Everyone loves a toasty beverage this time of year. Hot chocolate is at the top of our list, with a rich and smooth flavor perfect for enjoying as a dessert or an afternoon treat. We prefer a delicious homemade recipe. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to make luscious drinking chocolate with a few simple ingredients.
Hot Chocolate vs Drinking Chocolate
Is there a distinction between hot chocolate and drinking chocolate? No, there isn’t! They’re the same drink with a different name, but they both include melted chocolate. If you use cocoa powder, it’s called hot cocoa. The beverage features heated liquid like milk or water. It may also include additional flavors such as vanilla or peppermint, as well as toppings like whipped cream or marshmallows.
Tips for Making Hot Chocolate
If you enjoy drinking hot chocolate as much as we do, you want to create the perfect cup. Let us help you with your cozy creation! First, start with quality ingredients. We recommend shopping for our baking chocolate to find your favorite tasting notes.
If you like something sweet and sassy, try our bittersweet dark chocolate with nutty flavors and hints of dried fruit. Our drinking chocolate crumbles are a simple and delicious way to make hot cocoa that everyone will love. If you prefer, you can swap out the bittersweet chocolate for a couple of tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder.
Feel free to choose plant-based milk if you don’t consume dairy. Oat milk and almond milk pair well with the flavors of drinking chocolate. Other favorites include coconut milk or soy milk. Heat your milk to your desired temperature before you add other ingredients for the smoothest texture. It also helps to use a whisk or an immersion blender.
Browse Our Tasty Chocolate Recipes
Ingredients for Hot Drinking Chocolate
To make our favorite classic drinking chocolate, all you need are a few wholesome ingredients:
- ½ cup of chopped bittersweet chocolate or drinking chocolate crumbles
- 8 oz milk (dairy or plant-based)
- Your choice of additional flavors or toppings
You can flavor your drinking chocolate with peppermint or vanilla extract. Sprinkle a dusting of cinnamon or espresso powder. Or add depth of flavor with bits of vegan toffee or coconut milk whipped topping.
Steps to Make the Hot Chocolate
In a pot, scald milk to 190°F. Pour it over the drinking chocolate crumbles (or if you prefer, the cocoa powder). Pour into a glass or mug and enjoy. To flavor the hot chocolate, choose your favorite extracts or spices. When the drinking chocolate is fully melted and uniform, add a splash of your favorite extract or include a pinch of brown sugar or sea salt. Blend spices like cinnamon or cardamom with an immersion blender for a smooth texture.
Variations on Classic Hot Chocolate
If you’re craving a unique twist on our classic hot chocolate, we have a few drinking chocolate recipes to try. Explore the beauty in simplicity with our Golden Milk Drinking Chocolate featuring drinking chocolate crumbles, your choice of milk and spices like turmeric and ginger. Make something one-of-a-kind with our recipe for Blue Corn Hot Cocoa. Sip on the flavors of blue corn and oat milk. It also features our Hawt Chocolate crumbles and Mexican sea salt.
Have some time to spend in the kitchen? Go beyond hot cocoa (and get a little dirty in the process) with our renowned recipe for Dirty Chocolate Chai. You’ll get to showcase our drinking chocolate crumbles, but you’ll also get to use ingredients like vanilla bean and fresh espresso. Black tea and freshly grated ginger give this drink its cozy yet energizing flavor. There are endless variations on drinking chocolate, so start with the basic recipe or experiment with some of the flavors that you love best. You can’t go wrong when you use quality baking chocolate and warm milk.
Creating a Cozy Cup
Hot chocolate offers a cozy way to wind down or enjoy a tasty treat. Some like it in the morning instead of coffee or drink it as dessert. No matter your style, now you know how simple it is to make the best cup of cocoa you’ve ever tasted!