Ingredients for Hot Chocolate:
- Cocoa powder – make sure it’s unsweetened
- Sugar – add granulated sugar to your desired sweetness
- Chocolate – use semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips, chunks, or shavings for a rich chocolate flavor
- Milk – we prefer whole milk for a creamier consistency and better chocolate incorporation than skim milk
- Vanilla extract – use homemade vanilla for the best flavor
For an extra rich and creamy hot cocoa, replace 1 cup of whole milk with a cup of half and half or heavy cream.
How to Make Hot Chocolate:
- In a saucepan, whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder. Add milk, chocolate chunks, and vanilla.
- Place over medium heat until steaming, whisking constantly to avoid burning the chocolate.
- Cool to your desired serving temperature and serve with your favorite toppings.
Pro Tip: Cocoa and chocolate can settle at the bottom of the pot. Avoid burning your homemade hot cocoa by cooking it over medium heat and stirring continuously.
Common Questions:
Does hot chocolate have caffeine?
Since unsweetened cocoa powder naturally contains caffeine, hot cocoa does have some caffeine, which can give you a little energy boost. One serving contains about 12 mg caffeine. For reference, a cup of black coffee has 95 mg caffeine, and black tea can have 25-50mg caffeine.
Can I make Mexican Hot Chocolate?
To make Mexican hot chocolate, you need additional spices: 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Also, use bittersweet chocolate.
