The Best Homemade Hot Chocolate

This Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe is super creamy and rich with chocolate flavor, way better than a store bought powder mix. It is made with chocolate chips, milk, powdered sugar, powdered milk and cocoa. It mixes together on the stove top in minutes. Load it up with some whipped cream, marshmallows, and a dusting of cocoa powder. It will be the best hot chocolate you have ever had!

If you love all things Hot Chocolate, then you will love these Hot Cocoa Cookies!

Why it’s So GOOD!

• It has the perfect amount of sweetness, enough to enhance the chocolate flavor but not too much to be overwhelming.
• The semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder lend the perfect rich chocolate flavor somewhere between milk and dark.
• Customize the toppings with whatever you like.
• This homemade hot chocolate blows the socks off the powder mix you get at the store. Promise!
• It warms your bones on a snowy day, perfect after a day of playing in the snow. (and if you have lots of snow DEFINITELY make this SNOW ICE CREAM!!!)

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need to make Homemade Hot Chocolate, plus some tips on a few ingredients:

Chocolate Chips – I recommend using semi-sweet chocolate chips . They are sweet enough to give your drink a rich chocolatey flavor. You can also try dark chocolate. However I think milk chocolate chips may be too sweet here.

Cocoa Powder – Make sure to buy 100% cocoa, unsweetened cocoa powder. You will find it in the baking aisle.

Powdered Milk– You will usually find this in the baking aisle. It will be in a box or canister.

Milk– I recommend using whole milk to make a creamier hot cocoa, but 2% will definitely work too.

How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate

In a small saucepan warm the milk over medium-low heat.

In a separate bowl whisk together the dry milk, cocoa powder and powder sugar.

Whisk it into the warm milk, until it is completely mixed in.

Now add the chocolate chips and stir until they are melted in.

Remove from the heat and pour into mugs.

This recipe will fill two full mugs completely, or you can fill three mugs about ⅔ and fill the rest with toppings.

Hot Chocolate Toppings and Mix-In’s

There is nothing better than a hot cup of hot chocolate topped with all your favorite toppings.

For me, I love mini marshmallows that have melted half way into the hot cocoa and have a left a creamy coating across the top.

Here are some other options:

• Fresh Whipped Cream
• Marshmallows
• Marshmallow Bits
• Candy Canes
• Cocoa Powder
• A drop of peppermint extract adds a fun flavor!

Making it Boozy

If you are serving adults that would love a little booze added to their hot chocolate, here are some liquors that will be delicious added to your cocoa:

• Peppermint schnapps
• Bailey’s Irish Cream
• Rumchata (Cinnamon and Cream)
• Kahlua
• Whipped Cream Vodka
• Marshmallow Vodka
• Fireball (Cinnamon)
• Chocolate Liqueur

Add any one of these when the hot cocoa comes off the heat. Start with 3 oz. and then taste to see if you would like to add more.

If some adults want something a little stronger, pop over to this recipe for a Tequila Hot Toddy!

Make Ahead

You can absolutely make this mix ahead, then it will be ready when you come in from a cold night or snowy day and are ready to warm up with a nice hot drink!

Simply mix together the cocoa, powdered sugar, powdered milk and chocolate chips. Keep in a sealed container at room temp for a week or two.

Whisk the mix into 3 cups of hot milk when you are ready.

More Recipes Perfect for Cold Nights!

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