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Home Recipes Drinks 5-Minute Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

5-Minute Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

5 minutes
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By: Britni Vigil
12/07/2021Updated: 1/23/2022
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This simple homemade hot chocolate recipe takes just a few ingredients and a few minutes to make on the stove! All you’ll need is some cocoa powder, sugar, and milk to whip up a batch of this warm and delicious drink!

glass mug with hot chocolate topped with whipped cream

I don’t drink coffee, so I’ve become quite the avid hot chocolate drinker. When everyone else is getting coffee and you’re at a coffee shop, it’s just not fun to drink water so I always order a hot chocolate.

I’ve had some really good hot chocolates before and some really not great, watered down, ones.

I’ll be honest, I regularly grab the hot chocolate mix packets and just make myself a mug at home but there’s just nothing like homemade hot chocolate – not even the packets.

So I typically leave the packets to use for things like these hot chocolate Christmas muddy buddies and this hot chocolate dip. The packets of flavor are perfect for both of those!

Whipping up a batch of homemade hot chocolate is way easier that you’d probably think. Plus, it’s an easy and delicious way to get your hot chocolate fix!

This recipe takes just about five minutes to make and you can top it with whatever you want – whipped cream, marshmallows, or any of the toppings I had on my hot chocolate bar, for a special treat!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Good for a crowd – need hot chocolate to warm up your entire family after a day of sledding or doing one of these Christmas activities? This recipe is perfect for making a big batch of hot chocolate!
  • Balanced chocolate flavor – since I know not everyone loves super rich hot chocolate and I know people don’t love watered down hot chocolate, this recipe has a nice balanced chocolate flavor that’s universally liked!
  • 5-minute recipe – like I mentioned before, you can make a batch of this in five minutes or less depending on how quickly your stove will boil the ingredients! Who doesn’t love 5-minute recipes?!

Ingredients

ingredients for homemade hot chocolate with labels

Ingredient Notes

  • Whole milk – it’s important to use whole milk in this recipe because you need the full fat content to give this homemade hot chocolate its richness.
  • Mini marshmallows – I’ve included mini marshmallows in my ingredients list only because I personally don’t think hot chocolate is hot chocolate without marshmallows. You can leave them out or top it with anything else you’d like instead!

How to make homemade hot chocolate

Alright are you ready to see how easy is to make homemade hot chocolate?

Start by combining the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a large pan. Mix it together with a wooden spoon just to distribute these dry ingredients around in the pan.

cocoa powder in a pan

Add water to the mixture, turn on the pan to medium-high, and heat to boiling.

Once the mixture boils, boil it for another two minutes, stirring constantly so the chocolate mixture doesn’t melt. I’ve done that and it does not taste good.

Pan with melted chocolate and water

After you’ve boiled for two minutes, add the milk to the pot and heat the pot back up so the entire mixture is warm but do NOT boil. You don’t want boiled milk in this, trust me.

If your stove heats quickly or heats hot, I recommend adding the milk and turning the heat to medium-low and letting it gradually warm up.

pan with homemade hot chocolate

Remove from the heat and serve as soon as your homemade hot chocolate reaches the temperature you want. You can make it super hot (but again, don’t boil) or just warm it enough for it to be considered hot chocolate without scorching your tongue (also not fun).

Once it’s ready, carefully pour into individual glasses, mugs, or even thermoses.

ladle of hot chocolate above a pot of homemade hot chocolate

Let people top their homemade hot chocolate with whatever toppings they’d like. I prefer marshmallows or whipped cream (fresh whipped cream is best).

You could also serve with hot chocolate spoons, candy canes for stirring, or really anything else to make the experience of drinking hot chocolate a more enjoyable one.

Glass mug with homemade hot chocolate topper with marshmallows

Expert Tips

Hot chocolate should be enjoyed immediately. While technically you could refrigerate the leftovers and warm up later, it just doesn’t taste the same. And this recipe is so simple, it’s easier to just make a fresh new batch!

Transfer to a warm slow cooker or crock pot if you’d like to keep this warm throughout a party. Just keep the slow cooker on low heat throughout the party so you don’t scorch the drink.

Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze hot chocolate?

I do not recommend freezing this hot chocolate, instead try just whipping up a batch of this frozen hot chocolate instead!

glass mug full of hot chocolate

More Easy Drink Recipes

If you like hot chocolate, you’ll love these other drinks!

  • Thanksgiving punch – this delicious fall punch combines cranberry and orange along with some other flavors for a delicious holiday drink!
  • Spiced apple cider – if you like apple cider, you have to try this spiced version that’s warmed up in both flavor and temperature!
  • Caramel apple drink – this fancy caramel apple mocktail combines sparkling cider and caramel in a delicious and fun drink!
  • Christmas punch – one of my favorite punches ever, this one combines Sprite, apple cider, and some secret ingredients in a flavor combination that’s just delicious!
  • Holiday punch – if you like sherbet punch, this is the punch for you!
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Print Rate
5 from 2 votes

Homemade Hot Chocolate

This simple homemade hot chocolate recipe takes just a few ingredients and a few minutes to make on the stove! 
Prevent your screen from going dark
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Serves9 servings

Ingredients

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 4 ½ cups whole milk

Instructions

  • Start by combining the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a large pan. 
    1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 tsp salt
  • Add water to the mixture, turn on the pan to medium-high, and heat to boiling. Once the mixture boils, boil it for another two minutes, stirring constantly.
    1 1/2 cups water
  • After you’ve boiled for two minutes, add the milk to the pot and heat the pot back up so the entire mixture is warm but do NOT boil. 
    4 1/2 cups whole milk
  • Remove from the heat and serve as soon as your homemade hot chocolate reaches the temperature you want. 

Tips & Notes:

Hot chocolate should be enjoyed immediately. While technically you could refrigerate the leftovers and warm up later, it just doesn’t taste the same. 
Transfer to a warm slow cooker or crock pot if you’d like to keep this warm throughout a party. Just keep the slow cooker on low heat throughout the party so you don’t scorch the drink.
 

Nutrition Info

Calories: 125kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Sodium: 120mg, Potassium: 210mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 198IU, Calcium: 143mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

Author: Britni Vigil
Course:Drinks
Cuisine:American
Did You Make This?Tag @PlayPartyPlan on Facebook and Instagram and hashtag it #playpartyplan so I can see your creations!
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  1. Sheila Eaton says

    Posted on 2/15 at 4:04 pm

    5 stars
    Favorite hot chocolate!

    Reply
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