What is the secret ingredient in gourmet hot chocolate

A rich & creamy homemade hot chocolate ready in under 10 minutes! Made with real chocolate – semisweet & bittersweet chocolate, cocoa powder & vanilla. This is the best homemade hot chocolate recipe!

There’s nothing better than a mug full of homemade hot chocolate when it’s chilly outside. This is a thick, rich, and creamy hot chocolate made with a generous amount of semisweet and bittersweet chocolate. It’s finished with whipped cream, marshmallows, and drizzled with chocolate syrup!

This can be made in advance and reheated later. See the reheating instructions below in the recipe.

Rich & Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate

Homemade hot chocolate is a delicious treat but how do you make it better? Use real, high quality chocolate. High quality chocolate has a high percentage of cocoa and uses smooth, nicely melting cocoa butter for even melting and silky texture.

Difference between Hot Cocoa and Hot Chocolate

The difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate is the addition of real chocolate. Hot cocoa is usually made solely with cocoa powder whereas hot chocolate is made with real chocolate and sometimes also cocoa powder.

This makes hot chocolate richer and creamier than hot cocoa because of the additional fat content found in cocoa butter, which is an ingredient in real chocolate. Hot cocoa is therefore a thinner consistency because of the absence of real chocolate.

Ingredients for Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate:

Real Chocolate:

I used the following types of dark chocolate:

• bittersweet chocolate – high percentage of cocoa, less sweet than semisweet chocolate, bold chocolate flavor
• semisweet chocolate – moderate percentage of cocoa, sweeter than semisweet chocolate but less sweet than milk chocolate

I used two 4oz bars of dark chocolate in total and chopped them into small pieces so they’ll melt faster. You can certainly use chocolate chips if you have them on hand. A 4oz bar of chocolate is a little under 1 cup so you can substitute that same amount of chocolate chips.

If you use milk chocolate or white chocolate, I recommend reducing or omitting the sugar as those chocolates have more sugar than dark chocolate. Taste to see if it needs more sweetness as you can always add more.

Cocoa Powder (Dutch Processed)

Dutch processed cocoa powder enhances the flavors of the hot chocolate and gives it a smoother finish compared to regular cocoa powder. Regular cocoa powder tastes slightly tart and acidic because cocoa beans are naturally tart and acidic. Dutch processed cocoa powder is alkalized to remove that acidity which gives it a smoother finish and more mild chocolate taste.

Whole Milk

• the base of the hot chocolate
• you can substitute with any milk of your choice

Heavy Cream

• heavy cream makes this hot chocolate creamy and rich
• you can substitute half and half for a thinner hot chocolate

Cornstarch

Why add cornstarch in hot chocolate? Cornstarch acts as a thickening agent and gives this homemade hot chocolate a silky, smooth texture. If you prefer hot chocolate slightly thick and creamy, be sure to add cornstarch. Otherwise, the hot chocolate will be thinner in consistency.

How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate

Keep stirring after adding the chopped chocolate. It will look grainy at first but will become silky and smooth after about a minute of stirring as the chocolate melts into the milk.

Once the chocolate pieces have completely melted and the hot chocolate thickens, it’s ready to serve. Pour it into your mugs and top them with your favorite toppings!

Homemade Hot Chocolate Toppings and Flavorings

You can add the following toppings and flavorings to this homemade hot chocolate:

• Toppings
  • marshmallows
  • whipped cream
  • chocolate syrup
  • salted caramel syrup
  • crushed peppermint candy
• Spices
  • cinnamon
  • cayenne
  • nutmeg
• Flavorings:
  • peppermint extract
  • vanilla extract
  • instant espresso powder

Hot Chocolate Mix as Gifts

You can certainly add the dry ingredients in a mason jar and make this an edible gift during the holidays or as part of a care package during the colder months. This makes a fantastic gift for anyone feeling under the weather and is a warm, comforting drink to have when it’s chilly out. They also make amazing parting gifts to hand out at a Christmas party.

I suggest adding the dry ingredients one by one so you can see the individual layers and adding a card with the recipe for how much milk, cream, and vanilla to add.

Storing and Reheating Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate can be made in a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, place it on the stovetop over low heat and stir it constantly until it’s warmed through. This is to ensure it doesn’t form a skin on top which would add graininess to the hot chocolate. Be careful not to boil the hot chocolate as it can end up curdling the milk.

I hope you enjoy this rich and creamy homemade hot chocolate! Please share, rate, and comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

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