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.
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.