Rich and decadent, this Crock Pot Hot Chocolate will be the BEST you ever taste!
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It’s officially winter, the time of the year when you get your snuggly blankets, fuzzy sweaters, and hoodies out!
But winter isn’t just about keeping yourself warm with layers of clothing; it’s about getting into the festive spirit, it’s about spreading cheer and joy, and, most importantly, it’s about sipping on a cup of rich hot chocolate to warm you up on chilly snow days!
This recipe is for when you want a rich, indulgent hot chocolate recipe. It’s great to serve a crowd! If you’re looking for a healthier recipe, I have those, too! Try my Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix that’s dairy free and sugar free. Maca Root Hot Cocoa is another healthy option when you’re craving hot chocolate!
We’ve all had regular hot chocolate countless times; therefore, why not try a hot cocoa recipe with a twist? I’m talking about a big batch homemade hot chocolate with your favorite toppings; I’m talking about Crockpot Hot Chocolate!
Get ready to make a big batch of hot cocoa this holiday season to add warmth to your Christmas or New Year’s Eve party or for the neighborhood kids after a day of sledding!
Recipe Ingredients–What You Need
This crock pot hot chocolate recipe is so easy; it only requires 5 ingredients.
Whole Milk
We need 8 cups of whole milk for this creamy hot chocolate recipe. Whole milk has a higher fat content, and that’s what makes our crock pot hot chocolate recipe the best hot chocolate! For the most nutrition, I look for organic, grass-fed whole milk from A2 cows.
However, if you’re following a certain diet and cannot consume cow’s milk, you can always use this oat milk recipe, homemade almond milk, or coconut milk as an alternative.
Stevia-Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips
I always try to make my recipes as healthy as possible, but it’s the holiday season, so we’re going all out with sweet treat recipes that include not-so-healthy ingredients. Therefore, we can make alterations whenever possible! That’s why I’ve used 9 ounces of Stevia-sweetened dark chocolate chips to add a richer chocolate flavor to the recipe. These are low-carb semi-sweet chocolate chips with no added sugar and are a healthier alternative to milk chocolate chips.
If you can’t find Stevia-sweetened dark chocolate chips, you can use regular milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, bittersweet chocolate, or high-quality chocolate bars instead.
Heavy Whipping Cream
This crock pot hot chocolate recipe will need 1½ cups of heavy cream. It contains 40% milkfat and is thicker than other creams. Its high-fat content is what makes this cream an important ingredient. You see, heavy whipping cream does not curdle or separate when cooked; therefore, as we need to cook all the ingredients in a large pot on medium heat, this cream is the ideal option. It thickens and enriches the hot chocolate, and as a result, we get a creamy, frothy, and delicious hot cocoa with real chocolate flavor to die for.
Furthermore, heavy cream contains fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, that are better absorbed by our bodies.
Half-and-half can be substituted, but I prefer heavy whipping cream here.
Sweetened Condensed Milk
We also need 1 can of sweetened condensed milk for this crockpot hot chocolate recipe. As we are not adding sugar separately, sweetened condensed milk will act as a sweetener; plus it will make your hot chocolate deliciously thick and creamy.
Condensed milk is rich in calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin A, riboflavin, phosphorus, and protein, which are essential for healthy bones and teeth and a strong immune and cardiovascular system.
Look for an organic condensed milk with a BPA-free can lining.
Vanilla Extract
For the final touch, you can add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. It enhances the taste of all other ingredients included in this recipe and gives the slow cooker hot chocolate a tempting vanilla aroma.
Vanilla extract is known to be a good substitute for sugar, and helps reduce sugar levels to some extent. It has a sweet caramel-y taste and smell that makes snacks irresistible and tempting.
How to Make Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
1. Place all ingredients in your slow cooker. Note: You can make this in a Crock Pot or using the slow cooker function of your Instant Pot, as I did for these photos.
2. Cook on low heat for 2 to 3 hours or until the chocolate chips melt, and the mixture is smooth.
3. Stir the mixture occasionally during cooking time to avoid the hot chocolate sticking to the bottom of the pan.
FAQs
Q. Is crock pot hot chocolate the same as hot cocoa?
While both beverages come under the category of hot chocolate, there is a tad bit of a difference. Hot cocoa is made using unsweetened cocoa powder, while hot chocolate is made with real chocolate. Furthermore, hot chocolate tends to be richer and tastes better.
Q. Are there any variations to this recipe?
The recipe I made is a basic creamy crockpot hot chocolate; however, you can add your choice of ingredients to add more taste to it. For instance, you can add caramel sauce to make a salted caramel hot chocolate, or you can add peppermint extract to make peppermint hot chocolate. There is no perfect recipe for this hot chocolate; you can add anything that makes it work for you!
Q. What are some topping options for crock pot hot chocolate?
Here are some topping options that your whole family will love:
- Whipped cream
- Drizzle caramel sauce
- Put a candy cane, peppermint sticks, or cinnamon sticks on the side
- Add mini marshmallows to it
- Sprinkle some crushed candy canes or chocolate shavings on top of the whipped cream
Or, you could use your imagination and get as creative as you want with the toppings!
Q. What to serve with crockpot hot chocolate?
Ginger cookies, sugar cookies, cranberry pie, pretzels, roasted nuts, or salty crackers go best with this crockpot hot chocolate. However, you can pair it up with any dessert or snack of your choice.
Q. How to store leftover hot chocolate?
You can keep the leftover hot chocolate in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat it, pour the contents into microwave-safe mugs and heat for 30 seconds, then stir until everything is well combined and thoroughly warmed.
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Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
With just 5 simple ingredients, this Crock Pot Hot Chocolate recipe is rich, decadent, and everyone loves it.
Ingredients
- 8 cups whole milk
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 9 ounces stevia-sweetened chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in your slow cooker. Note: You can make this in a Crock Pot or using the slow cooker function of your Instant Pot, as I did for these photos
- Cook on low heat for 2 to 3 hours or until the chocolate chips melt, and the mixture is smooth.
- Stir the mixture occasionally during cooking time to avoid the hot chocolate sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: slow cooker recipes
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of recipe
- Calories: 327
- Sugar: 33 grams
- Fat: 15.5 grams
- Saturated Fat: 9 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 46 grams
- Fiber: 6.1 grams
- Protein: 11 grams
If you enjoyed this easy crockpot recipe, try this pumpkin-spiced white hot chocolate to warm yourself up in the cold winter months!
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