Description
This homemade hot chocolate recipe offers a rich and creamy beverage perfect for cozying up on a cold day. Made with whole milk, cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate, and a hint of vanilla extract, it delivers a perfectly smooth and indulgent hot cocoa experience. Serve topped with homemade whipped cream for an extra touch of decadence.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Base
- 2 ½ cups whole milk
Sweeteners and Flavor
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Chocolate
- 6 oz bittersweet chocolate (or semisweet, milk, or white chocolate)
Toppings
- Homemade whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add the whole milk, granulated sugar, and unsweetened cocoa powder into a medium saucepan to prepare the base of the hot chocolate.
- Heat Mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk occasionally. Heat the mixture until it begins to bubble gently but do not let it boil, ensuring the milk doesn’t scorch and the cocoa powder dissolves evenly.
- Add Chocolate and Vanilla: Stir in the bittersweet chocolate and pure vanilla extract, whisking continuously until the chocolate fully melts and the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Serve: Pour the hot chocolate evenly into four small mugs and top each with a dollop of homemade whipped cream for added richness.
Notes
- 6 oz chocolate is roughly equivalent to 1 cup chopped chocolate pieces.
- Whole milk provides the creamiest texture; for a richer hot chocolate, substitute half of the milk with heavy cream or half-and-half.
- For a dairy-free or vegan alternative, use full-fat coconut milk and dairy-free chocolate.
- Use pure, unsweetened cocoa powder; dark cocoa powder yields a deeper chocolate flavor.
- Granulated sugar can be replaced with organic cane sugar or coconut sugar according to preference.
- You can customize the flavor by adding other extracts such as peppermint in place of vanilla.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheat gently before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 250 ml)
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
