Crock Pot Hot Chocolate (+Video)
Crock Pot Hot Chocolate is an easy, creamy slow cooker homemade hot chocolate that everyone loves! Rich, chocolate deliciousness in a mug!
AN EASY, CREAMY HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE
This is a super simple recipe that packs a wonderful chocolate flavor and is pure creamy deliciousness. It makes hot chocolate just a bit more special for the occasion and gets everyone into the holiday spirit. Be sure to check out my twists on this recipe for adult-only crowds!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Definitely milk. Especially if you are looking for a more indulgent hot chocolate. Water is perfectly fine for hot cocoa but not for real hot chocolate.
Hot cocoa is a powder made with cocoa powder, powdered milk and sometimes adiditonal sweetener. It is then mixed with warm water or milk to create the drink. Hot chocolate is made with real chocolate (either chocolate chips or chocolate bars), milk and sugar. It is all warmed together to create the drink.
National Hot Chocolate Day is on January 31st!
Instant hot chocolate mixes usually contain powdered milk so they do actually expire. Be sure to check the date on your powdered mixes to ensure they aren’t past their shelf date.
For peppermint hot chocolate, add in a couple of teaspoons of peppermint extract instead of vanilla extract. For an adult beverage, try adding some Kahlua, Peppermint Schnapps or Rum Chata!
Leftover homemade hot chocolate should be stored in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can gently reheat it in the microwave using a microwave-safe mug. Heat in 30 second increments and stir until warmed through.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- sweetened condensed milk
- whole milk
- heavy whipping cream
- vanilla extract
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
- mini marshmallows
HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER HOT CHOCOLATE:
In a microwave-safe bowl or cup, microwave one cup of milk to scalding (not boiling). This can also be done in a small saucepan on the stove top. Gently whisk in the 1/4 cup cocoa powder into the milk.
In a 4-quart (or larger) slow cooker, combine sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Finally stir in the cocoa milk that you made first.
Cover and cook on low for about 2 hours. Stirring vigorously occasionally as it warms up. Stirring is very important because you want to make sure those chocolate chips are melting evenly and getting incorporated into the rest of the mixture.
It’s ready when all the chocolate chips have melted and mixture is warm.
Ladle into mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream and a mini candy cane!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Originally published: November 2016
Updated and republished: January 2021
Crock Pot Hot Chocolate (+Video)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 6 cups whole milk, divided use
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- mini marshmallows, for serving
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe bowl or cup, microwave one cup of milk to scalding (not boiling). This can also be done in a small saucepan on the stove top.
- Gently whisk in the 1/4 cup cocoa powder into the milk.
- In a 4-quart (or larger) slow cooker, combine sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Finally stir in the cocoa and milk mixture that you made first.
- Cover and cook on low for about 2 hours and stirring often as it begins to warm up. Stirring is very important because you want to make sure those chocolate chips are melting evenly and getting incorporated into the rest of the mixture. You don't want a big clump of melted chocolate on the bottom.
- It's ready when all the chocolate chips have melted and mixture is warm.
- Ladle into mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream and a mini candy cane!
Video
Notes
- Edit: I updated this recipe from the first time I posted it. I originally mixed the cocoa powder straight in with the all the other ingredients but updated it to mix with warm milk first to make sure it is fully combined before adding to the rest of the ingredients. in the slow cooker.
- For peppermint hot chocolate, add in a couple of teaspoons of peppermint extract instead of vanilla extract.
- For an adult beverage, try adding some Kahlua, Peppermint Schnapps or Rum Chata!
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
How many ounces per serving? trying to calculate for a party. Thanks!
I do not own a crock pot, but thought perhaps it might work just using a Dutch Oven on the stove?
I made this a couple years ago for a November birthday party and it was a big hit. I am planning to make again but I’m wondering about preparing it the day before then heating it with the crockpot for our party. thoughts? thx!
Hey Grace! Thanks so much! Although I’ve never tried it, I think it’s possible. You’d need to fully prepare it – then allow it to cool then put it into the refrigerator then you’d basically reheat it on the stovetop or back in the slow cooker. I can’t tell you though how long it takes to reheat from cold. You’d also want to make sure you are whisking it as it heats up so the ingredients don’t separate.
I have given the link to this recipe so many times! Everyone LOVES it! It’s so rich.
Thank you so much Megan!! I really appreciate you sharing with friends!!
Made it for the kids after trick or treating in the snow. My kids and their friends loved it!
HI! After cooking, I am thinking about adding this to a hot beverage dispenser (coffee/water urn) for easy serving at a party. Have you done this before and were there any issues?
Hi Shasta, no I haven’t I am sorry. The only thing you have to think about when using real chocolate is that it needs to be fully melted and it needs to stay warm enough to stay melted so it doesn’t clump back up and clog up anything. If you try it, please let me know!
Hi
This tasted delicious and was super easy. However there were a ton of clumps in it when I made it. Any tips?
I’m so happy your enjoyed it! That’s a good question! You really have to whisk it a lot. When using real chocolate, it doesn’t blend as easy as a powder so you gotta whisk it really good. Or, you can certainly use an immersion blender to zip it up real quick! 🙂
Hi Brandie,
Made this for the kiddos in my class & they loved it! Could you substitute almond or cashew milk for the whole milk?
I hope you see this by tomorrow, Brandie!
I bought half and half instead of heavy whipping cream!!! I’m hoping it’s going to be ok to use?????
Hi Eva! Yes, it’ll be okay – just slightly thinner. Just make sure to continually whisk it really well to get it all smooth and combined! I hope that helps 🙂
Made this today (forgot the vanilla) and oh my goodness! Best hot chocolate I’ve ever had! My boyfriend and best friend also agreed. Thank you so much for sharing!
If I wanted to make “zebra” hot chocolate, how much semi sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips should I add?
This hot chocolate was delicious. Made this for my daughters friends on a cold night, they loved!!!
Whoa, this is a super thick, rich, and creamy hot cocoa recipe! It’s so so good, definitely a treat to be had in moderation but great for a crowd. I have doubled this recipe in my slow cooker for groups and everyone loves it. Wonderful recipe and super simple.
Love this recipe! I mixed the cocoa with the condensed milk before adding it. Didn’t heat it. Worked out great!
Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and comment Tammy!! So happy everyone enjoyed it!
Have you tried making this in an instant pot yet? I’ve seen a few recipes online that give the instant pot option, but I like the ingredients in yours the best and it tastes amazing.
Hi Amy – not yet! But perhaps someone on here has and can give directions! 🙂
This recipe was great! The only problem I encountered was after it was done cooking…I left it in the crock pot on the “keep warm” setting and the hot chocolate got weird and chunky very quickly. It still tasted good, but I’m not sure how many of my coworkers drank it once it turned chunky..
Oh no! Hmmm….some crock pots still run hot on the keep warm setting. About 10 years or so ago, the FDA started requiring that slow cookers maintain a certain temperature to make sure there was a lower chance of food poisoning. So newer ones tend to run hot. I am thinking if you turn it off and then occasionally come back and turn it on the keep warm setting, it should still say warm without trying to cook itself. 🙂
Substitute for sweetened condensed milk?
We are doing a progressive dinner. My home is the last stop for dessert. I really want to serve this, it sounds so delicious.
What is the best way to do this. I will be gone from my house for 2 and 1/2 hours.
.
Tried the crockpot hot chocolate last night for company while having “Santa” visit. It was delicious and a big hit!!! Well worth your time to have REAL hot chocolate! Easy too!
I have a question about heating up the milk as well. Do I heat up just one of the 6 cups of milk or heat up each cup of milk?
It was a little confusing.
Thanks
Could you use unsweetened almond milk instead of the whole milk?
My question too! Has anyone tried this with almond milk??
Could I freeze hot chocolate? We like hot chocolate when we go ice fishing. This time we had some left over and I don’t know if we will go again in 2-3 days. Would this make it last longerand would it degrade the hot chocolate?
I made this for NYE; I doubled the recipe and shouldn’t have, because it has a huge yield! I had 2 cans of chocolate condensed milk on hand. Other than that, I followed the recipe and it was pure decadence . It’s not diabetic friendly, but it sure can make you forget! Thank you for sharing.
Yay! Thanks so much Ruth! You can always pop it into the fridge and heat up any leftovers later if you have too much leftover 🙂 Happy New Year!
Hello! Can I ask how many people you think that doubling the recipe could have served?
Best hot cocoa ever! Made it exactly per the recipe and did not heat the milk first.
Hello! This looks delicious! Would using milk chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet ones work well? Or could this alter the taste?
I did this last year and it was too sweet. This year I will stick to the original recipe.