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

Homemade hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and whipped cream.

Ingredients

This homemade hot chocolate is super simple to make. To get started, you’ll need the following:

Hot chocolate ingredients
  • 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.

Chopped chocolate

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.

Adding all the ingredients for hot chocolate to a little pot on the stove
Homemade hot chocolate in a pot (whisking it).

Step 3 – Serve in cups with your favorite hot chocolate toppings. We chose mini marshmallows and whipped cream.

Homemade hot chocolate

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!

Homemade hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and whipped cream.

Recipe Card

Hot Chocolate

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Western
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Author: Doina

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).

You Might Also Like to Try

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!

Homemade hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and whipped cream.
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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