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 cozy 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. 💕
Ready to get cozy? Let’s make some hot chocolate! ☕🍫💫
Combine cocoa, sugar, pinch of salt and water in a small pot. Whisk well. Bring to simmer over medium medium-low heat, whisking constantly, and simmer for a couple of minutes until slightly thickened and cocoa and sugar are dissolved. Be careful not to burn.
Add milk, whisking, until heated, making sure not to boil the milk. 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 slightly until warm but not overly hot. Stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt.
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 step, it will still be delicious.
Divide between two cups and garnish with garnishes of choice. By far the best garnish in my opinion is whipped cream. It adds creamy, frothy finish to your cocoa and compliments it really well.
To whip the cream, simply combine heavy cream with sugar and whip on medium low speed until soft to medium peaks. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Directions
Combine cocoa, sugar, pinch of salt and water in a small pot. Whisk well. Bring to simmer over medium medium-low heat, whisking constantly, and simmer for a couple of minutes until slightly thickened and cocoa and sugar are dissolved. Be careful not to burn.
Add milk, whisking, until heated, making sure not to boil the milk. 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 slightly until warm but not overly hot. Stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt.
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 step, it will still be delicious.
Divide between two cups and garnish with garnishes of choice. By far the best garnish in my opinion is whipped cream. It adds creamy, frothy finish to your cocoa and compliments it really well.
To whip the cream, simply combine heavy cream with sugar and whip on medium low speed until soft to medium peaks. Enjoy!
