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    Home > Recipes > Drinks

    Homemade Hot Chocolate

    Published: Jan 15, 2021 · Modified: Oct 18, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links.

    hot chocolate
    hot chocolate
    homemade hot chocolate

    hot chocolate in a blue mug

    Make this easy two-ingredient homemade hot chocolate your go-to on chilly winter days. It can be easily customized with your favorite chocolate and takes just a few minutes on the stovetop. 

    The recipes I make most often are the simplest and occasionally (as happened with my favorite Green Smoothie) those are the recipes I forget to share. But this, the year of virtual school, and work-from-home, and cold winter days with nowhere to go, seems like it might be the year that you need little more hot chocolate in your life. 

    melted chocolate in a saucepan

    I have been making homemade hot chocolate this way for years because it is so simple to scale up or down and uses ingredients I always have. I always have milk and I always have chocolate (in bars or chocolate chips). I can usually scrounge up something to make it a bit more fun - marshmallows or a few sprinkles or a candy cane looped around the rim. 

    Here’s all you need to know.

    bars of chocolate on a grey countertop

    Ingredients

    It’s just two ingredients! And they are:

    • Chocolate - Any type of chocolate works with this method. Chocolate chips or bar chocolate. I like to use a high quality baking chocolate like Baker’s or I use the Aldi chocolate bars that I keep around as a treat. I often use a very dark chocolate but will add some sugar at the end for my kids since they prefer it a bit on the sweeter side.
    • Milk - Dairy, non-dairy, whole, skim - use any kind you like.

    melting chocolate in a saucepan

    Toppings and Mix-ins for Hot Chocolate

    • Marshmallows
    • Whipped Cream
    • Mini Candy Canes
    • Piroulines or other Wafer Cookies
    • Caramel Sauce
    • Chocolate Sauce
    • Butterscotch Chips
    • Nutella
    • Speculoos / Cookie Butter
    • Peanut Butter

    For lots of other ideas, check out my post on How to Set Up a Hot Chocolate Bar.

    whipping cream in a clear glass bowl

    More Chocolate Recipes

    • Chocolate Brownie Crackle Cookies
    • Chocolate Chip Brownie Tarts
    • One-Bowl Chocolate Guinness Cake
    • One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
    • Salted Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cookies
    • No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
    • Salted Caramel Chocolate Cream Bowls

    Favorite Tools

    • All Clad Saucepan
    • Ladle
    hot chocolate topped with whipped cream in a blue mug
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Homemade Stovetop Hot Chocolate

    Make this easy two-ingredient homemade hot chocolate your go-to on chilly winter days. It can be easily customized with your favorite chocolate and other flavors and takes just a few minutes on the stovetop.
    Want to adjust the size of this recipe? Click on the number next to servings and use the slider to scale up or down.
    Prep Time1 min
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time11 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Keyword: golden milk, hot cocoa, turmeric recipes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 243kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $4.00

    Equipment

    • Saucepan

    Ingredients

    • 4 oz Chocolate (use bar chocolate or chocolate chips; see note)
    • 4 cups Milk (any type of milk will work - dairy, almond, or oat milk are great)
    • Sweetner, to taste (if using a very dark chocolate, you may want to add some white or brown sugar, agave, or honey)
    • Mix-ins or toppings like whipped cream, more grated chocolate, marshmallows, peppermint extract, candy canes, caramel, etc.

    Instructions

    • Place chocolate into a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. When the chocolate is starting to melt around the edges, pour in 1 cup of milk.
    • Heat milk and chocolate until steaming and small bubbles start to rise from the bottom. As the milk heats, whisk it frequently, being sure to scrape up any melted chocolate on the bottom of the pan.
    • Pour in remaining milk and heat until hot chocolate is steaming but not boiling.
    • Note: If you used a very dark or bittersweet chocolate, taste the hot chocolate and stir in your favorite sweetner if needed.
    • Serve with your favorite mix-ins for flavor or toppings. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Chocolate - Any type of bar or chip chocolate works well here. For the most flavorful results high-quality bar chocolate like Ghirardelli or Baker’s (find this in the baking aisle) work great. Chocolate chips work just fine too. I like to use a very bitter chocolate (60-85% cacao) which yields an intense chocolate flavor. You can always taste it and stir in some extra sweetener if you'd like. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 108mg | Potassium: 436mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 463IU | Calcium: 302mg | Iron: 1mg

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Related

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

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    Welcome! We're Jess and Frank. Since 2010, we have been serving up easy, original recipes here on Inquiring Chef.

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