Best Hot Chocolate 🍫☕
I've tested every hot chocolate recipe imaginable, but I keep coming back to this one—it's easy, scales for a crowd, and tastes perfect every time.
There are countless hot chocolate recipes out there, and I'm sure they're all delicious—after all, how can you go wrong with milk, cocoa, and sugar? But despite testing everything from the simplest versions to the most elaborate concoctions, I keep coming back to this tried-and-true recipe time and time again. It's my go-to for a reason!
What makes this hot chocolate special? It's easy to whip up, scales effortlessly for a crowd, and delivers that perfect balance of rich, chocolatey goodness every single time. Whether you're looking to treat yourself or share with friends and family, this cosy drink is the ideal companion to chilly mornings and frosty evenings. ☃️
One tip: While I personally love a little mess and some overflow (you'll see what I mean in my pictures, haha!), you don't have to overfill your cup like I did. Enjoy it any way you like—extra marshmallows, whipped cream, or just as is. Either way, this hot chocolate is sure to warm you up from the inside out. 💕
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) cocoa powder
- 1.5 tbsp (22 ml) sugar
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- 1 ½ cups (355 ml) milk
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream whipped together with 1.5 tsp (7 ml) sugar
- chocolate shavings
- chocolate ganache drizzled on top
- cinnamon
- cocoa dusting
- sprinkles
Instructions
- 1
Combine the cocoa, sugar, a pinch of salt, and water in a small pot. Whisk well. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, and simmer for a couple of minutes until slightly thickened and the cocoa and sugar are dissolved. Be careful not to burn.
- 2
Add the milk, whisking, until heated, making sure not to boil it. I prefer to enjoy mine very hot, so I let it almost come to a very gentle simmer. If making this for kids, you may only need to heat it slightly until warm but not overly hot. Stir in the vanilla and a pinch of salt.
- 3
Optional step to froth up the milk: blend with a hand-held blender or regular blender until smooth and frothy. You can skip this step and move on to the next one, and it will still be delicious.
- 4
Divide between two cups and garnish with toppings of your choice. By far the best garnish in my opinion is whipped cream. It adds a creamy, frothy finish to your cocoa and complements it really well. To whip the cream, simply combine heavy cream with sugar and whip on medium-low speed until soft to medium peaks form. Enjoy!
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