Smooth, velvety, and creamy are some words that come to mind when sipping on this Crockpot Hot Chocolate Recipe! It's easy to make, only requires a handful of ingredients, and is made in the crockpot for the easiest way to enjoy a warm cup of homemade hot chocolate on a cold day. This is the best hot cocoa you'll ever make!
For more cozy winter drinks, try this Bourbon Eggnog!
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During the holiday season, is there anything better than a nice cup of hot cocoa to cozy up with on a snowy day? I like to bake up some chocolate chip cookies and dip them into the rich hot chocolate - because cookies and hot chocolate go together better than peanut butter and jelly.
We haven't had our first snow fall just yet, but I am praying for a snow storm so that I have an excuse to make a big batch of hot cocoa and watch hallmark movies all day on the couch.
This crockpot hot chocolate is one of my favorite holiday drinks to make and I am so excited to share this family favorite recipe with you! It's made entirely in a crockpot which means that all you have to do is add the ingredients to the slow cooker and let it do all of the hard work for you!
Making hot chocolate in a slow cooker allows for all of the flavors to come together, which makes for a rich and flavorful drink that's SO much better than the powdered stuff.
Leave the hot cocoa packets at the store, we're making a real deal batch of homemade hot chocolate!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- This is a super creamy hot chocolate that uses a mix of both dark chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate for the ultimate chocolatey drink!
- Ideal party drink! This hot chocolate is the perfect drink for a Christmas party or special occasions that the whole family will love! You can easily make a double batch on Christmas eve and enjoy a nice cozy cup on Christmas morning!
- This homemade hot chocolate is made in a Crockpot slow cooker and only has 3 simple steps! Making hot cocoa in a crockpot is one of the best ways to make the BEST hot chocolate ever. The low and slow cook allows the melted chocolate and the milk to come together to create a rich and velvety hot chocolate that is out of this world!
- You can easily customize this drink to your liking by adding your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
- Chocolate - we're using a mix of dark chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips! Make sure to use good high-quality chocolate, I love using Guittard. You can also use milk chocolate here if you prefer a sweeter chocolatey taste.
- Heavy Cream - this adds creaminess to the hot chocolate and gives it a velvety thick texture.
- Whole Milk - I like to use whole milk, however, you can use any kind of milk that you like. Pro tip: for a thicker hot chocolate, use less milk. (exact amounts in the recipe card)
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - for extra chocolate flavor!
- Sugar - this adds sweetness to help balance out all of the chocolatey flavors.
- Pure Vanilla Extract - like most delicious recipes, vanilla extract is a must! It smooths out the chocolate flavor and make this creamy crockpot hot chocolate recipe unforgettable!
Substitutions
- Milk alternatives - to make this dairy free and vegan, I recommend using oat milk or creamy almond milk. Also, substitute heavy cream for your favorite dairy free heavy whipping cream.
- Make it boozy! If you want to spike your hot cocoa, add a little bourbon once it's finished cooking. Make sure to give it a good stir!
Tips
- Make sure to whisk together the ingredients every 1-2 hours to make sure that the chocolate doesn't burn.
- Cook on the low setting only! I do not recommend cooking this recipe on the high setting. Since we're using real chocolate, it can tend to burn. Low and slow is ideal!
- I recommend using Crockpot's 7-quart Cook and Carry Slow Cooker for this recipe. It's sleek design makes it easy to transport which is ideal for this recipe for when you're making a big batch and taking it to a holiday party!
- Use good quality chocolate! Feel free to use your favorite type of chocolate, whether that be milk chocolate chips or chocolate bars, whatever you use, make sure it's the good stuff!
How to make Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
- Add milk, heavy cream, sugar, and cocoa powder into the crockpot slow cooker. Whisk everything together, then add the dark chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Whisk every 1-2 hours to ensure that the melted chocolate isn't burning. (Pro tip: The longer the mixture cooks, the thicker it will become. For a thicker consistency, cook for the full 8 hours.)
- Once finished, stir in vanilla extract and serve.
Toppings
Make this hot cocoa recipe ever better by adding some of my favorite toppings! Pro tip: you can make a hot chocolate bar with these toppings for a fun and festive set up! Here are my recommendations:
- Caramel Sauce
- Chocolate Shavings
- Crushed candy canes
- Mini marshmallows
- Garnish with cinnamon sticks for a little spice!
- Whipped Cream (my fave)
Storage
You can store leftover hot chocolate in a glass jar with a lid or any airtight container. You'll want to store it in the refrigerator so that it doesn't spoil. When you're ready to reheat the hot chocolate, scoop into a saucepan over low heat until it's fully melted and warmed.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can make this up to 3 days in advance. If making and serving in the same day, put your crockpot on the warm setting until you're ready to serve.
Any full fat milk is ideal for hot chocolate - whole milk, full fat coconut milk, cashew milk, and extra cream almond milk are all ideal for hot chocolate!
It depends on your preference! For a deeper chocolate flavor, dark chocolate is best. If you like a sweeter hot chocolate, milk chocolate is best!
More Crockpot Recipes
- Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Collard Greens
- Homemade Apple Butter
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
- Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
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Let's stay connected on social media and continue to cook together! Also, if you decide to make this recipe, please leave a star rating on the recipe card and leave a comment below! Tag @BritneyBreaksBread on Instagram and hashtag #britneybreaksbread so I can see your creations! I hope that you love this recipe as much as we do!
Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
Equipment
- Crockpotâ„¢ Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 5 cups Milk
- 1 ½ cups Heavy Cream
- 1 cup Sugar
- 3 tbsps Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 3.5 oz Dark Chocolate (I used a dark chocolate bar and chopped it up)
- 4 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (about ½ cup)
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Directions
- Add milk, heavy cream, sugar, and cocoa powder to a Crockpot Slow Cooker. Whisk together until all ingredients are combined.
- Then add dark chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, until desired consistency is reached. Whisk every 1-2 hours to ensure that chocolate isn't burning.
- Once finished, whisk in vanilla extract and serve.
Rate + Review
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