Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (2024)

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (1)

There are so many words to describe hot chocolate: decadent, creamy, velvety, and rich all apply to a piping-hot mug of cocoa. So why would you want to use a packet of dry mix ever again? With one look at our list of the best hot chocolate recipes out there, you'll realize what you've been missing out on. After all, winter only lasts for a few months, so you'll definitely want to make your winter drink indulgences count. Curl up with a Christmas movie and a batch of Nutella hot chocolate, or make a mug of sugar cookie hot chocolate (yes, that's a real thing) to keep you company while wrapping gifts. Whip up two servings of slow cooker hot chocolate when your family and friends come over on Christmas Eve (and maybe even add a spirit to make it into a co*cktail). We guarantee there won't be any left.

You can also pair one of these hot chocolate recipes with any Christmas dessert for the ultimate sweet ending to your holiday meal or weeknight dinner. After all, hot cocoa helps to bring out the natural flavors of gingerbread cookies, red velvet cake, and Christmas candy even more, right? Right. Choose your favorite here, and don't forget to pile on plenty of toppings. Those marshmallows, crushed up candy canes, and chocolate shavings won't serve themselves!

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1

Liquid Gold Tahini Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (3)

Anything called "liquid gold" is good in our book. Adding tahini to this hot chocolate gives it a subtle nuttiness while boosting its thickness.

Get the recipe at Broma Bakery.

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2

Kahlúa Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (5)

Cinnamon, nutmeg, salted caramel, and Kahlúa make this hot chocolate a winter staple—guaranteed to keep you warm on a snowy day.

Get the recipe at Damn Delicious.

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3

French Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (7)

Take decadence to a whole new level by using heavy cream and powdered sugar for this dark chocolate treat. Fresh whipped cream tops off the heavenly drink.

Get the recipe at The Sweetest Occasion.

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4

Chocolate Hot Buttered Rum

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (9)

Who needs milk when you've got butter and rum? Any drink described as "liquid brownie batter" sounds like something we all need in our lives ASAP.

Get the recipe at The Cookie Rookie.

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5

Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (11)

Cayenne pepper plus cinnamon plus hot chocolate equals the perfect combination of spicy, sweet, and overall delicious. This recipe has the added plus of being vegan, using coconut milk and dairy-free chocolate.

Get the recipe at Ambitious Kitchen.

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6

Malted Milk Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (13)

Truly enhance your hot chocolate experience by adding malted milk powder as this recipe calls for. Plus, the instructions tell you how to make extra dry mix so you can keep it on hand for a quick treat.

Get the recipe at The Cookie Rookie.

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7

Vanilla Mocha Hot Cocoa

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (15)

Coffee lovers who want a bold hot chocolate blend will be obsessed with this decadent recipe that combines coffee, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and maple syrup.

Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.

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8

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (17)

You love the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate in solid form, so trust us when we say it's even better swirling around together in this silky-smooth recipe.

Get the recipe at Nutmeg Nanny.

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9

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate Recipe

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (19)

Think that white hot chocolate won't be as creamy or sweet as milk chocolate varieties? Think again: With three cups of light cream, milk, and plenty of white chocolate chips, this is the indulgent hot cocoa recipe you've been waiting for.

Get the recipe at Le Creme de la Crumb.

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10

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

After you find out you can easily prepare this creamy hot chocolate in your slow cooker (and that it tastes so much better than a mix), you'll never want to use another recipe again.

Get the recipe at Dinner at the Zoo.

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11

Nutella Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (23)

As if this hot chocolate recipe doesn't sound perfect in every way already, you'll be even more delighted to know it only calls for two ingredients. Yep—Nutella and milk is all it takes to create total bliss in a mug.

Get the recipe at Gimme Some Oven.

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12

White Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (25)

A dollop of our 7-Minute Frosting makes this delicious drink even more decadent.

Get the recipe.

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13

Sugar Cookie Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (27)

Sweetened condensed milk is the secret ingredient for this extra creamy blend. The best treat to enjoy while sipping this beverage? Sugar cookies, of course!

Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.

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14

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (29)

Let your slow cooker do all the work whipping up this boozy concoction.

Get the recipe at The Cookie Rookie.

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15

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (31)

Anything that can be made in a slow cooker and looks this good is something that should definitely be on your "winter day activities" list.

Get the recipe at Sally's Baking Addiction.

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16

Blackberry Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (33)

While blackberries might seem like an odd pairing wit hot chocolate, the rich tartness of them helps add another layer an otherwise sweet drink.

Get the recipe at Little Sugar Snaps.

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17

Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (35)

We never met a snickerdoodle we didn't like.

Get the recipe at Lemon Tree Dwelling.

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18

Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (37)

This hot chocolate variation packs a two-for-one punch so you can have your cookies and drink them, too.

Get the recipe at Sprinkle Some Sugar.

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19

Red Velvet Hot Cocoa

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (39)

Can't get enough red velvet? This is the hot chocolate for you.

Get the recipe at Heather's French Press.

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20

Baileys Irish Cream Hot Chocolate

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (41)

Serve this Baileys hot chocolate at your Christmas party, and everyone will be asking you for the recipe.

Get the recipe at Polka Dot Made.

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Treat (2024)

FAQs

What to add to hot chocolate to make it better? ›

The 15 Best Things To Add To Hot Chocolate
  1. Add an extract. A quick and easy way to add flavor to your hot chocolate is by adding a splash of your favorite extract. ...
  2. Sprinkle in warm spices. ...
  3. Mix in Nutella. ...
  4. Swirl in caramel. ...
  5. Spike it. ...
  6. Infuse it with orange. ...
  7. Swap regular sugar for maple syrup. ...
  8. Add a shot (of coffee)
Dec 4, 2023

How do you upgrade your hot chocolate? ›

Other Ways to Upgrade Your Hot Chocolate:

orange zest. a tablespoon of fresh-brewed espresso or coffee. peppermint stick. dark, milk, or white chocolate shavings.

How to make hot chocolate butlers? ›

Butlers | Hot Chocolate | Make It At Home

Enjoy the silky soft, luxuriously rich taste of Butler's chocolate at home: simply pop the chocolate piece into warm milk, stir over a medium heat until it melts - and enjoy! For an even sweetere experience, add cream and marshmallows.

What is the secret ingredient in gourmet hot chocolate? ›

Marshmallows: The Unsung Hero

Believe it or not, the secret ingredient in gourmet hot chocolate is none other than marshmallows. These fluffy, sweet confections are the unsung heroes of the hot chocolate world, adding a delightful creaminess and hint of sweetness that takes the drink to a whole new level.

What liquor is good in hot chocolate? ›

Adding a splash of alcohol like rum, brandy, or whisky can transform your hot chocolate into a truly indulgent and sophisticated drink.

How to make gourmet village hot chocolate? ›

Place 2 tbsp (30 ml) hot chocolate mix in a mug. Add 170-230 ml (6-8 oz) boiling water or very hot milk. Stir well & enjoy!

How to make gnaw hot chocolate? ›

For 4 cups, simply pour around 500ml of whole milk, 150ml of double cream and a whole bar of your favourite Gnaw chocolate (chopped up) into a pan. Bring gently to the boil, and whisk until smooth. Serve with whipped cream and marshmallows if you're feeling extra decadent for a special treat!

How do you doctor up powdered hot chocolate? ›

How to make powdered hot chocolate mix taste better - Quora. You can use milk instead of water, or half hot water and half milk. It'll make it thicker and richer. Use a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg to give it a punch, with or without whipped cream.

How do you keep hot chocolate warm for an event? ›

Once you've got your space identified, you'll need to figure out how you'll keep your hot chocolate warm. The easiest way is to make it in a slow cooker, but you can also keep it on the stove and simply have your hot chocolate bar contain everything except the actual hot chocolate.

How to make hot chocolate taste more chocolatey? ›

Espresso Powder: Coffee has a magical way of intensifying taste of taste chocolate. If you are a chocoholic, you'll love the extra oomph the espresso powder provides. As long as you only add a little, the coffee flavor is imperceptible, but you'll taste the chocolate more.

Is hot chocolate better with milk or water? ›

Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.

How to make water hot chocolate taste better? ›

Optional: Stir in 3 tablespoons full fat coconut milk for a creamier hot chocolate. Add in 8 ounces boiling hot water. Using a spoon or candy cane, stir to combine. Taste and add an additional 4 ounces of water or additional maple syrup to taste, if needed.

How to dress up hot chocolate packets? ›

Hot Chocolate Variations For All Ages
  1. Nut butters: Adding a spoonful or two of a smooth nut butter will make your drink extra creamy. ...
  2. Peppermint candy: Crush up some candies and stir them into the milk to add a brisk, minty touch. ...
  3. Chili powder: Give your cup a kick by adding a few dashes of hot pepper.

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