Description

This Crockpot Hot Chocolate recipe offers a rich, creamy, and deeply chocolatey drink, perfect for cozying up on chilly days. Made with a blend of heavy cream, milk, cocoa powder, sweetened condensed milk, and melted semi-sweet chocolate chips, it slowly simmers in a crockpot to develop a smooth and velvety texture. Garnished with mini marshmallows, this indulgent treat is effortless to prepare and perfect for serving a crowd or enjoying throughout the day.

Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate Mixture

1 cup heavy cream
¼ cup unsweetened dutch-processed cocoa powder (King Arthur brand Double-Dark preferred)

Main Ingredients

2 ½ cups heavy cream
4 cups whole milk
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli brand recommended)

Garnish

Mini marshmallows (optional)

Instructions

Prepare Cocoa Cream Mixture: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat 1 cup of heavy cream for 1 minute on high. Whisk in the unsweetened cocoa powder until fully dissolved and smooth, creating a rich chocolate base.
Combine Ingredients in Crockpot: In the crockpot insert, pour in the cocoa cream mixture along with the remaining 2 ½ cups heavy cream, whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk thoroughly to combine everything evenly.
Add Chocolate Chips: Stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, ensuring they are distributed evenly throughout the mixture.
Cook on Low: Cover the crockpot with its lid and set it to LOW heat. Allow the hot chocolate to cook for 2 to 3 hours, stirring or whisking every 20 to 30 minutes. This prevents burning and helps the chocolate chips to melt smoothly into the mixture.
Warm and Serve: After the chocolate has fully melted and the drink is heated through, whisk it well to ensure a smooth texture. Switch the crockpot setting to WARM to keep the hot chocolate ready to serve for up to 2 hours.
Garnish: Ladle the hot chocolate into mugs and top with mini marshmallows if desired, adding an extra touch of sweetness and texture.

Notes

Stirring every 20-30 minutes during cooking is essential to avoid burning and ensure even melting of the chocolate.
You can substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips with dark or milk chocolate chips according to your preference.
For a dairy-free version, use plant-based milk and cream alternatives, and verify that the sweetened condensed milk is dairy-free.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator and reheat gently before serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Category: Beverage
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: hot chocolate, crockpot hot chocolate, slow cooker hot chocolate, creamy hot chocolate, chocolate drink, warm beverage, winter drink