Looking for an easy homemade hot chocolate recipe? The secret to perfect homemade hot chocolate is just three ingredients (that you probably have on hand right now!) Cocoa + Milk + Sugar. That’s it! This recipe is so simple you’ll never buy hot cocoa mix again.
Print the recipe instantly here, or keep scrolling to see the step-by-step instructions with pictures below!
The Easiest Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe (Just 3 Ingredients!)
Looking for an easy homemade hot chocolate recipe? The secret to perfect homemade hot chocolate is just three ingredients (that you probably have on hand right now!)
Cocoa + Milk + Sugar.
That's it! This recipe is so simple you'll never buy hot cocoa mix again.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time4 minutes mins
Total Time9 minutes mins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate, cocoa, hot chocolate, hot cocoa, hot drink, milk, sugar
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 300kcal
Author: Beth
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Hershey’s cocoa powder unsweetened
- 1/2 cup white sugar (use 1/4 cup sugar if you like your hot chocolate less sweet)
- 3 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup milk (to be used separately from other milk)
Instructions
1. Stir together the cocoa powder and sugar in a medium saucepan.
2.Add 1/4 cup of milk and stir constantly over medium-high heat until mixture begins to boil. Continue stirring constantly until all sugar is dissolved. Do not let it burn.
3. Add the remaining milk to the pan and bring the heat up to the desired temperature.
Top with marshmallows or drink it straight up!
During the last Snowpocalypse when I had 5 kids stuck in my house during snowy weather I whipped up a batch of homemade hot chocolate that the kids just loved. The parents were pretty impressed that I could make homemade hot chocolate from scratch without a recipe.
The secret to perfect homemade hot chocolate is just three ingredients (that you probably have on hand right now!)
My mom taught me at a very early age to make this recipe for hot chocolate with just three ingredients, so today I’m going to pass along my secret recipe to y’all.
I actually had to do a few test batches to figure out the measurements since I’ve always eyeballed the ingredients and never followed an actual recipe. My mother taught me to mix sugar and cocoa powder together until it was “the color that hot chocolate is supposed to be”.
I’ll try to be a little more exact. Here is what I came up with in my non-test test kitchen.
My Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe:
- 2 Tablespoon Hershey’s cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- 1/2 cup white sugar (use 1/4 cup sugar if you like your hot chocolate less sweet)
- 3 3/4 cups milk
- 1/4 cup milk (to be used separately from other milk)
Directions:
1. Stir together the cocoa powder and sugar in a medium saucepan.
2. The cocoa powder is going to be lumpy, and that’s ok. Just get them blended together.
3. Add 1/4 cup of milk. My mama always used evaporated canned milk for this part, but I figure most people don’t even know what that is these days, so any kind of milk will do. I used skim. You can use whatever you have on hand.
This is where the secret part comes in. See how the cocoa and milk don’t want to mix together very easily? We’re going to force them to love each other.
4. How can you force it? By applying heat. Bring the mixture to a low boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly. It will go from that to this:
5. Let it boil for a minute or two, until the sugar is dissolved and no longer grainy. Be sure to stir, stir, stir. Don’t let it burn!
And PS? Is there anything more beautiful than boiling chocolate? Yum.
6. Once it’s all good and mixed together, I add the rest of the milk. I’m not going to lie—I didn’t even measure this out, I just poured straight from the jug. If you like a super sweet hot chocolate you could add less, if you like it less sweet, add more milk. This recipe is totally flexible, folks.
How hot is too hot?
When you add the cold milk, you’ll need to turn the heat back up to get the temperature hot again. You can let this simmer on the stove as long as you’d like, depending on how scalded your taste buds like to be when you sip hot drinks.
When I make it for kids I don’t let it heat back up after adding the milk and it makes it just lukewarm enough for my six year old’s tender mouth. You decide how hot you want yours to be.
Optional ingredient: Marshmallows
So there you go. Those are the exact steps you need to know to make homemade hot chocolate on the stove. Marshmallows are totally optional! Stay warm out there and enjoy!
Here is a printable version of the recipe if you need it:
I hope you enjoy this easy homemade hot chocolate recipe with your family. Let me know how you like it!
PS: If you’re planning to create a Hot Chocolate Bar for your holiday party, here are some free printable signs for you to download!
Free Hot Chocolate Bar Printable Signs
FAQs
The 15 Best Things To Add To Hot Chocolate
- Add an extract. A quick and easy way to add flavor to your hot chocolate is by adding a splash of your favorite extract. ...
- Sprinkle in warm spices. ...
- Mix in Nutella. ...
- Swirl in caramel. ...
- Spike it. ...
- Infuse it with orange. ...
- Swap regular sugar for maple syrup. ...
- Add a shot (of coffee)
The source of the chocolate flavour is different. Hot Chocolate is made using solid chocolate melted in warm milk or cream. Hot Cocoa, however, is made from a powdered base of cocoa with added sugar and dissolved in hot water or hot milk.
What are the ingredients in no name hot chocolate mix? ›
Ingredients: Sugars (sugar, Glucose Solids), Coconut Oil, Cocoa,modified Milk Ingredients, Salt, Natural Flavour, Modified Cellulose,dipotassium Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Aluminum Silicate,vegetable Mono- And Diglycerides, Acetylated Tartaric Acids Esters Ofmono- And Diglycerides.
What is the best cocoa powder to make hot chocolate? ›
Unsweetened cocoa powder: a high-quality cocoa powder or cacao powder is essential. I highly recommend using Ghirardelli's 100% cocoa. I think it has the best flavor for hot chocolate (and trust me, I've tried quite a few!)
Is hot chocolate best made with milk or water? ›
Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.
What's the best milk for hot chocolate? ›
Dairy Milk: Full cream dairy milk remains a classic choice for a rich, velvety hot chocolate. Plant-Based Milks: Soy, oat, almond, and coconut milks offer delightful plant-based alternatives, each adding a unique twist.
What is coffee and hot chocolate called? ›
What exactly is mocha? A mocha is a blend of a cappuccino and a hot chocolate. Like a cappuccino it contains espresso, warm milk and a frothy top but it also contains a sweet chocolatey twist using either chocolate powder, chocolate syrup or melted chocolate.
What happens if you use hot chocolate powder instead of cocoa? ›
In short, you can use hot chocolate powder as a cocoa powder substitute in a pinch, but you may not experience the depth of flavour you want. Because most brands of hot chocolate powder include sugar or sweetener, you may wish to reduce the amount of sugar you add to your baking recipe.
Does hot chocolate need sugar? ›
Additionally, pre-made hot cocoa mix often contains artificial sweeteners or other ingredients. Hot chocolate, on the other hand, only needs the naturally occurring sugar in the chocolate, which means hot cocoa tends to be much sweeter than regular hot chocolate.
What is McDonald's hot chocolate made of? ›
McDonald's Hot Chocolate recipe features steamed whole milk with rich hot chocolate syrup and is finished with whipped light cream and chocolate drizzle. Available in small, medium and large sizes. There are 370 calories in a small Hot Chocolate from McDonald's.
Ingredients in Mexican Hot Chocolate
This Mexican hot chocolate is made with real milk, 100% unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla extract, cinnamon, chili powder, and a little bittersweet chocolate to make the whole thing a bit creamier and smoother.
What are the ingredients of Starbucks hot chocolate? ›
Sugar, alkalized cocoa powder, coconut oil, nonfat dry milk, whey solids, sea salt, cocoa extract, sodium caseinate, natural flavor, dipotassium phosphate, mono- and diglycerides, stevoil glycosides. Contains milk. *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
Is homemade hot chocolate better than store-bought? ›
Homemade hot chocolate is fantastic! It's creamier, has a richer chocolate taste and is lower in sugar than the store-bought packets. And, it's super simple to make. If you're a fellow hot cocoa lover, definitely give this homemade recipe a try.
What is the most high quality cocoa powder? ›
Why is Guittard Cocoa Rouge the best cocoa powder? Saffitz's—and the BA Test Kitchen's—favorite high-quality brand for Dutch-processed cocoa powder is Guittard Cocoa Rouge. It has complex, bitter tasting notes and yields silky, fudge-like results when baked into desserts.
How to make hot chocolate taste more chocolatey? ›
Espresso Powder: Coffee has a magical way of intensifying taste of taste chocolate. If you are a chocoholic, you'll love the extra oomph the espresso powder provides. As long as you only add a little, the coffee flavor is imperceptible, but you'll taste the chocolate more.
Why does Mexican hot chocolate taste better? ›
The most significant difference is in the ingredients. Mexican hot chocolate uses various spices, including cinnamon, cloves, and ancho chili pepper.
How do you reduce the bitterness in hot chocolate? ›
Use Milk or Cream
Adding milk or cream to dark chocolate can significantly reduce its bitterness. The fats in milk or cream soften the intense flavours of the cocoa, creating a smoother and less bitter taste. This method is especially effective when making hot chocolate or chocolate sauces.
