?
I don’t see why not!
Delicious. I made it with coconut milk and only had dark chocolate chips instead of semi sweet. And just added whipped cream. Don’t really like marshmallows.Turned out very good. Thanks for sharing. 😎
So happy to hear that it turned out well for you and thank you for sharing!
This is my favourite.
So happy to hear that, Ramu!
skip the marshmallows or even whipped cream. A good dollop of frozen vanilla yogurt is THE ONLY WAY TO GO!
The flavors can’t be matched. We’ve made this (Granny’s) recipe forever but the last 20 years we’ve used frozen vanilla yogurt as a topper. DIVINE❤️❤️
Yum, sounds so good!
If we are to use this recipe for the hot cocoa bombs, we use only the cane sugar and cocoa powder right?
You can also add a few semi-sweet chocolate chips!
I used regular milk and it tastes delicious. Thank you for sharing great recipes!
That’s amazing! You’re so welcome!
Perfect recipe! Will make all winter long ❄️❄️❄️
Thank you so much! Yay!!