Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
My homemade hot chocolate is sheer happiness in a cup! It’s made from a chopped-up chocolate bar, heavy cream, milk, and a pinch of salt.
Served with sweet toppings like mini marshmallows or whipped cream, is there a better companion to watch movies over the holidays on the sofa with? I think not!
Indulgent Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
This homemade hot chocolate is super simple to make. To get started, you’ll need the following:
- Milk – 1 1/2 cup whole milk
- Heavy Cream – 1/2 cup heavy cream (also known as double cream in the UK)
- Chocolate Bar – 1 chocolate bar (4oz or ~115 grams)
- Sea Salt Flakes or Kosher Salt – a pinch of sea salt flakes or kosher salt (enhances the sweetness of the chocolate)
- Marshmallows, Whipped Cream, and/or other Hot Chocolate Toppings (Optional)
Ingredient Notes
Milk & Cream – You can make this hot chocolate with just milk and no cream. The cream simply makes it creamier, richer, and thicker. You can also substitute heavy cream with half and half or light cream.
Chocolate – I generally use either a baking chocolate bar (semi-sweet, bittersweet, or a combination) or my favorite eating chocolate bar (like the salted caramel dark chocolate bar pictured above).
Sugar – I never add sugar to my hot chocolate (as I generally use a chocolate bar with a cacao content of less than 75%). If you use a baking chocolate bar with 100% cacao / no added sugar, you will likely need to add some sugar (start with one teaspoon of sugar per serving and add more to your taste).
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Chop the chocolate bar into smaller pieces.
Step 2 – Add the chopped chocolate, milk, heavy cream, and pinch of salt to a small pot on the stove over medium-low heat. Stir with a whisk continuously until the chocolate is melted (about 5-6 minutes). Do not let the mixture boil, or the oils in the chocolate bar could make the mixture split.
Step 3 – Serve in cups with your favorite hot chocolate toppings. We chose mini marshmallows and whipped cream.
You could also try it with chocolate sprinkles, glazed cherries, and syrups. The choices are endless! Let me know in the comments if this hug in a cup kept you cozy on a cold winter’s night!
Recipe Card
Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 chocolate bar (4oz or ~115 grams)
- a pinch of sea salt flakes or kosher salt (enhances the sweetness of the chocolate)
- optional toppings (marshmallows, whipped cream, and/or other hot chocolate toppings)
Instructions
- Chop the chocolate bar into smaller pieces.
- Add the chopped chocolate, milk, heavy cream, and pinch of salt to a small pot on the stove over medium-low heat. Stir with a whisk continuously until the chocolate is melted (about 5-6 minutes). Do not let the mixture boil, or the oils in the chocolate bar could make the mixture split.
- Serve in cups with your favorite hot chocolate toppings. We chose mini marshmallows and whipped cream.
Notes
Milk & Cream – You can make this hot chocolate with just milk and no cream. The cream simply makes it creamier, richer, and thicker. You can also substitute heavy cream with half and half or light cream.
Chocolate – I generally use either a baking chocolate bar (semi-sweet, bittersweet, or a combination) or my favorite eating chocolate bar (like the salted caramel dark chocolate bar pictured above).
Sugar – I never add sugar to my hot chocolate (as I generally use a chocolate bar with a cacao content of less than 75%). If you use a baking chocolate bar with 100% cacao / no added sugar, you will likely need to add some sugar (start with one teaspoon of sugar per serving and add more to your taste).
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Save this recipe to one of your recipe boards. Once the winter sets in, you can make a delicious cup of this hot chocolate to warm you up and keep you snug!
