Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate
A rich and velvety hot chocolate recipe made with simple pantry staples, perfect for cozy moments and easy to customize for dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups whole milk (480 ml)
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (15 g)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (25 g)
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream (30 ml)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml)
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, marshmallows, cinnamon
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together cocoa powder, sugar, and a pinch of sea salt.
- Add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of whole milk and whisk vigorously until smooth and thick with no lumps.
- Slowly stir in the remaining 1 3/4 cups (420 ml) whole milk and heavy cream. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until hot and steamy but not boiling, about 4-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract.
- Pour into mugs and garnish with whipped cream, marshmallows, or a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Whisk cocoa powder and sugar with a small amount of milk first to prevent lumps. Heat gently and avoid boiling to prevent bitterness and scorching. For dairy-free, substitute milk and cream with coconut or almond milk and coconut cream. Add sugar substitutes after heating to dissolve properly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 225
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: hot chocolate, creamy hot chocolate, homemade hot chocolate, cozy drink, winter drink, easy hot chocolate