This hot chocolate is quick to make and you’ll fall in love with it with that first sip! It has the most incredible, luxurious texture and a richness that you can cut with a knife. A little bit goes a long way!
You’ll love having this for family or guests around the holidays. It’s perfect to have set-up on the stovetop on low or on warm in the crockpot along with a variety of hot chocolate toppings. Everyone will love making their own cup sip!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Hot Chocolate
- Easy to Make: With only 5 basic ingredients and less than 15 minutes to make, it’s an easy sweet treat for cool days.
- Versatile: You can easily swap or change ingredients to your taste preference.
- Precious Memories: Sipping on hot chocolate often brings back happy memories from childhood.
- Terrific Toppings: One of the fun parts about hot chocolate is getting to add your favorite topper like marshmallows, whipped cream, peppermint, and more!
The Chocolate Base: Choosing Quality and Flavor:
The foundation of any exceptional hot chocolate lies in the chocolate itself. Opt for high-quality dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 60% and good quality milk chocolate chips. Using cheap chocolate in hot chocolate can significantly impact the taste and overall quality of the beverage. They can contain a higher proportion of sugar and less cocoa, contain more fillers such as vegetable oils or waxes, contain artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, and leave a bitter aftertaste.
Ingredients
- Cornstarch: Gives this hot chocolate its thick and luxurious texture.
- Milk: Forms the bulk of the hot chocolate, providing creaminess, richness, and a smooth texture.
- Dark Chocolate Bars and Milk Chocolate Chips: Serves as the base flavoring of hot chocolate, providing the rich, chocolatey taste.
- Granulated Sugar: Enhance the sweetness of the hot chocolate, balancing the bitterness of the dark chocolate.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to the flavor profile of hot chocolate.
Tools You’ll Need
How to make Creamy Hot Chocolate
- To a medium saucepan on medium heat, add 3 ½ cups of milk. To the reserved ½ cup of milk, whisk in cornstarch until blended well and set aside.
- When bubbles appear around edge of the pan, add both chocolates, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt and stir until smooth.
- Whisk in the cornstarch milk mixture.
- Taste a spoonful to see if it’s at your desired sweetness. Bring to a light boil, then immediately reduce to simmer for 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and either rest for 5 minutes prior to serving or pour in a Crockpot set to warm. As it cools, it will continue to thicken. Serve with your favorite hot chocolate toppings.
Tips and Substitutions
- Quality Chocolate: Use high-quality dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 60%. The higher the cocoa content, the richer and more intense the chocolate flavor will be.
- Thickening Agents: Besides cornstarch, you can use arrowroot powder or tapioca starch as alternatives for thickening the hot chocolate. These starches work similarly to cornstarch and provide a smooth, thick texture.
- Alternative Sweeteners: Experiment with natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup. These alternatives can add sweetness while contributing to the overall thickness.
- Nut Butters: Add a small spoonful of almond butter, peanut butter, or hazelnut spread to your hot chocolate. These nut butters not only add thickness but also impart a delightful nutty flavor.
- Coconut Cream: Replace regular milk with coconut cream for a dairy-free, thick hot chocolate. Coconut cream adds richness and a subtle coconut flavor, making it a popular choice for thickening.
- Spices and Flavorings: Enhance the flavor and thickness by adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
Hot Chocolate Variations
- Spiced Hot Chocolate:Add a pinch of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or a dash of chili powder to your hot chocolate for a warm, spicy kick. You can also experiment with cardamom or ginger for unique flavors.
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Stir in a few drops of peppermint extract or add crushed candy canes to create a refreshing peppermint-flavored hot chocolate. Top it with whipped cream and more crushed candy canes for a festive touch.
- Orange Hot Chocolate: Infuse your hot chocolate with a hint of orange by adding orange zest or a splash of orange extract.
- Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate: Drizzle caramel sauce inside your mug before pouring hot chocolate. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top and stir gently.
- Coconut Hot Chocolate: Replace regular milk with coconut milk for a tropical twist. Top your coconut hot chocolate with whipped cream, toasted coconut flakes, and a sprinkle of cocoa powder.
- Mocha Hot Chocolate: Combine hot chocolate with a shot of freshly brewed espresso or strong coffee to create a mocha-flavored delight.
- Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate: Stir in a spoonful of creamy peanut butter into your hot chocolate until it melts completely. The rich, nutty flavor pairs wonderfully with chocolate. Top with whipped cream and chopped peanuts for extra texture.
- Raspberry Hot Chocolate: Add a splash of raspberry syrup or a handful of fresh raspberries to your hot chocolate.
- Cozy Chai Hot Chocolate: Steep a chai tea bag in hot milk before adding chocolate. Remove the tea bag and stir in your favorite chocolate.
- S'mores Hot Chocolate: - Top your hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and crushed graham crackers. Use a kitchen torch to lightly toast the marshmallows for that authentic s'mores flavor.
- White Hot Chocolate: - Use white chocolate instead of dark chocolate or cocoa powder to create a creamy, vanilla-infused hot chocolate. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon
Storage
Refrigeration: If you plan to consume the hot chocolate within a day or two, you can store it in the refrigerator. Transfer the leftover hot chocolate to an airtight container while it's still warm. When you want to reheat it, you can do so gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.
Keep It Warm: If you want to keep the hot chocolate warm for a few hours, consider using a thermal carafe or a slow cooker set on low heat. Stir occasionally to prevent a skin from forming on the surface.
Freezing Hot Chocolate: Let the hot chocolate cool down to room temperature before freezing. Do not put hot liquid directly into the freezer, as it can raise the temperature inside and affect other frozen items. Pour the cooled hot chocolate into ice cube trays or silicone molds. Leave a little space at the top.
Reheating: Transfer the hot chocolate cubes from the freezer to the refrigerator and let them thaw overnight. Alternatively, you can gently reheat the frozen hot chocolate directly from the freezer, but this might take longer and requires careful monitoring to avoid scorching.
Adjustments: You might need to add a bit more milk or cream to adjust the consistency, as freezing can sometimes change the texture of the hot chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, cornstarch is a great option for thickening dairy-free hot chocolate. You can use it in almond milk, coconut milk, or any other non-dairy milk alternative. Just ensure the cornstarch is well-mixed to avoid clumps in the hot chocolate.
To avoid clumps, mix the cornstarch in the milk well before adding it to the hot chocolate. Gradually pour the slurry into the hot chocolate, whisking continuously. Stirring continuously while adding the slurry helps prevent clumping.
Yes, you can reheat cornstarch-thickened hot chocolate. However, keep in mind that cornstarch-thickened liquids may thicken further upon cooling. If the hot chocolate becomes too thick upon reheating, you can thin it out by adding a little warm milk or water and whisking until the desired consistency is reached.
Yes, but it's important to note that it might thicken further as it cools. When reheating, you may need to add a bit of warm milk or water to achieve the desired thickness.
Yes, you can use alternatives like arrowroot powder or tapioca starch as thickening agents for hot chocolate. These starches work similarly to cornstarch and can be used in similar proportions. Experiment to find the one that best suits your taste and dietary preferences.
More Holiday Treats
Creamy Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 4 cups milk divided
- 4 ounces dark chocolate bars (60% cacao) chopped
- 4 ounces milk chocolate chips
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspooon vanilla extract
- Pinch of Salt
- Topping Options: marshmallows, whipped cream, shaved chocolate, crushed peppermint, cinnamon
Instructions
- To a medium saucepan on medium heat, add 3 ½ cups of milk. To the reserved ½ cup of milk, whisk in cornstarch until blended well and set aside.
- When bubbles appear around edge of the pan, add both chocolates, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt and stir until smooth.
- Whisk in the cornstarch milk mixture.
- Taste a spoonful to see if it’s at your desired sweetness. Bring to a light boil, then immediately reduce to simmer for 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and either rest for 5 minutes prior to serving or pour in a Crockpot set to warm. As it cools, it will continue to thicken. Serve with your favorite hot chocolate topping.
Video
Notes
- Quality Chocolate: Use high-quality dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 60%. The higher the cocoa content, the richer and more intense the chocolate flavor will be.
- Thickening Agents: Besides cornstarch, you can use arrowroot powder or tapioca starch as alternatives for thickening the hot chocolate. These starches work similarly to cornstarch and provide a smooth, thick texture.
- Alternative Sweeteners: Experiment with natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup. These alternatives can add sweetness while contributing to the overall thickness.
- Nut Butters: Add a small spoonful of almond butter, peanut butter, or hazelnut spread to your hot chocolate. These nut butters not only add thickness but also impart a delightful nutty flavor.
- Coconut Cream: Replace regular milk with coconut cream for a dairy-free, thick hot chocolate. Coconut cream adds richness and a subtle coconut flavor, making it a popular choice for thickening.
- Spices and Flavorings: Enhance the flavor and thickness by adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
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