I’m not even kidding when I call this the World’s BEST Hot Chocolate Recipe. It is everything hot cocoa should be; Creamy, rich with a great flavor. This homemade hot chocolate is the essence of coming home from a cold day.
How I created this Hot Chocolate Recipe
Today it rained, it was MARVELOUS (As a born and raised Oregonian I LOVE the rain)! The leaves have all changed colors and there was a beautiful mist over the mountains.
I love fall. I don’t like being too hot or too cold, I’m not a huge fan of snow… BUT if it means I get to make this hot chocolate then I’ll take it.
I love chocolate, in pretty much every form. Bars, cookies, cake, ice cream and liquid!
When we were living in Japan I missed my favorite foods that they don’t have over there. That’s how I got into from scratch cooking – learning to make food that I couldn’t get overseas.
So when I was missing hot chocolate I started trying various recipes, mixing and matching until I was happy with the results.
Now I do not like watery hot chocolate. So I knew it needed to be made with milk. And I already had my Hot Fudge recipe that I loved so I used my understanding about blooming Cocoa to my advantage as I created the final recipe.
Now I make a double batch every week and enjoy a cup on cold mornings. I like to add my Homemade Marshmallows of course – they have this great creamy effect as they melt.
I also tweak this same recipe for my Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe. You can also serve it with fresh whipped cream or my homemade marshmallow fluff or my marshmallow frosting! What do you like with your hot chocolate?
Just take me to the Hot Cocoa Recipe already!
If you’d rather skip my tips and tricks for homemade hot chocolate, along with links to other winter recipes and get straight to this delicious drink – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
Tips to Make the Perfect Hot Chocolate
By boiling the cocoa and water at the beginning your actually Blooming the cocoa. This breaks up clumps, thickens the liquid and most important releases flavor particles in the powder and results in a much richer flavor.
This is the reason most chocolate cakes add boiling water to the mixture and why I dissolve my cocoa in boiling water and let it sit for a few mins in my chocolate cake recipe.
Once the cocoa has bloomed and the full flavor has been released now you want to add the rest of your liquid and bring it up to heat. I use whole milk – for me hot chocolate should always be made with milk, not water.
You don’t need to, and shouldn’t, bring it back to a boil. Now you just heat it to the temperature you like to drink your cocoa at. Once it’s up to tempurature add the vanilla.
The vanilla is essential for enhancing the flavor and I can always tell if I accidentally forgot it when I taste it. You don’t want to add it early as the boiling and heating process would actually make most of the vanilla evaporate so it should be the last thing you add before serving.
I refrigerate any left overs – but the chocolate and milk does separate after a while so make sure to shake it up or stir it really good before reserving!
The World’s BEST Hot Chocolate
If you love this homemade hot chocolate as much as I do, I’d love a 5 star review. Be sure to share on social media and tag me if you make it @ashleemariecakes! If you want to stay updated on new recipes sign up for my newsletter and join my Facebook Group!
If you love Hot Chocolate you’ll love these other winter drink recipes!
Warm Pumpkin Pie Drink | Hot Butterbeer | Homemade Eggnog
And these other decadent chocolate treats
Chocolate Cake | Chocolate Cheesecake | Chocolate Lava Cake
Connect with Ashlee Marie Online!
To watch me make this Hot Chocolate along with 2 other fall drinks play the video in the recipe card (if you’re on desktop, a short teaser video should be auto playing for you).
You can find all my cooking show style recipe videos on YouTube, or my short recipe videos on Facebook Watch, or my Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
The worlds BEST Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 C granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 C water
- 4 C whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- In a saucepan mix the dry ingredients.
- Add the water and bring to a boil, keep boiling for one min.
- Then add the milk.
- Heat until it’s the temp you like.
- Take off the heat and add the vanilla, stir and serve
Kristen
I made this hot chocolate for the first time 3 years ago and it has now become our Christmas tradition with my step kids to make with our Christmas breakfast every year! They lovvvve it! I am actually getting ready to start making it now. Merry Christmas everyone!
Ashlee Marie
So glad you love it as much as we do!!!
Emma Morgan
can you save the hot chocolate for later; like in the fridge or something or is it like a one day thing that won’t be as good later?
Ashlee Marie
totally! it will separate in the fridge, just remix it up and reheat! I do it all the time
Teresa
My go-to hot coco recipe for cozy days! Love it!
Ashlee Marie
Thank you so much! I am so glad you love it
Aurora
Delicious beverage to add to the beauty of the season. Very decadent and creamy.
Ashlee Marie
I’m so happy you love it as much as my family does:)
Chloe
Can you use the just add water coca to make this?
Ashlee Marie
If you mix the dry ingredients you can just keep them until you are ready to add water. It works the same way as store bought cocoa mix
Cari
This is the best recipe! I’ve been making it for a few years and recently added it to my morning coffee for a mocha sorta taste!! It’s my go to. I make it the night before and have a batch in the fridge for the morning! It’s heaven 🥰
Ashlee Marie
That is so awesome! I am so glad you think its the best (so do I) haha