Crockpot Hot Chocolate is a well balanced, creamy, chocolatey, sweet homemade recipe everyone will enjoy! Take it over the top with creamer!
Ive been a little enamored with the idea of a Crockpot Hot Chocolate for a few weeks now. I did a little research/internet trolling and a lot of recipe testing and came up with my favorite version of a Crockpot Hot Chocolate! Its not too creamy, too sweet or too cocoa-y. Its balanced really well AND!! I even included my secret ingredient that takes this over the top! People will try it and be amazed that homemade hot chocolate could be this good.
Crockpot Hot Chocolate Recipe
This is a simple recipe that uses everyday ingredients and will knock your socks off. Youll never want to go back to packet hot cocoa. Heres what youll need:
- Sweetened Condensed Milk to sweeten.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder it wouldnt be hot chocolate without cocoa!
- Vanilla Extract to balance out the cocoa flavor.
- Whole Milk you could totally make this lower in fat by using 1 or 2% milk and no half & half, buuuuuut I wouldnt recommend it.
- Half & Half to make this even creamier and more flavorful.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Coffee Creamer my secret ingredient YOU GUYS. This stuff is DREAMY in hot chocolate. You wont know what to do with yourself after one sip.
- Salt this helps counter all the sweetness and brings out the cocoa flavor.
- Mini Marshmallows optional but very cute.
Tips and Tricks
Crockpot Temperature. Keep your crockpot on LOW, we arent cooking anything here, just warming things up. You dont want to curdle any dairy products used.
Scrape the Sides.As you add in your dairy, make sure to mix super well. Scrape the sides to ensure that all the chocolate base is mixed in.
Halve the Recipe. If this is too much hot chocolate for your family or gathering, cut this recipe in half and make it in a smaller crockpot. Note that the heating time might take a little less when halved.
Dairy Products
This recipe uses a ton of dairy products so beware if you are lactose intolerant. The three main ingredients are half & half, coffee creamer and whole milk. The combination of these three make this crockpot hot chocolate delectable and creamy, but not overly creamy.
You can absolutely make this a low-fat hot cocoa by subbing out the half & half for more milk, but it doesnt taste the same.
How to Make Hot Chocolate in a Crockpot
- At the bottom of a cold crockpot, whisk the sweetened condensed milk with cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth.
- Whisk in milk, half & half and creamer, being sure to get to the edges. Sprinkle in the salt. Cover and warm on high for 2 hours or low for 4. Youre not trying to cook this, just warm it through! Once its to the desired temperature, switch crockpot to warm.
- When youre ready to serve, add in mini marshmallows and more coffee creamer if you so desire {which you totally should!!} Enjoy!
Leftovers
So you have 15 cups of hot chocolate, now what? Drink up!!! Chances are you might have some leftovers. Dont worry because you can save this recipe.
Simply cool your hot chocolate completely then cover in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, simply transfer back into the crockpot and warm it up! Easy peasy!
Crockpot Hot Chocolate Variations
I guarantee that you will never have better hot chocolate than this.
WELLLLLL, maybe the hot chocolate I had in Paris was better but how many of you are going to Paris for Christmas? Dont answer that.
Also delicious? All these other holiday creamers like gingerbread and egg nog!! SOOOOOOO good. The peppermint mocha is also glorious in case you were wondering. So go out and try different creamers and add-ins to customize your crockpot hot chocolate to your liking!
Topping Ideas
Mini Marshmallows.These are optional but so so cute for this recipe. Around the holidays you can find specialty shaped marshmallows to make your drink extra fun.
Whipped Cream. Make it easy on yourself and buy a can of this stuff, you can even just buy Cool Whip and mix in different extracts. A mint whipped cream is super easy to make.
Candy Canes. This is a super festive idea that will actually flavor your hot cocoa as it dissolves.
Freezing
Hello, make-ahead recipe! Make this recipe completely, minus the mini marshmallows. Cool completely then transfer to the freezer.
An easy way to do this would be to freeze the hot cocoa in smaller chunks. Do this by freezing in an ice tray then transferring to a large freezer bag. You could also just use small ziplock bags.
This recipe can be frozen for up to 3 months.
More Hot Cocoa Recipes!
- Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
- Egg Nog Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
- Halloween Oreo Frozen Hot Chocolate
So there you have it, folks. Crazy delicious hot chocolate for Christmas and/or wet, wintery weather. Make this today! You wont regret it
Crockpot Hot Chocolate
Crockpot Hot Chocolate is a well balanced, creamy, chocolatey, sweet homemade recipe everyone will enjoy! Take it over the top with creamer!
- 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 12 cups whole milk
- 1 cup half & half
- 1 cup chocolate chip cookie coffee creamer (+ more for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
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In the bottom of a cold crockpot, whisk sweetened condensed milk with cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth.
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Whisk in milk, half & half and creamer, being sure to get to the edges. Sprinkle in the salt. Cover and warm on high for 2 hours or low for 4. You're not trying to cook this, just warm it through! Once it's to the desired temperature, switch crockpot to 'warm'.
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When you're ready to serve, add in mini marshmallows and more coffee creamer if you so desire {which you totally should!!} Enjoy!
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