10+ Hot Chocolate Recipes to Warm Up Your Winter Nights

Hot chocolate just feels right when it’s cold out, doesn’t it? It’s one of those simple pleasures you can whip up at home with stuff you probably already have.

There are so many ways to make hot chocolate—rich, light, sweet, dark—you get to call the shots.

If you’re looking to try something new or just want to skip the mix and make it yourself, having a few solid recipes on hand is a game changer. You get to tweak the flavor and make it just how you like.

Ingredients

• Milk (whole or 2%)
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Sugar
• Chocolate (bittersweet, semisweet, or whatever you’ve got)
• Vanilla extract (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Warm milk in a saucepan over medium heat (about 160°F / 70°C).
2. Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar until dissolved.
3. Add chopped chocolate, stirring till melted.
4. Take off the heat and add vanilla extract if you’re feeling it.
5. Pour into a mug and drink up.

1) Classic creamy hot chocolate with whole milk and cocoa powder

You can’t go wrong with the basics. Whole milk and cocoa powder make a classic hot chocolate that’s smooth and rich—no need to get fancy.

Heat the milk gently, then stir in unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar. Keep whisking so you don’t get lumps.

Once it’s hot (but not boiling), pull it off the stove. Pour into your favorite mug, and if you want, add a splash of vanilla or a tiny pinch of salt.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ cup granulated sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Warm the milk over medium heat, aiming for about 175°F (80°C).
2. Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar until it’s smooth.
3. Take it off the heat before it boils.
4. Serve right away.

2) Bittersweet chocolate hot cocoa with semisweet chocolate chips

Bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chips together? That’s a combo that’s hard to beat. The result is a creamy, not-too-sweet drink that feels like a treat.

Warm the milk gently, then toss in chopped bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chips. Stir until everything melts together.

A splash of vanilla at the end brings out the chocolate even more. It’s simple but feels a little indulgent.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk
• 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat milk over medium heat to about 150°F (65°C).
2. Add bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chips.
3. Stir until the chocolate melts.
4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla if you want.
5. Pour into a mug and enjoy.

3) Rich Italian-style hot chocolate thickened with cornstarch

Italian-style hot chocolate is a whole different thing—think thick, almost pudding-like. Cornstarch is the secret here.

Mix cocoa powder and sugar first. Stir cornstarch with a splash of milk till smooth.

Heat the rest of the milk, then whisk in the cocoa mix and cornstarch slurry. Keep stirring so it doesn’t clump up.

Once it thickens enough to coat a spoon, it’s ready. Top with whipped cream if you’re feeling extra.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups milk
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons milk (for mixing cornstarch)

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix cocoa powder and sugar in a bowl.
2. Blend cornstarch with 2 tablespoons milk until smooth.
3. Heat 1 ½ cups milk over medium heat.
4. Slowly whisk in cocoa mix and cornstarch mixture.
5. Stir until it thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and serve.

4) Double boiler melted dark chocolate hot cocoa

Melt dark chocolate using a double boiler—it’s worth the extra step. Put a heat-safe bowl over simmering water and let the chocolate melt gently.

Warm your milk in another pot until it’s hot but not boiling, about 180°F (82°C). Slowly stir the melted chocolate into the milk.

Mix it well until it’s silky. Add sugar or vanilla if you want it sweeter.

Ingredients

• 4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 2 cups milk
• 1-2 tbsp sugar (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Simmer a few inches of water in a pot.
2. Put chopped chocolate in a heat-safe bowl over the pot and stir till melted.
3. Warm milk separately to 180°F (82°C).
4. Pour melted chocolate into the milk, stirring constantly.
5. Add sugar and vanilla if you like, stir, and serve.

5) Homemade hot chocolate with brown sugar and a pinch of salt

Brown sugar brings a caramel vibe to hot chocolate. It’s a small change, but it gives the drink a deeper flavor.

A pinch of salt? Don’t skip it—it sharpens the chocolate and balances the sweetness.

Heat your milk gently. Whisk in cocoa powder, brown sugar, and salt until it’s all smooth.

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Pinch of salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat milk in a pot over medium heat until warm (about 160°F / 70°C).
2. Whisk in cocoa powder, brown sugar, and salt.
3. Stir until everything dissolves.
4. Pour into a mug and enjoy.

Find more details in this brown sugar hot chocolate recipe.

6) Velvety hot chocolate with heavy cream and vanilla splash

Want your hot chocolate to feel extra-luxurious? Add heavy cream. It makes the drink rich and velvety.

Heat whole milk and heavy cream together on medium-low. Stir in sugar until it melts.

Add your chocolate and a splash of vanilla. Whisk until it’s all melted and steamy.

This one’s perfect when you want something a bit more decadent, but still super easy.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup sugar
• 4 oz chopped chocolate or chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine milk, cream, and sugar in a medium pot over medium-low heat.
2. Stir often and heat until steamy, about 160°F (71°C).
3. Remove from heat and add chocolate and vanilla.
4. Whisk until smooth.
5. Serve warm.

7) Quick stovetop hot chocolate with unsweetened cocoa and sugar

Need hot chocolate fast? Unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar have your back.

Heat milk slowly on the stove. Mix cocoa with sugar before adding it to the milk—it dissolves better that way.

Keep stirring until it’s hot (about 165°F / 74°C), but don’t let it boil. You’ll get a rich, creamy cup without any mixes or bars.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 to 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
2. Mix cocoa powder and sugar in a bowl.
3. Add the mix to warm milk, stirring well.
4. Heat to 165°F (74°C), stirring often.
5. Pour into a mug.

8) Decadent hot chocolate with chopped unsweetened chocolate

For a super-rich hot chocolate, go with chopped unsweetened chocolate. Heat your milk just until it simmers—don’t let it boil.

Add the chocolate and some sugar. Stir constantly to melt everything together.

A pinch of salt keeps things balanced. A splash of vanilla at the end gives it a little warmth.

Pour into mugs and enjoy that deep chocolate flavor—so much better than a mix.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk
• 4 ounces chopped unsweetened chocolate
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat until just simmering (about 180°F / 82°C).
2. Add chopped unsweetened chocolate and sugar. Stir until melted and smooth.
3. Mix in a pinch of salt.
4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
5. Pour into mugs and enjoy.

9) Smooth hot chocolate with half and half for extra creaminess

Half and half in hot chocolate? Oh, it’s a game-changer. You get that perfect mix—the richness of cream, but not so heavy you can’t drink a whole mug.

Heat the half and half gently on the stove. Then toss in your favorite chocolate and a bit of sugar.

Stir until everything’s melted and smooth. If you want, splash in some vanilla extract—why not?

Pour it into your favorite mug. That’s it, you’ve got yourself a cozy, velvety treat.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups half and half
• 4 oz chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
• 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Warm half and half in a pot over medium-low heat until about 160°F (71°C).
2. Stir in chocolate and sugar until completely melted.
3. Remove from heat and mix in vanilla extract if using.
4. Pour into mugs and enjoy warm.

For more ideas, check this rich n creamy hot chocolate recipe.

10) Frothy hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and cinnamon

Want frothy hot chocolate? Warm up some milk and melt good chocolate right into it.

Whisk it well to get that light foam on top. Pour it into a mug and add a big spoonful of whipped cream.

Sprinkle cinnamon over the whipped cream. It’s such a simple step, but it makes the whole thing feel a little special.

The cinnamon gives it a gentle kick and pairs so well with the creamy drink. This one’s a classic for a reason.

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk
• 3 ounces dark or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
• Whipped cream (store-bought or homemade)
• Ground cinnamon for topping

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat the milk in a pot over medium heat. Wait until it feels warm—around 140°F (60°C).

2. Toss in the chopped chocolate. Stir it around until it melts completely.

3. Whisk the mixture hard until it gets nice and frothy.

4. In another bowl, whip the heavy cream. Add sugar if you like, and stop when you see soft peaks.

5. Pour the hot chocolate into mugs. Top each one with a generous spoonful of whipped cream.

6. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. Serve right away and enjoy.