Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe (Hot Cocoa)

Name: Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe (Hot Cocoa)
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 2 ½ cups whole milk; ¼ cup granulated sugar; 2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder; 6 oz (1 cup) bittersweet chocolate ((or semisweet, milk, etc.)); 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; Homemade Whipped Cream (for serving)

By Laura

Posted Nov 01, 2020, Updated Nov 26, 2022

5 from 32 votes

16 Comments

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The best homemade hot chocolate recipe. This hot cocoa is smooth, creamy and made with two forms of chocolate for a rich, deep chocolate flavor. It’s easy to make in 5 minutes with 5 ingredients.

front photo of a glass mug of homemade hot chocolate with whipped cream

Say hello to the best hot chocolate recipe – seriously the absolute best. This hot cocoa is rich, creamy and so intensely chocolatey it will make you say, “goodbye” to powdered mixes once and for all.

This easy homemade hot chocolate is made in 5 minutes with only 5 ingredients (including two forms of chocolate) on the stovetop, so you can quickly whip up a batch to warm up after a day outside skiing or sledding, to enjoy with a side of cookies of course!

glass mug of homemade hot chocolate with whipped cream

Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

This hot cocoa recipe is best when made as written, however we’ll chat about some possible substitutions. If you’re looking for an allergy-friendly hot chocolate recipe, try this Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate – which is Paleo and vegan!

overhead view of the ingredients in this hot chocolate recipe

Whole milk. Any milk, dairy or non-dairy, should work very well in this recipe. Just remember, the higher the percentage of fat in your milk, the creamier your final product will be. My recommendations are whole or 2% milk, and coconut milk for a dairy-free/vegan version.
Cocoa Powder. Use pure, unsweetened cocoa powder. For a dark hot chocolate use dark cocoa powder.
Granulated sugar. Any granulated sugar works well in this recipe. I use organic cane sugar. For a refined-sugar free variety, substitute coconut sugar for granulated sugar.
Chocolate. I recommend using semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate. You can use milk chocolate or white chocolate, just be aware that the end result will be sweeter. For a dairy-free/vegan version, use dairy-free chocolate! You can also use bakers chocolate (100% cocoa) and just increase the amount of sugar to suit your tastes.
Vanilla Extract. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.

How to make Homemade Hot Chocolate

So many people wonder, “How do you make hot chocolate from scratch?” Well, this hot cocoa recipe is so easy you’ll forget about store-bought mixes once and for all. It only takes 5 minutes to make, but as always we’ll walk through the process together, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Combine milk, sugar & cocoa powder

Add milk, sugar and cocoa powder to a medium saucepan.

Heat over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the mixture just begins to bubble but does not boil.

Add Chocolate & Vanilla

When the mixture just begins to bubble, turn off the heat and add the chocolate and vanilla and whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

two overhead photos showing how to make hot chocolate

Pour into mugs & Serve

This hot cocoa recipe makes either 2-4 servings depending on the size of servings you’d prefer. Since this hot cocoa recipe is so rich, I usually pour it into 4 mugs and it’s plenty for us!

Store

If you have leftovers, store in an airtight container (glass jar) for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

front view of a glass mug of homemade hot cocoa

Add toppings

This hot chocolate tastes amazing on its own. But if you’re looking to jazz it up with some fun toppings, here are some suggestions:

Homemade Whipped Cream (obviously)
Marshmallows (any variety, homemade marshmallows are delicious).
Shaved chocolate
Dusting of cocoa powder
Holiday sprinkles
Crushed candy canes
Chopped peppermint bark

overhead view of a mug of hot cocoa with whipped cream on top

Recipe FAQs

What are good toppings for hot chocolate?

Homemade Whipped Cream (obviously)
Marshmallows (any variety, homemade marshmallows are delicious).
Shaved chocolate
Dusting of cocoa powder
Holiday sprinkles
Crushed candy canes
Chopped peppermint bark

Can I make this dairy free?

Yes, use dairy-free chocolate and coconut milk. Try this dairy-free hot chocolate recipe.

Is hot chocolate better with milk or water?

Milk! I always make hot chocolate with milk.

What other hot chocolate recipes can I make?

I have so many hot cocoa recipes on my site! Try these:
Making hot chocolate for a crowd? Try this crockpot hot chocolate!
This peanut butter hot chocolate recipe is like drinking a warm peanut butter cup – YUM!
As I mentioned before, this healthy hot chocolate is paleo and vegan! I also have a recipe for Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix, which you can keep on hand in the pantry and just add water to serve.
For a fun twist, make this Peppermint Hot Chocolate in your blender!
This mocha latte is another fun, warm drink that’s healthy but sweet.

front view of a mug of homemade hot chocolate with whipped cream

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