Description
This creamy stovetop hot chocolate recipe is a delicious and comforting drink made with milk, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and melted semi-sweet chocolate. Perfect for warming up on a chilly day, it’s easy to make with simple ingredients and can be customized for dairy-free or sweeter variations.
Ingredients
Scale
Hot Chocolate Base
- 4 cups milk (whole or 2%)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Generous pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, cocoa powder, and brown sugar until fully combined and smooth.
- Heat the Mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk frequently. Heat the mixture until it is steaming and small bubbles form around the edges, but do not let it boil.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Reduce the heat to low, add the chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips, and stir continuously until the chocolate has melted completely into the milk mixture.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the saucepan from heat, stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt. Pour into mugs and serve immediately, optionally garnished with whipped cream or marshmallows.
Notes
- For a dairy-free option, use oat milk and vegan chocolate chips.
- Adjust sweetness by substituting milk chocolate for semi-sweet chocolate and/or increasing the sugar by a tablespoon.
- If the hot chocolate is too rich for children, add water to dilute to your preferred taste.
- Single serving adjustment: 1 cup milk, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon semi-sweet chocolate chips, drop of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
