Description
This creamy stovetop hot chocolate recipe is a cozy and delicious treat made by whisking together milk, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and chocolate chips. Gently heated and infused with vanilla and sea salt, this classic beverage is perfect for warming up on chilly days and can be easily customized for dairy-free or sweeter preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Hot Chocolate
- 4 cups milk (whole or 2%)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped semi sweet chocolate or chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Generous pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Combine ingredients: In a medium saucepan on the stovetop, combine the milk, cocoa powder, and brown sugar. Whisk well to dissolve the cocoa and sugar evenly into the milk.
- Heat mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk frequently. Heat the mixture until it is steaming hot and tiny bubbles appear around the edges but do not let it boil. This ensures smooth, creamy hot chocolate.
- Melt chocolate: Reduce the heat to low and add the chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips. Stir continuously until the chocolate is completely melted and blended into the mixture.
- Finish and serve: Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt to enhance the flavors. Serve immediately, optionally topped with whipped cream or marshmallows for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Use oat milk and vegan chocolate chips to make this hot chocolate dairy-free and vegan-friendly.
- For a sweeter drink, substitute semi-sweet chocolate with milk chocolate and/or add an extra tablespoon of sugar.
- If this is too rich for kids, dilute with some water to their taste.
- For a single serving, use 1 cup milk, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon semi-sweet chocolate chips, a drop of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
