The Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

4.72 from 7 votes

This is a rich, smooth, and creamy hot chocolate made with bittersweet chocolate, cocoa powder, milk, and a splash of vanilla extract.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings:

Calories: 287kcal

Chop the chocolate bar into small pieces.
Heat up milk in a sauce pot, over medium heat, until hot but not simmering.
Use a fine strainer or a mesh sugar shaker to sift in the cocoa powder to ensure that there are no clumps.
Whisk in the cocoa powder and add chocolate, sugar, and vanilla extract. Slowly continue whisking as chocolate is melts and incorporates into milk.
When milk starts to simmer, lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook for a few minutes. Make sure to slowly stir from time to time.
Take off heat and serve.

Milk alternatives - you can easily use lactose free milk if you need to or dairy free milk. To use dairy free milk alternative, I recommend using oat milk.
Never boil milk! Make sure to cook your hot chocolate over medium to medium-low heat, not higher. Don’t let the milk boil or it will curdle.
Don’t try to speed up the process. Give you milk about 10-15 minutes to cook on medium-low heat after you’ve added all ingredients. This will help cocoa powder incorporate best for a smooth hot chocolate.
Don’t be scared of milk skin (lactoderm). It forms on top of milk when the liquids evaporate and proteins coagulate. Most people find it unpleasant in texture, but it’s harmless and you can simply stir it back into the hot chocolate. To prevent milk skin from forming, make sure to slowly stir the hot chocolate as it cooks, and often. Stir it often as it cools as well.
Easy to double: This hot chocolate recipe serves 4, but you can easily adjust it to as much as you need. You can double or triple this recipe, especially if you’re preparing for a party.