Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

Ingredients for Homemade Hot Chocolate

Five super simple ingredients are all you need to make the best hot chocolate ever! This recipe is easy to customize, so I’ve got you covered on substitutions. Exact measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Milk: Use your favorite kind. Anything from 2%, whole, half & half, almond, soy, or nut milk works. Remember that the higher the fat content, the creamier your homemade hot chocolate will be. Cocoa Powder: I like using Dutch process cocoa for a smoother chocolate flavor. Granulated Sugar: A little white sugar is all you need to sweeten your hot chocolate! Milk Chocolate Chips: I add milk chocolate chips because I love the creaminess they add, but feel free to swap these out for dark or white chocolate chips instead. Vanilla Extract: Vanilla helps to give your hot chocolate more delicious flavor. It’s subtle, but makes all the difference in how it tastes!

Making Your Hot Chocolate

Making hot chocolate from scratch is just as easy as making it from a premade mix! The only difference is that homemade hot chocolate is a million times more creamy and indulgent! Your family is going to go crazy over it this winter.

Syrups: For double the chocolate, add a little homemade chocolate sauce to your drink. You can also add salted caramel sauce for some salty sweet flavor! Make it Minty: Add a little peppermint extract or even melt down Andes chocolates into your batch for mint hot chocolate. Spices: For a flavor fit for the holidays, add a little pumpkin pie spice to your hot chocolate! The cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger gives it a cookie-like flavor. Add cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne for Mexican hot chocolate!

In the Refrigerator: Once your hot chocolate has cooled, you can keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheating: I recommend reheating your hot chocolate over the stove since you have a little more control over the temperature than if it’s in the microwave. Only heat it until it’s warmed through- don’t let it boil! You don’t want your milk to burn.