Creamy Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
A rich and indulgent hot chocolate recipe combining creamy milk, dark chocolate, and salted caramel for the perfect winter drink. Easy to make and perfect for cozy evenings.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 4 oz (115 g) good-quality dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa), chopped
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) salted caramel sauce
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt flakes
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, extra caramel drizzle, mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Pour 2 cups (480 ml) of whole milk and 1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream into a medium-sized saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat for about 4-5 minutes until just steaming but not boiling.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and immediately add 4 oz (115 g) of chopped dark chocolate. Stir gently with a whisk until the chocolate melts completely and the mixture is smooth and glossy.
- Add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of salted caramel sauce to the chocolate mixture. Whisk until the caramel blends evenly.
- Add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and stir to combine.
- Optionally, return the saucepan to very low heat for another 2 minutes if the mixture cooled too much during stirring, stirring continuously to prevent scorching.
- Pour the hot chocolate into mugs. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt flakes on top and add optional toppings like whipped cream, caramel drizzle, or mini marshmallows.
Notes
Use medium-low heat to avoid scorching the milk and chocolate. Stir constantly when melting chocolate to prevent graininess. Adjust caramel and sea salt to taste. For dairy-free version, substitute whole milk and heavy cream with coconut milk and coconut cream, and use dairy-free caramel sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximate)
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: hot chocolate, salted caramel, winter drink, creamy hot chocolate, easy hot chocolate recipe, cozy drink, chocolate drink