Homemade Hot Cocoa (Hot Chocolate)
This simple hot cocoa recipe couldn't be easier! It uses real cocoa powder and whole milk, creating a rich, creamy treat your whole family will love!
Servings: 4
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- whisk
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup warm water
- 4 cups milk
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- whipped cream or marshmallows, optional
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine cocoa powder, sugar, and salt; add warm water and whisk until smooth.
- Bring to a simmer, stirring continuously, and cook for 3 minutes, reducing the heat if needed.
- Stir in the milk; heat through. Do not allow to boil, as it will scorch the milk.
- Remove from heat and mix in vanilla.
- Pour the hot cocoa into mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream, if desired.
Notes
Milk: Any milk can be used, but whole milk makes it the creamiest, versus 2% or low-fat milk.
Make it dairy-free: Oat milk and unsweetened soy are good options. You can reduce the sugar if using a plant-based milk that is already sweetened. Use a ¼ cup sugar instead.
Homemade Whipped Cream: Try this instead of store-bought for the yummiest whipped cream topping!
Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove using low heat or in the microwave.
Leftovers: This is delicious cold as well and makes a great chocolate milk! It is really rich though, so we usually add a bit more milk to any leftovers if we are drinking it cold.
Crockpot: Keep hot cocoa warm by using the warm setting on your crockpot. Just make sure the hot cocoa is nice and hot before transferring it to the crockpot, as it will not heat it well enough if cold ingredients are added.
