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Homemade Hot Chocolate

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Nov 27, 2023, Updated Jan 29, 2026

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Creamy homemade hot chocolate is one of my all-time favorite holiday treats because it’s the perfect cozy drink to enjoy during the colder months ❄️. Whether you want to impress your guests or treat your family to a delicious cup of hot chocolate, I’m here to show you how to make it in 10 minutes using wholesome, real ingredients! This luxurious hot chocolate recipe uses real chocolate and vanilla beans for pure flavor.

  • Key Takeaways
  • Why You’ll Love Homemade Hot Chocolate
  • Ingredients
  • Nonna’s Tip 🔪
  • Homemade Hot Chocolate Variations and Substitutions
  • Similar Recipes
  • Other Holiday Recipes
  • Common Questions
  • Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

Key Takeaways

  • Homemade Hot Chocolate is a cozy drink made in just 10 minutes with real ingredients.
  • This recipe avoids additives, using pure chocolate, vanilla beans, and customizable options for various diets.
  • You can easily use different milk types, sugars, and add flavors like vanilla or peppermint for unique variations.
  • For extra richness, replace some milk with cream or try different chocolate types like dark or white chocolate.
  • The recipe is flexible and can be scaled up or down for gatherings or single servings.

Why You’ll Love Homemade Hot Chocolate

Say goodbye to hot chocolate powder mixes that contain mysterious preservatives and additives. This homemade hot chocolate recipe ☕️ is not only rich and creamy but uses simple, clean ingredients. No excess sugar, no chemicals; just pure chocolate and your milk of choice.

This recipe is easy to prepare and completely customizable. It’s easy to make this allergen-friendly, whether you are dairy-, nut-, or gluten-free. While the addition of vanilla is a game-changer, it’s totally optional! If you’re looking to add some extra holiday cheer, consider adding your favorite alcohol to make an adult-friendly version 🥴.

Ingredients

🥛 Milk: Whole milk is my preferred choice. It’s creamy, rich, and classic in taste. However, you can use any milk here: low-fat dairy milk, nut milk, oat milk, coconut milk, etc.

🍭 Sugar: You can use any sugar here, but I recommend a granulated sugar (not powdered), such as white, maple, or brown sugar. I love Redpath Golden Yellow Sugar because of its subtle caramel taste.

🧁 Vanilla Pod: These long, thin, dark pods grow on vanilla plants and are used to make vanilla extract. They are intensely fragrant. Both the seed and the pod can be used to infuse food with vanilla flavor. Here we split the pod in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Save the pod for making homemade vanilla extract or vanilla sugar.

🧂 Salt: A pinch of salt helps enhance the chocolate flavor.

🍫 Chocolate: Using an unsweetened chocolate bar (vs cocoa powder) makes this drink luscious and rich. Chop it up finely so it melts evenly.

☁️ Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream is an optional but highly recommended garnish. You can whip heavy cream until soft peaks form or purchase whipped cream from the store.

Nonna’s Tip 🔪

To split a vanilla bean, place the pod onto a cutting board. Hold one of the ends of the vanilla bean on the board. With a sharp paring knife, cut the bean in half lengthwise. Run the back of the paring knife against both halves of the bean to scrape out the seeds.

A glass mug of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and gold sprinkles sits on a sunlit surface, with a blurred festive background. - 3

Homemade Hot Chocolate Variations and Substitutions

  • Instead of whole milk 🥛, feel free to use dairy alternatives such as soy, oat, coconut, cashew or almond milk.
  • For a more decadent hot chocolate, replace 1/2 cup (125ml) of the milk with cream.
  • If vanilla beans are not available, 1 tablespoon 🥄 of pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste can be substituted.
  • Add in a few drops of peppermint extract or garnish with crushed peppermint candy for a minty twist .
  • Consider making this homemade hot chocolate recipe with different types of chocolate 🍫 such as dark chocolate, white chocolate, or a combination.

Similar Recipes

Two tall champagne flutes filled with an orange-pink Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco, each rimmed with crushed red, green, and white candy, stand on a white countertop with scattered candy. Cozy kitchen background. - 4 Two tall champagne flutes filled with an orange-pink Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco, each rimmed with crushed red, green, and white candy, stand on a white countertop with scattered candy. Cozy kitchen background. - 5

Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco

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A glass mug filled with creamy hot chocolate made from Kinder Hot Chocolate Bombs, topped with marshmallows, chocolate shavings, and star anise, sits on a white surface with a light-colored cloth in the background. - 6 A glass mug filled with creamy hot chocolate made from Kinder Hot Chocolate Bombs, topped with marshmallows, chocolate shavings, and star anise, sits on a white surface with a light-colored cloth in the background. - 7

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Other Holiday Recipes

  • Gravy
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Mac and Cheese
  • Stuffing
  • Sweet Potato Donuts
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Garlic Mashed Potatoes
  • Turkey Noodle Soup
  • Butternut Squash Pasta
  • Baked Apples
  • Mushrooms
  • Green Beans
  • Whole Roasted Sweet Potato
  • Christmas Tree Cheese Ball

Common Questions

Instead of milk, feel free to use dairy alternatives such as soy, oat, coconut, cashew or almond milk. Omit the whipped cream topping or use coconut whipped cream.

Yes, you certainly can. Use about 2-3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder for every ounce of chocolate. Mix the cocoa powder with a small amount of milk to create a concentrate before adding it to the hot milk in the recipe.

If vanilla beans are not available, 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste can be substituted.

Yes, you definitely can. Prepare the hot chocolate, cool it down, and then store it in the refrigerator. Reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving. You might need to whisk or stir it to ensure it’s well combined after reheating.

This is an indulgent drink, but you can reduce the calories, fat, and sugar by using a low-fat milk or nut milk. You can also reduce the sugar or use an alternative, like monkfruit sweetener.

Add a shot of espresso, or a teaspoon of peppermint extract, or garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, or grated dark chocolate.

This recipe stands out from others because it’s made with creamy whole milk, vanilla beans, and real chocolate….no water and no powders. The premium ingredients create a rich, thick, flavorful drink.

Yes, this recipe is so easy to scale up or down. To make a single-serve version, simply use 1/4 the amount of ingredients, beginning with 1 cup milk. To double the recipe, find the “1x, 2x, 3x” option to the right of the “Ingredients” label and select the multiplier. The ingredients will automatically double or triple.

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Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Medium Pot
  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Nakiri Knife
  • ▢ Redmond Real Salt
  • ▢ Cutting Board
  • ▢ Mixing Bowls

Ingredients

  • ▢ 4 cups whole milk
  • ▢ ⅓ cup Redpath Golden Yellow Sugar , packed
  • ▢ 1 piece vanilla bean , split lengthwise in half and seeds scraped
  • ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ▢ 75 grams unsweetened chocolate , (1/4 cup + 3 tablespoons) finely chopped
  • ▢ whipped cream, marshmallows, and cocoa powder , for topping (optional)

Instructions

  • ▢ Combine the milk, sugar, vanilla seeds and pod, and salt in a medium pot . Place over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves and the milk is steaming but not boiling.
  • ▢ Place the chopped chocolate into a heatproof bowl, and, using a ladle, add about 1 cup of the steaming milk. Let sit for about 1 minute before gently stirring to melt the chocolate completely. Stir another ladleful of milk into the bowl. (This helps the chocolate and milk emulsify.)
  • ▢ Reduce the heat to low and gently whisk in the melted chocolate-milk mixture. Stir until the chocolate is incorporated and the mixture is homogenous. Remove and discard the vanilla bean pod.
  • ▢ Carefully ladle the hot chocolate into 4 mugs. Garnish with whipped cream and marshmallows, if using, or dust the tops with cocoa powder and enjoy!

Nonna’s Notes

  • Macros : The nutritional information for this recipe reflects 1 serving, or 1/4 of the recipe. It does not factor in optional toppings, such as whipped cream, marshmallows, or cocoa powder.
  • Homemade Whipped Cream: Did you know you can make your own whipped cream by simply whipping chilled heavy cream either with an electric hand mixer, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or by hand with a whisk. You can add a bit of sugar or vanilla, or just enjoy it as-is.
  • Cocoa Powder: I like to top my drink with unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder, to keep things from getting too sweet.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Equipment

  • Medium Pot
  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Nakiri Knife
  • Redmond Real Salt
  • Cutting Board
  • Mixing Bowls

Ingredients

  • 4 cups whole milk
  • ⅓ cup Redpath Golden Yellow Sugar packed
  • 1 piece vanilla bean split lengthwise in half and seeds scraped
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 75 grams unsweetened chocolate (1/4 cup + 3 tablespoons) finely chopped
  • whipped cream, marshmallows, and cocoa powder for topping (optional)

Instructions

  • Combine the milk, sugar, vanilla seeds and pod, and salt in a medium pot . Place over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves and the milk is steaming but not boiling.
  • Place the chopped chocolate into a heatproof bowl, and, using a ladle, add about 1 cup of the steaming milk. Let sit for about 1 minute before gently stirring to melt the chocolate completely. Stir another ladleful of milk into the bowl. (This helps the chocolate and milk emulsify.)
  • Reduce the heat to low and gently whisk in the melted chocolate-milk mixture. Stir until the chocolate is incorporated and the mixture is homogenous. Remove and discard the vanilla bean pod.
  • Carefully ladle the hot chocolate into 4 mugs. Garnish with whipped cream and marshmallows, if using, or dust the tops with cocoa powder and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Macros : The nutritional information for this recipe reflects 1 serving, or 1/4 of the recipe. It does not factor in optional toppings, such as whipped cream, marshmallows, or cocoa powder.
  • Homemade Whipped Cream: Did you know you can make your own whipped cream by simply whipping chilled heavy cream either with an electric hand mixer, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or by hand with a whisk. You can add a bit of sugar or vanilla, or just enjoy it as-is.
  • Cocoa Powder: I like to top my drink with unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder, to keep things from getting too sweet.

Nutrition

Homemade Hot Chocolate https://themodernnonna.com/homemade-hot-chocolate/ November 27, 2023