Need a great tasting easy hot chocolate recipe? This basic recipe will have you stirring up a batch of Hot Chocolate. Special Dark Cocoa, 2% milk,  sugar and tiny bit of salt makes this recipe easy to mix together as well as to add additional flavorings. You can substitute the milk with Almond Coconut or whole milk for a richer and another favorite flavor. Of course adding whipped cream is a must and marshmallows.  For a great home made marshmallow recipe try this one I made for Fall S’Mores.

How to Make Basic Hot Chocolate

Simple ingredients like Hershey’s special dark cocoa, sugar, salt and good milk makes a great cup of hot chocolate.  Of course adding toppings like whipped cream, mini chocolate chips, caramel sauce and ect make it extra special.  Here’s how to make a great cup of hot chocolate.  Of course if you are in a hurry, you can always use a premixed recipe like this one or try this organic dark cocoa mix.

In microwaveable bowl or 8 cup  glass measuring cup, place 3/4 cup cocoa.  Add sugar and salt to the cocoa, stir to combine.  I like to use a wooden spoon for stirring. To this mixture add 1 cup milk, stir to combine the cocoa with the milk. At this point, using a whisk can be very helpful or you can use your wooden spoon.  It will resemble a thick paste.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add remaining milk and half and half. Add chocolate mixture .. the paste to the milk and stir to combine.  Allow it to get warm but do not let it boil.  Stir constantly to prevent burning and keep heat on medium low.

It’s ready to serve!  Pour in a warm mug add fresh whipped cream and all the wonderful toppings you desire.  Cinnamon sticks are great for stirring and so are York peppermint patty’s on a stir stick. Just insert a patty into one end of stir stick, when ready to serve, remove stick and pour hot chocolate into cup and stir with patty down in the hot milk.  It will dissolve and be a lovely peppermint flavor.

Suggested toppings include, mini chocolate chips, crushed heath bars, caramel sauce, crusted peppermint, mini mallow bites, homemade marshmallow’s, marshmallow creme, chocolate sauce, sifted sweetened cocoa, shaved chocolate, toasted coconut.

Be sure to try this recipe.  Its basic and very good. Create a hot chocolate bar for fall harvest parties.  Using black and white color scheme makes it special too.  This was featured in Wayfair.com

Basic Hot Chocolate Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 review

Super simple basic hot chocolate recipe from scratch using milk, dark cocoa powder, sugar and flavoring. Dressed up with marshmallows and whipped cream, even peppermint patty stir sticks.

• Author: Liz Bushong
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4- 8 ounce servings 1x
• Category: Sips- Beverage
• Method: Cooktop
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups 2% milk or milk of choice

1 cup half and half

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. In microwaveable bowl or 8 cup  glass measuring cup, place 3/4 cup cocoa.
2.  Add sugar and salt to the cocoa.  To this mixture add 1 cup milk, stir to combine the cocoa with the milk.  It will resemble a thick paste.
3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add remaining milk and half and half.
4. Add chocolate mixture (paste) to the milk and stir to combine.
5. Do not allow mixture to boil.
6. Serve warm with fresh whipped cream and other toppings.

Suggested toppings include, mini chocolate chips, crushed heath bars, caramel sauce, crusted peppermint, mini mallow bites, homemade marshmallow’s, marshmallow creme, chocolate sauce, sifted sweetened cocoa, shaved chocolate, toasted coconut.

Notes

You can also add 1/4 cup of half n half or heavy cream to the basic mix for a richer and creamier hot chocolate.

Flavorings you can add include, coconut milk or coconut extract, orange or almond extract, peppermint syrup or other favorite syrups such as caramel.

Keywords: Hot Chocolate, Hot Cocoa, Cream, Marshmallows, Sprinkles, Peppermint Patty's, Mini Chocolate Bombs

Other Ideas You Might Like to Try:

Mini Hot Chocolate Bar for Christmas