Hot Chocolate

This creamy, delcious hot chocolate is perfect to indulge on a cold winter day with the family giving you the warmth and all the coziness and brings the feeling of togetherness. It is very easy to make in a few minutes with four ingredients. Make it extra special by topping with marshmallow, whipped cream, and/or peppermint candies as per personal choices.

Why this hot chocolate recipe?

Hot chocolate is the best to have a quality time with family. It gives cozy comfort in each sip while you read a book or watch a movie with family during the winter. It just brightens up the air and brings every one closer. Making it is fun too. 

Chocolate has theobromine and seratonin and hence it is a mind booster. Or it makes everything better. This rich and velvety drink is so warm and cozy!

Moreover, it is loved by everyone. I can't image anyone who wouldn't love a cuppa of this drink during this cold winter. Magically, there is a feeling of bonding and togetherness when you start serving cups of hot chocolate. It could take you on nostalgic memory trips that you might want to share with family sitting around the fireplace.

For a very long time, may be over 15 years, I use Ina Garten's hot chocolate recipe with slight modifications to suit our flavors. I watch her episodes in food network and try the recipes. Here is the link to her recipe. It is creamy, delicious, chocolatey, and mostly comforting.

This is a standard drink to make when my kids friends gather in our home to do projects too. My modified version has half the amount of half and half, and correspondingly a little less chocolate too without any compromise in creaminess and flavor. I did omit the espresso in her recipe.

Is hot chocolate different from hot cocoa?

Yes. Hot chocolate is rich, creamy, and velvety made with real chocolate. Because of the cocoa butter present in chocolate, it gives the extra richness and flavor. It may not be very sweet but has the right amount sweetness contributed by the chocolates.

Whereas hot cocoa is a easy and very quick drink made by using cocoa powder and it is also much sweeter because of the added sugar in the quick mixes. This is not rich beacuse of the missing cocoa butter.

Ingredients

To make this creamy, delciious, decadent, and conforting hot chocolate, you will need the following ingredients:

Milk - This recipe uses whole milk and I would recommend the same for the rich and creamy flavor.

Half and half - This also adds to the creamy flavor. In case you do not have

Semi sweet chocolate and milk chocolate - Good quality chocolate gives the decadent and velvety chocolate drink.

Vanilla - Boosts flavor.

There is no added sugar. However, you may add one or two tablespoons if you prefer or if you have a very sweet tooth.

How many servings? Can you scale up?

This is a simple recipe. Just add everything and bring to a boil and simmer for a couple of minutes. The following makes 2 -4 servings.

This recipe can be scaled up easily to suit your needs. This is a crowd pleaser and hence you can make it following this simple recipe.

What can I add as toppings?

Hot chocolate is always delicious! You can make it extra delicious and elevate the flavors by adding toppings.

Some of the common toppings are whipped cream and marshmallows. You could also serve with candy canes or have crushed candy canes. That peppermint flavor elevates the flavors up by a notch. I also like to add chocolate shavings on top. Alternatively, you could drzzle with caramel or salted caramel syrup too!

Can I make this with chocolate chips?

I would recommend good chocolate bar to make this. However, you also make this chocolate chips and there is not much difference. Chocolate chips also have cocoa butter though it is slightly lower than good quality chocolate bars.

Moreover, I have tried making this with a mix of white chocolate, semi sweet as well milk chocolate chips and it works well. If you prefer, you could also try dark chocolate chips or chocolate.

More Hot chocolate/cocoa Recipes

This Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate is a great option to make by not making the rich drink on stove top and/or when you have a huge crowd to entertain. You could give edible gifts like Hot Cocoa Mix during the holidays.

For more gifting options as well as for your family, you could also consider these Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa Bombs, Peppermint Hot Chocolate Bombs, or Red Velvet Hot Cocoa Bombs. They make memorable and flavorful gifts.