Stovetop Hot Chocolate
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It takes just six minutes and three ingredients to make this rich and creamy homemade stovetop hot chocolate recipe.
I’ll never forget the first time I had homemade, real, hot chocolate, made on the stove and not with a mix. Although we made our own mix from scratch (and it was delicious) there was just something about that extra chocolaty decadence of classic hot chocolate, with that little extra bit of cocoa lingering for the last sip that had me hooked.
A while back the folks from Domino Sugar contacted me to ask if I’d like to feature Domino Sugar on Southern Plate. They asked if I’d use one of their recipes on their handy dandy recipe site as well. I had planned on bringing y’all homemade hot cocoa for a while now but I usually make it without a recipe and had yet to take the time to measure everything out. Lo and behold, Domino did that for me so why mess with perfection? After you make this a time or two with their best hot chocolate recipe, you’ll likely settle into just eyeballing it as I do.
Either way you go, though, you just can’t beat a cup of this easy homemade hot chocolate! When I say easy, I mean it. All you need is cocoa powder, whole milk, white sugar, and vanilla as an optional extra. 5 minutes of stovetop cooking later and you’ll be topping your hot cocoa with mini marshmallows and taking a sip. It’s that quick and easy.
Special thanks to Domino for sending me a gift card to gather up all of the supplies I’d need for this post, including some Domino Sugar in their new little canister! Be sure to check out their recipe website for plenty of yummy holiday recipes, including mixes and printable tags.
If you loved this Hot Chocolate make sure you try some of my other hot drink recipes like Snowman Soup With Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix, Red Velvet Hot Chocolate, Gingerbread Spiced Coffee, Mocha Coffee Floats, and Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Latte at Home
Recipe Ingredients
- Cocoa powder
- Whole milk
- Sugar
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Vanilla extract and a mini marshmallow topping are optional but don’t try telling that to my kids!
How to Make Stovetop Hot Chocolate
First, add the sugar to the saucepot.
Then add your cocoa powder.
Pour in 1/2 cup of whole milk.
Stirry, stirry!
It will look kinda like a paste.
Stirring constantly, bring it to a boil.
Remove the saucepot from the heat and pour in the remaining milk.
Stir that up well and then place to saucepot back on the stovetop, set to medium heat.
Pour in a little vanilla extract if you’d like.
Continue stirring over medium heat until heated through.
Be careful and ensure it doesn’t come to a boil again.
Once it is heated through, pour it into cups.
Now you can keep things plain and simple…
Or you can add mini marshmallows…
And a peppermint candy cane stir stick.
Enjoy!
Storage
It’s best to serve the hot chocolate immediately. But just adjust the measurements to match the number of servings you wish to make. However, if you do have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container (like a mason jar) for up to 3 days and reheat them on the stovetop until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- To enhance the chocolate flavor, feel free to add a pinch of salt to your .
- Garnish your creamy homemade hot chocolate however you like:
- Homemade whipped cream
- Caramel sauce (check out my delicious dulce de leche recipe)
- Crushed peppermint candies
- Chocolate shavings
- A dollop of peanut butter
- You can use any milk in this recipe including dairy-free varieties like almond milk and coconut milk.
- Here are some fun stovetop hot chocolate variations. When you add the vanilla extract, also add:
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (then serve with a cinnamon stick).
- 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract to make peppermint hot chocolate (serve with a peppermint candy cane over the holidays).
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of powdered instant coffee.
- 1/16 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper.
Here are more delicious drinks to make for your family soon:
Snowman Soup With Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Latte at Home
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4.5 cups whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa, and 1/2 cup of milk.1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 4.5 cups whole milk
- Stir constantly over medium heat until the hot chocolate mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add the remaining milk. Then return to medium heat and stir in vanilla if desired. Stir until heated through.1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional), 4.5 cups whole milk
- Serve hot with mini marshmallows.
Nutrition
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Here is a decadent recipe for cocoa/hot chocolate – in Italy they add a little arro-root (similar to cornstarch) when liquid hot enough to dissolve – this makes for a very thick chocolate – very popular in one of the well known restaurants in Florence, Italy.
This is a very rich hot chocolate and not for those watching their weight. It’s my “go-to” recipe when I want to indulge.
Best Hot Chocolate
2 cups half and half
1 cup milk
6 oz. Semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
Sugar to taste
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
Dash cinnamon
Dash salt
In a medium saucepan, bring half-and-half and milk to low boil.
Add chopped chocolate and sugar, whisking constantly. As chocolate begins to Melt, add vanilla and almond extract, cinnamon and salt; whisking constantly until Warmed through. Serve immediately.
We call it hot chocolate. I live in southeast Tennessee.
We call it simply “cocoa” – everyone knows it means “hot”. Texas, ya’ll.
My granny used to make it all the time for us kids. I remember her pouring hers into a saucer and sipping it out the saucer as it cools??? Any one else’s family do that? Maybe it’s an Okie thing. My kids always request “real hot chocolate” after playing outside in the cold. I love making it for them.
Here in Birmingham, Alabama it is hot chocolate made with whole milk and vanilla but instead of marshmallows Mammaw (grandmother to ya’ll yankees) used Redi-Whip.
Oh, by the way, skim milk is a curse in Dixie…so is margarine. We say if ya’ll gonna do it..do it right….WHOLE milk and BUTTER!!!
Whole milk and butter, amen! You go, Renee! (High five!)
Life is too short for the fake stuff!
My grandparents had bowl like saucers they used to pour from their cups small amounts to cool then sip. I wish I had gotten that set of dishes now. Thanks for the memories.
Delicious! My girls are drinking “hot chocolate” as I type after playing outside. While the Holly Jollies with toffee chips and almonds are cooling for the neighbors. I will have to the homeade hot chocolate next time. I also love my domino’s canister. I do not have canisters, except for sugar thanks to the marketing design folks over there.
Merry Christmas!!
Any good office party recipes that will stay good sitting out all day? DH needs something this week.
I’m definitely going to give this recipe a whirl! I’m a hot chocolate addict and use alot of the store bought mixes during the winter time. (I know, bad me! hehe) I drink this stuff like I do my coffee and always open to new ways of trying/drinking It. This one looks like a keeper! 🙂
I sometimes experiment with adding flavored creamers to change It up from time to time. Especially during the holidays with all the different varieties they have available. It just Isn’t hot chocolate without the marshmallows and a big dallop of cool whip as well! hehe
My son just got home this week from college for Christmas break. This was the first thing he requested after being outside for a bit. We add a bit of cinnamon for Mexican hot cocoa, like Mrs. Welch, or a while cinnamon stick – it’s the best. I also like to add some canned whipped cream and just a little of the Christmas sprinkles (we have the red and green jimmies) – it was the most gorgeous presentation and tasted twice as good.
Up north I think we all say “hot cocoa”. We do at my house. My southern relatives all say “hot chocolate”. Wonder why that is?