Hot Chocolate With Whipped Cream
Regardless how you make it, I think whipped cream makes hot chocolate better. Feel free to use an extract such as vanilla or anise to flavor the whipped cream. Once dolloped onto your drink, a small sprinkling of nuts, cocoa powder, or ground spices is a great way to add flavor and pump up the presentation.
My best advice for creating your perfectly flavored hot chocolate is to make it as you like it. Feel free to experiment, as I doubt friends and family will mind being subjected to cup after cup of chocolate.
Perk Up Your Hot Chocolate
Experiment with spices and herbs to create unique flavors with your hot chocolate. Many flavors can be added to chocolate. Here are some ideas:
- A classic combination of peppermint and orange
- Lavender, bay leaf or star anise
- Chinese five spice for a slight kick
- Chai spice blend
- Add vanilla and chili peppers, like the Aztecs did
- Or cinnamon, like modern-day Mexicans
Brew spices into the milk during the initial heating process. After the milk is steamy, strain out the spices and herbs and return the hot, flavored milk back to the pan and add the chocolate as you normally would.
Hot Chocolate Vs Hot Cocoa
How is hot chocolate different from hot cocoa? Hot chocolate is basically like drinking a melted candy bar the chopped chocolate contains cocoa butter which makes it richer and smoother. Cocoa is powdered and contains no cocoa butter and thus very little fat. It also contains dried milk, sugar, and added flavors.
This is the real stuff, and once you try it, you may never want to drink hot cocoa again! The recipe here serves four. It may not look like a lot, but believe me, it’s very rich! And one cup is more than enough for a single person.
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The Ultimate Homemade Hot Chocolate
Fun fact: the number of times people searched the internet for hot chocolate in December 2020 was twice that of previous years. Why? Probably because we all needed that extra comfort after a hard year. I dont know about you, but I still need the creamy, cozy comfort of a mug full of hot chocolate. Thankfully, homemade hot cocoa is super fast to make, you can make one mug at a time or in a big batch, and Ive got a bunch of fun ideas for add-ins so you can make a new flavor every time. 🙂 Keep scrolling for delicious, chocolatey goodness!
What Goes Into Hot Cocoa Mix
All the ingredients for this hot chocolate mix are an easy find at any supermarket. Youll need:
- Powdered Sugar Dont try to sub other kinds of sugarpowdered sugar is fine enough to dissolve well while mixing up your cocoa.
- Unsweetened Cocoa PowderWe prefer Dutch-processed because it has a darker color and less acidity, but any kind of cocoa powder works.
- Dried Milk PowderYes, most grocery stores carry this . Grab whole milk powder if you can!
- Fine Sea SaltA little bit of salt is a must-add to help balance the sweetness. Trust us!
- Mini Chocolate ChipsThe secret ingredient that makes this the best hot cocoa mix ever! The chocolate chips melt and make your cocoa super decadent and rich.
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Homemade Hot Chocolate Ingredients:
Made with just 4 ingredients, this hot chocolate for one is a breeze to throw together. All youll need are these 4 ingredients:
- Milk: any hot chocolate needs a creamy base! And the great thing about making hot chocolate for one is that you can make it with whatever you want. So if youre dairy free, use a coconut milk or a creamy oat milk. If youre real milk fan, go for a 1%
- Cocoa Powder: Its called hot chocolate for reason. You can make hot chocolate with melted squares of chocolate or cocoa powder, but we found melted chocolate was a little too thick. Use a high quality cocoa powder for the best flavor!
- Vanilla: A splash of vanilla will take your hot chocolate for one recipe from Swiss Miss to gourmet. Make sure youre using pure vanilla bean extract and remember that a little goes a long way!
- Salt: Salt is one of the most underrated baking ingredients and its no exception in this homemade hot chocolate for one. Salt works to enhance and deepen any sweet flavor. Just add a pinch!
The Best Chocolate For Homemade Hot Chocolate
If you plan to make good hot chocolate, it helps to start with quality chocolate. Scharffen Berger, Guittard, and Valrhona are great choices if you can find them where you are.
I suggest using bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. Bittersweet has little sugar added to it, so you’ll get a purer chocolate taste. Semisweet works too, and usually has more sugar added to it than bittersweet.
What about those cacao percentages? The higher the cacao percentage the more chocolate solids are in the product, and therefore, higher the intensity of chocolate flavor.
Semisweet is usually 35-40% cacao, bittersweet up to 75%. 100% cacao is unsweetened chocolate, which is fine for baking, but you probably don’t want to use it for hot chocolate. Milk chocolate already has milk solids added to it and has a very low cacao percentage .
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The Choice Of Chocolate
High quality ingredients are key to make a good hot chocolate, and chocolate comes first! To be honest with you, Ive struggled finding a good baking dark chocolate ever since I moved abroad and I often find myself bringing some high quality one for a reasonable price from France.
To make the best hot chocolate, I recommend you use baking chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa typically a 70% cocoa or higher. Avoid unsweetened dark chocolate as it tends to be bitter, unless you are planning to sweeten your drink a little .
The Best Hot Chocolate Recipes
When the weather gets colder, my mug is always filled with a hot drink. On cool fall nights, its always hot chocolate.
I love trying new ways to drink this classic beverage, which is why I put together this list of 20 hot chocolate mix recipes that you must try.
Our family loves hot chocolate so much that I keep this easyhomemade hot chocolate mix ready for us to enjoy any time we want.
These recipes are easy, inexpensive and so simple to make. Your family will enjoy these rich and creamy recipes.
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A Note On The Technique
For such a simple recipe, this one actually took LOTS of testing! Most homemade hot chocolate recipes toss all the ingredients together and cook them at once. While thats a bit faster and easier, unfortunately it often yields a drink with small flecks of chocolate floating throughout.
That wouldnt do, I needed smooth, velvety results.
After testing many, many different techniques , I ultimately ended up using a technique where, instead of adding everything all at once, I start by slowly melting together the chocolate, cream, and sugar as described above. This melts smoothly and is very much like a ganache.
Then, I very gradually add the milk, slowly whisking it in and gradually allowing it to warm with the chocolate. This technique takes a minute longer than just tossing everything in one pot, but it yields a silky smooth hot chocolate every time.
SAMS TIP: Whatever you do, dont turn up the heat to make the process faster, or you might end up with a gritty texture and/or scalded milk. This recipe relies on a low, slow cooking process to yield luxuriously smooth results. Have patience and you will be pleased with the results!
What To Do With Nesquik Powder
You know it, and you love it even if you wont admit it. That chocolately powder that you mix with milk. Its Nesquik powder from Nestle, and you can use it for more than just plain chocolate milk.
Mix it with powdered sugar, nonfat dry milk and coffee creamer for a homemade hot cocoa mix using Nesquik.
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The Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Theres nothing quite like a cup of hot cocoa on a blistery winter day! Whether its after an evening of visiting holiday lights, spending the day skiing, sledding, or playing in the snow hot chocolate is always the answer and the tastiest way to warm up.
This cozy and warm drink is decadently chocolatey, lusciously creamy, and its made with just 6 ingredients .
It incorporates chocolate in two forms both bars and cocoa powder for a pure, real deal chocolate flavor!
Then it also has a secret ingredient of malted milk powder. Which is an ingredient commonly found in old fashioned milkshakes.
Its so tasty and the prefect upgrade to this hot cocoa mix recipe. It adds a hint of that unique malted flavor. You can usually find in the baking isle or dry beverages section at the grocery store .
Once you try this homemade hot chocolate mix youll likely be hooked and will have a hard time going back to any store-bought mix again. We are completely obsessed with it!
If only it could pass for a decent breakfast and we would be tempted to start every morning with it.
How To Make Hot Cocoa Mix With Powdered Milk And Coffee Creamer:
For the full recipe and ingredient amounts for old fashioned hot chocolate mix can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
In a large bowl, combine Nesquik mix, dry powdered milk, dry coffee creamer and powdered sugar until completely combined. Store in an airtight container or baggie.
To serve, mix 1/3 cup homemade hot chocolate mix with one cup of boiling water. Top with marshmallows and/ or whipped cream.
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How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate
Just three tips that should be pretty darn easy to follow:
- Use high quality cocoa: If there is one rule to follow in the homemade hot cocoa game, its to use high quality ingredients. In simply recipes it is SO important to use high qual ingredients because they really shine through. We use Rodelle cocoa powder and cannot recommend it enough!
- Dont forget the salt: The salt will work to cut some of the sweetness and give your hot cocoa that fancy gourmet taste!
- Use a thick milk: You can make this hot chocolate with any type of milkalmond, oat, coconut, 1%, 2%whatever works for you, but we would recommend using a slightly thicker and creamier version whatever you decide. Because this hot chocolate for one is made with cocoa powder instead of real chocolate pieces
So if youre looking a for a sweet treat to warm you up on this dreary Winter Monday, look no further. And you know what goes well with a big ol mug of chocolate? A cinnamon roll.
Treat yoself.
Homemade Hot Cocoa The Best Hot Chocolate Recipe Ever
In cold weather months, hot cocoa is a must and this homemade recipe never disappoints.
Its creamy, chocolatey, and everything hot cocoa should be. Did I mention how easy it is to make? Scroll down and Ill show you how its done in a quick video, or you can print the recipe for later at the bottom of the page.
Theres nothing like a cup of homemade hot cocoa made with real cocoa powder, sugar, and milk. Its another reason we love the cold months!
Ive experimented with a few recipes like the Peppermint White Hot Chocolate and Strawberry Hot Chocolate incredible, but the classic will always be #1 at my house!
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What Type Of Chocolate To Use
I used Bakers semi-sweet chocolate because thats what I had on hand, but you can definitely use semi-sweet chocolate chips to make this hot chocolate more affordable. You can also experiment with using either milk chocolate or dark chocolate depending on how sweet or bitter you like your hot cocoa. Semi-sweet is right in the middle, which fits my flavor preferences.
Keto Hot Chocolate Mix
The Spruce / Haley Hazell
The keto hot chocolate mix skips the sugar, opting for an allulose or monkfruit sweetener instead. It’s also dairy-free and vegan because it uses powdered coconut milk be sure to mix it with hot water or plant-based milk. However, what’s really special about this recipe is that it includes excellent ideas for adding flavor to each cup. From minty to spiced and nutty to “sticky sweet,” there are fun variations that you can use in any hot chocolate recipe.
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Can I Use A Different Type Of Milk
Technically, you can use different types of milk or non-dairy milk substitutes for your hot chocolate, just keep in mind that the type of milk you use will directly impact the creaminess and sweetness of your hot chocolate. The recipe below is designed for a combination of whole milk and half and half, which I found to be rich and creamy without being too heavy.
Half and half is a 50/50 mix of whole milk and heavy cream, so if you dont have half and half you can change the ingredients below to be 3 cups whole milk and one cup heavy cream for the same result.
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Homemade hot chocolate recipe for one. Increase cocoa to 2 tablespoons I understand its cheaper, but if youre not going to offer real hot chocolate, at least use milk. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
Add the milk, cream, cocoa powder, and sugar to a small saucepan over medium low heat. Heat the milk, cocoa, sugar and chocolate in a small pan over a medium heat until steaming and the chocolate has melted. 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Hot chocolate with marshmallows in a green cup. Im tired of ordering hot chocolate and getting powdered mix. Add cocoa, honey, and vanilla.
This link opens in a new tab. Stir and heat until hot. For kids, you dont want to heat it to a full boil or it will be too hot.
Thick hot chocolate for one. Beat with whisk until foamy. Place the lid on and set the manual timer for 1 minutes.
Whisk continuously making sure the cocoa. Tips for homemade hot chocolate for one: Place milk, cocoa powder and sugar in a small saucepan.
Pour into a mug and top with marshmallows or whipped cream. Add the chocolate chips and let melt,. Whisk to dissolve the cocoa.
In a small saucepan, heat the milk over medium high heat until steaming and small bubbles form around the edge . Use an immersion blender to mix everything together. Gently stir until cocoa and sugar have dissolved, about 1 minute.
Proceed as above, using nonfat milk. 2 cups of whole milk This will create a thicker, creamier hot chocolate and is totally optional!
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White Hot Chocolate Mix
A twist on a traditional cocoa mix, this white hot chocolate mix is a little lighter. You’ll love the layers of sweetness created by combining grated white chocolate, white chocolate pudding, and vanilla powder. Dried orange peel gives it a wonderful contrast. When it’s cocoa time, you’ll simply mix it into milk as it warms on the stove.
Healthy Hot Chocolate Ingredient Swaps
Although it is a treat, you can make it healthier without sacrificing taste.
Swap the sugar for ¼ cup of honey, maple syrup, or ½ cup coconut sugar.
To make this a dairy-free hot chocolate, swap the regular milk with your favorite nut or soy milk. Ive tried soy and almond milk, and both times it turned out delicious. Want an epic dessert to pair with your healthier hot cocoa? Youve got to try one of the recipes from my latest cookbook, Clean Treats for Everyone.
Clean Treats Cookbook
Healthy and wholesome dessert recipes youll want to eat made with clean ingredients you already have on hand.
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Single Serving Hot Chocolate For One
Hi, my name is Sarah, and Im a chocoholic Ive been putting down a cup a day as soon as hot chocolate season starts , and I think youll agree that nothing really compares to a big mug of liquid chocolate. And while its always better to drink homemade hot chocolate with a crowd, oftentimes it really is just me slurping on some, so we made the perfect recipe for homemade hot chocolate for one.
The Best Homemade Hot Chocolate
Theres nothing quite like a warm mug of rich hot chocolate on a cold day.
Its the *perfect* drink to sip while decorating your Christmas tree, making sugar cookies, or watching snow fall outside your window. Last year, I shared my version of the internet famous hot chocolate bombs, but this year, Im sharing a real deal, velvety and luxurious hot chocolate recipe.
Its made the way hot chocolate should be: with melted chocolate, a touch of cream, and milk . Rich and indulgent as-is, you can dress it up with whipped cream and marshmallows, but really, its perfect on its own.
For such a simple drink, this recipe took a shockingly long time to get just right. I figured out the flavors and ingredients pretty quickly, but one issue Id always run into was that the chocolate ended up grainy instead of completely smooth.
It took a lot of work to nail down the technique for getting a smooth, perfectly melted chocolate, but after much trial and error, I finally did. I cant wait to share it with you, so lets get started!
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