This crockpot hot chocolate recipe makes an irresistibly creamy, smooth drink. It takes only four ingredients and stays warm for hours — making it great for serving!
Who doesn’t like hot chocolate? Whenever I host friends or family during the winter, I make sure to have hot chocolate ready to go. It’s especially great to have on hand after the kids have been outside playing in the snow, or as a treat at a Christmas cookie party!
I love that this crockpot method keeps the hot chocolate warm for hours. You can prep the ingredients and stick them all into the pot a few hours ahead of time and by the time the party rolls around, the homemade crockpot hot chocolate will be more than ready to go — and it’ll stay warm for the whole time. It’s a win-win!
Did you know? Hot chocolate and hot cocoa are actually different drinks! Hot chocolate is made with melted chocolate and milk, whereas hot cocoa is often a mix of cocoa powder and condensed milk.
Crockpot Hot Chocolate Video
How To Make Crockpot Hot Chocolate
Do you have five minutes and a crockpot? That’s all it takes to get the best crockpot hot chocolate mixed up and simmering away!
- Turn the crockpot on: Turn the crockpot on the low heat setting.
- Add the ingredients: Add in the milk, heavy whipping cream, and chopped chocolate. Stir together.
- Cook the hot chocolate: Cook the hot chocolate, whisking every 20-30 minutes to help the chocolate melt. After about an hour and a half, the hot chocolate should be fully melted and silky smooth. Continue cooking for 30 more minutes.
- Serve the hot chocolate: Turn the heat setting to “keep warm” while serving. Pour the hot chocolate into a mug and enjoy with your favorite toppings!
Hot tip: Double or triple this recipe for large parties! Use a crockpot with a capacity of at least five quarts like this one to prevent overflow.
Ingredient Variations
This hot cocoa recipe is incredibly simple, so there’s plenty of room for experimentation. Switch out the type of chocolate, or add extracts or a pinch of salt to boost the flavor.
- Chocolate: Try a blend of dark, bittersweet, or semisweet chocolate for a more intensely chocolate taste. Or, use a higher proportion of milk chocolate if you like things sweeter.
- Vanilla: Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to accentuate the sweetness.
- Peppermint: Add a dash of peppermint extract to bring minty Christmas cheer to your hot chocolate.
- Salt: Mix in a pinch of salt to enhance the chocolate flavor and balance any bitterness.
- Marshmallows: Don’t forget to stock up on a bag of mini marshmallows if you love the extra sweetness to the top of your drink!
Tips For the Creamiest Hot Chocolate
Is there anything more satisfying than a steaming mug of homemade hot chocolate? Follow these tips to ensure your hot chocolate turns out ultra-creamy and delicious.
- Use high-quality chocolate. Chocolate bars have the best flavor and smoothest melting texture (we love the Ghirardelli brand). Avoid chocolate chips, which typically contain stabilizers that prevent melting.
- Don’t skimp on the fat. Full-fat dairy like whole milk and heavy cream produce the creamiest hot chocolate.
- Experiment with the proportions. Each chocolate bar brand differs slightly in ounces, so the measurements don’t have to be precise. Stick with 3-4 ounces of dark chocolate and 8-10 ounces of milk chocolate for the ideal flavor balance.
- Whisk the hot chocolate periodically. This ensures that the chocolate melts evenly to create a silky smooth texture. Here’s our favorite whisk for everything!
- Stir the hot chocolate before drinking it. Hot chocolate tends to develop a milk film on the top, so a quick stir helps to break it up.
More Chocolate Recipes
- Chocolate Ganache — A silky chocolate spread perfect for decorating cakes or enjoying on its own
- Chocolate-Honey Cake — Chocolate and honey cake layered with a condensed milk and Irish cream liqueur filling
- Chocolate Truffles — Indulgent truffle balls made with cream cheese and dark chocolate
Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole milk
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 3.5 oz dark chocolate finely chopped
- 8 oz milk chocolate finely chopped
Instructions
- Turn the crockpot on the low heat setting. Add in the milk, heavy whipping cream, and chopped chocolate. Stir together.
- Cook the hot chocolate, whisking every 20-30 minutes to help the chocolate melt. After about 90 minutes, the mixture should be fully melted and silky smooth. Continue cooking for 30 more minutes.
- Turn the heat setting to "keep warm" while serving. Pour the hot chocolate into a mug and enjoy with your favorite toppings!
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