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 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.
How do you make hot chocolate even better? ›
- Marshmallows and whipped cream are classic hot chocolate add-ins for a reason. ...
- Alcohol of all kinds can be added to hot cocoa to create a festive co*cktail. ...
- For hot chocolate that will offer an energy boost, add in some coffee or espresso. ...
- Nothing is more seasonal than some refreshing peppermint.
Instant Cocoa is made with cocoa powder, as you stated in your question. It's made from leftovers from the chocolate making process and contains little cocoa butter. Hot beverages made with it are called "Hot Cocoa". Drinking Chocolate is actually made with actual chocolate, either in disks, pellets or shavings.
What are the ingredients in great value hot cocoa mix? ›
SUGAR, DAIRY PRODUCT SOLIDS, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), COCONUT OIL, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, LESS THAN 2% OF: SALT, CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE SODIUM, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SODIUM CASEINATE, SILICON DIOXIDE (ANTI-CAKING AGENT), MALTODEXTRIN, MONO-AND DIGLYCERIDES, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, ...
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 better with water or milk? ›
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 is Mexican hot chocolate made of? ›
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 is Starbucks hot chocolate made of? ›
MORE ABOUT THIS DRINK
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.
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.
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 cornstarch version thickened quickly, making the hot chocolate very thick and creamy, and in the end we decided on a combination of cornstarch and confectioner's sugar, for the ideal texture and sweetness.
What are the ingredients in Swiss Miss hot chocolate? ›
From the Package
SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, MODIFIED WHEY, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HYDROGENATED COCONUT OIL, NONFAT MILK, LESS THAN 2% OF: SALT, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Which hot chocolate tastes the best? ›
Most Nostalgic
We'd be remiss not to include Swiss Miss in our taste test because when it comes to hot chocolate mix, it's by far the most well-loved. Swiss Miss makes a variety of flavors of powdered hot chocolate mix from seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice to mix made with unicorn-shaped marshmallows.
Can I use instant hot chocolate instead of cocoa powder? ›
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.
Is hot chocolate better for you than coffee? ›
Mood-boosting effects: Drinking hot chocolate has been shown to increase levels of serotonin and endorphins in the brain, which can improve mood and reduce stress. A healthier option: Compared to coffee, hot chocolate contains less fat and calories and is a good source of antioxidants.
What is the best alcohol to add to hot cocoa? ›
Rum: With its sugar cane base, rum adds just the right punch to your hot chocolate. Try spiced rum on its own, white rum with a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg or a flavored rum such as coconut or vanilla for even more of a tropical taste.
What are the ingredients in Starbucks Double chocolate hot cocoa? ›
CANE SUGAR, COCOA, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), DARK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE MASS, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN), NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOR.
How do you make store bought hot cocoa mix better? ›
Is your packaged hot cocoa mix leaving a little to be desired? Add more flavor by stirring in a teaspoon or two of baking cocoa or even stirring in a little chocolate syrup. This will amp up the chocolatiness and make it the perfect vehicle for all those marshmallows.
Can you substitute hot chocolate mix for 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.
Cocoa Powder: Hot chocolate starts with cocoa powder, which provides a chocolatey flavour. However, hot chocolate mix is distinct from plain cocoa powder, as it often contains added sugar, powdered milk, and sometimes additional flavourings like vanilla or spices.
Which is better cocoa or hot chocolate? ›
Warming chocolate drinks are undoubtedly one of winter's greatest pleasures, but if you're drinking a highly processed hot chocolate, you simply aren't reaping the same health benefits as you could be with cacao. Not only is cacao more satisfying and fulfilling, it's also far better for you and the planet!
Is hot cocoa mix good for you? ›
Hot chocolate has been associated with improved mood and reduced stress levels due to its high cocoa content. The flavanols in cocoa have been linked to increased levels of serotonin, which helps to regulate mood and reduce anxiety. Additionally, theobromine in cocoa can help to reduce fatigue and improve alertness.
