Homemade Hot Chocolate

hot chocolate topped with whipped cream in a blue mug

5 from 2 votes

Make this easy two-ingredient homemade hot chocolate your go-to on chilly winter days. With just milk and chocolate chips or your favorite bar chocolate it takes less than 10 minutes on the stove.

Want to adjust the size of this recipe? Click on the number next to servings and use the slider to scale up or down. (Important: the weight measurement for the chocolate will not adjust. 3/4 cup = 6 oz of chocolate chips. If doubling or tripling the recipe, increase the ounce measurement of chocolate accordingly.)

Prep Time1

Cook Time10

Total Time11

Course: Drinks

Keyword: chocolate, chocolate snack, comfort foods, easy drink, fall, hot cocoa, kid-friendly, party and entertaining, party recipe, winter recipe

Servings:

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Cost: $2.00

Equipment

Saucepan
Whisk

Ingredients

4 cups Milk (any type of milk will work - dairy, almond, or oat milk are great)
3/4 cup Chocolate Chips (or 6 oz of any type of chocolate)
Sweetener, 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

Combine 1/4 of the total milk you're using (you can just eyeball this) and the chocolate in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the milk to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan occasionally, until the chocolate is fully melted. (Note: Make sure that the chocolate is fully melted and incorporated into the milk before moving onto the next step. This will insure you get the most smooth, creamy results.)
Pour in all of the 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!

Nutrition