My favorite hot chocolate is as follows: thick, creamy, luxuriously chocolatey, usually dairy-free, super simple to make, and ultra comforting on a cold day.
Bonus points for being made in 1 pot with a handful of simple pantry ingredients and just a few minutes of work.
Double bonus points for being topped with marshmallows and/or whipped cream.
Want to add some superfoods into your life? Feel free to mix in your favorite plant-powered goods (such as turmeric, cinnamon, maca, medicinal mushrooms, cbd, etc. etc. ) or add some espresso powder or peppermint extract for some fun mocha or mint vibes.
Want to just enjoy the glory of an unadulterated hot chocolate? You can do that, too.
Let’s make it!
ingredients for the best homemade hot chocolate
I like to keep the ingredients super simple for my hot chocolate, and use the best quality chocolate I can find. To make my favorite hot chocolate you’ll need:
Cocoa Powder, for that deep, dark, intensely chocolate flavor and its rich chocolate brown color. This is my favorite.
Water. Just a little, to stir together with the cocoa powder, ensuring there are no lumps in this drink. Lumpy hot chocolate is no bueno.
Milk. Literally any variety you love, but in my opinion, the creamier the better. I love using coconut or cashew milk (for a dairy-free/vegan option) or whole milk/a lower percent of milk with a generous splash of cream.
Chocolate. Again, you can use whatever variety you love here. I always opt for the darkest chocolate I have in the house (usually 75-90% dark). We’re going to chop it up and stir into the warm milk mixture for an extra velvety, luscious texture. Pro tip: I like to chop up a few bars of chocolate at once and keep it all in a jar in the pantry. Always having a jar of chopped chocolate around makes baking projects (and hot chocolate!!) quick and easy.
Maple Syrup. Just a drizzle, to balance out the bitter notes of the dark chocolate. Depending on how sweet your chocolate is or whether or not you plan to top with marshmallows, you may not need to add any maple syrup at all. If I’m making this for a morning beverage, I tend to go less sweet. For an after dinner/dessert drink, I like it a little sweeter. I’m trusting you to taste and adjust the sweetness to suit your tastebuds!
Sea Salt. Literally the tiniest pinch. Like, not even a pinch; just a few granules, really. The salt helps tame the intensity of the chocolate, while also providing a nice counter to the sweetness. It doesn’t seem like a little sprinkle of salt would make a difference, but it really does!
need a larger batch?
This recipe yields a single mug of hot chocolate, but can easily be scaled up to make enough for a larger family or gathering! This might seem obvious (but is worth saying!!): to make a larger batch, just multiply the ingredients by however many mugs of hot chocolate you’d like to serve!
I’ve been known to show up to outdoor events in the colder months with a giant coffee flask full of hot chocolate, and cups to share. Somehow no one ever turns down homemade hot chocolate. Particularly if you also have a jar full of marshmallows or whipped cream on the side!
want extra frothy hot chocolate?
Once I’ve heated everything together on the stove, I love sticking a hand-held milk frother into the pot and blending it up for 10 seconds, just to get some extra froth on top. It doesn’t alter the flavor at all, but somehow makes the drinking experience even more delightful.
I have this rechargeable frother and love it!
For the full fancy hot chocolate effect, here’s what you’ll do. Froth your hot chocolate in the pot, pour into a mug, and top with a spoonful of whipped cream. Then, sift a little extra cocoa powder over top and sprinkle on some of the dusty bits of chocolate left on your cutting board. Do a little dance around your kitchen at the fact that you just made yourself the best hot chocolate, ever.
For the busy morning/lazy version: literally just stir everything together on the stove, pour into a mug, and you’re done. Happy dances are still very much welcome in this version.
If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know what you think! Leave a comment below, or take a picture of your hot chocolate and share it with me on Instagram so I can see!
Favorite Hot Chocolate (single serving, quick + easy)
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder unsweetened
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 1 cup milk (any variety) coconut, cashew, whole milk, etc
- 3 Tablespoons roughly chopped dark chocolate
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup more or less, to taste
- 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Place a small pot on the stove. Put cocoa powder and water into the pot and stir well to combine, so no cocoa lumps remain.
- Add milk to the pot, turn heat to medium-high, and let heat until steaming, about 3-4 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, add in the chocolate and whisk until melted. Once melted, add in maple syrup and salt, taste, and add more maple syrup if needed to achieve your preferred sweetness level. Optional: use a handheld milk frother to make your hot chocolate extra frothy before serving!
- Pour into a mug and serve immediately, topped with whipped cream or marshmallows, if desired.