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Extra Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

Hot chocolate fans, listen up! This is a super creamy and delicious homemade hot chocolate recipe for you to make immediately.

Using simple ingredients, you can skip the packets and make your own hot cocoa to enjoy this winter season. This one is rich, sweet, and extra creamy for a special treat.

Overhead shot of hot cocoa with marshmallows in a mug.

Extra Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate

If you’ve never melted marshmallows into the mix, you’re in for a sweet treat. I now believe this is the secret to making the best hot cocoa.

The holidays are behind us, but most of us still have quite a bit of winter weather to endure. It’s still time for all things cozy.

Mug of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows on a table with colored spoons in a jar.

A mug of hot cocoa, a fuzzy heated blanket, and a blazing fireplace are things I live for during the cold weather months.

It’s fun to make hot chocolate from home to experiment with different flavor combos. Make a big batch of hot cocoa for a gathering, or just enough for your family on movie night.

Whatever you choose, homemade hot chocolate is so easy to make. To make this recipe even creamier, feel free to use whole milk.

If you’d like to ease up on the calories a bit, go ahead and opt for 1% or skim milk.

Again, the secret to this creamy hot cocoa is adding marshmallows to the mix in addition to the topping.

Milk, sugar, marshmallows, and cocoa in bowls.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Ingredients:

Makes 4 cups

  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 4 teaspoons unsweetened baking cocoa powder
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
  • optional toppings: more marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate shavings.

Homemade Hot Cocoa Directions:

Pouring milk into a saucepan.

Add the sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and 1 1/2 cups of marshmallows into a saucepan.

Holding a bowl with sugar in it.

Heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally until all the marshmallows are melted.

Holding a small bowl of cocoa, pouring it into a sauce pan with milk.

You want the mixture to be hot, but not boiling or bubbly.

Holding a bowl of marshmallows.

It will get frothy due to the milk and that’s okay.

Hot chocolate in saucepan.

Serve in your favorite mugs and top with more marshmallows if you choose.

Pouring hot chocolate into a mug.

More recipes if you love hot chocolate:

Hot chocolate in a mug with marshmallows.

For even more fun, make these chocolate covered spoons to share with friends.

If you throw a winter party, set up a hot chocolate bar with toppings, chocolate stirring spoons, and funky mugs so guests can create their own hot cocoa creations.

Cup of hot cocoa on a blue napkin with colorful spoons.

Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe Notes and FAQ

Is it better to make hot chocolate with milk or water?

In my opinion, hot chocolate is better with milk, but you can make it with water if you want. If you make your hot chocolate with water, you’ll lose the creaminess. 

How do you make hot chocolate taste good with water?

If you decide to use water instead of milk, add a pinch of salt. It won’t take away the sweetness of the hot chocolate, and it will make it taste more balanced. 

How do you make hot chocolate from scratch without cocoa powder? 

If you don’t have cocoa powder on hand, just chop up chocolate and melt it in the microwave. Mix the melted chocolate into the hot milk and sugar. 

Yield: 4 cups

Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

Overhead shot of hot cocoa with marshmallows in a mug

Easy, creamy, and delicious homemade hot chocolate recipe.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 cups marshmallows, plus more for serving

Instructions

  1. Add sugar, cocoa, milk, and 1 1/2 cups marshmallows in a saucepan.
  2. Cook over medium-low heat, string occasionally until all marshmallows are melted and mixture is hot, but not boiling or bubbly. It will get frothy due to the milk and that's okay.
  3. Serve in mugs topped with marshmallows.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 cup

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 228Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 142mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 0gSugar: 20gProtein: 9g

Nutrition facts are an estimate only.

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Overhead shot of mug full of hot chocolate.

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Do you make hot chocolate from home? Let me know if you try this homemade hot chocolate recipe!

Cindy

Saturday 11th of January 2020

I made this with my kids and they loved it! Going to make again tomorrow too! I am going to make sure I have all ingredients on hand for all upcoming snow days!

Jennifer

Saturday 11th of January 2020

So glad to hear that!! Stay warm and cozy! :)

Michelle

Thursday 2nd of January 2020

This sounds amazing!! It's finally getting cold here in Virginia so this recipe is perfect.

Jennifer

Monday 6th of January 2020

Thanks, Michelle! I hope you like it and stay warm and cozy!!

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