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| Nutritional Information (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 404 | Calories |
| 30g | Fat |
| 31g | carbohydrates |
| 7g | protein |
View full nutrition label
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| Nutritional Information | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 8 to 10 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 404 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| 30g | 38% |
| Saturated fat 18g | 92% |
| 68 mg | 23% |
| 79 mg | 3% |
| 31g | 11% |
| Fiber 2g | 7% |
| Total sugar 28g | |
| 7g | |
| Vitamin C 0 mg | 1 % |
| Calcium 205 mg | 16% |
| Iron 1 mg | 8th % |
| Potassium 335 mg | 7% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) indicates how much a nutrient in a food portion contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories per day is used for general nutritional advice. | |
(Nutritional information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Hot chocolate is particularly enjoyable in winter after skiing, ice skating or playing in the snow. This crockpot hot chocolate recipe checks all the boxes: it's easy, delicious, rich, and serves a large crowd. Milk, cream, sugar, and a combination of chocolate chips—dark or semisweet—and cocoa powder give this hot chocolate its rich, chocolaty flavor. It's definitely better than store-bought hot cocoa packs!
If you decide to make old-fashioned hot chocolate on the stove, the slow cooker is a great way to keep it warm for serving.
There are several additional ways to season this basic recipe. Transform this hot chocolate into a more intense drink with some espresso powder, or add a pinch of ground cinnamon for Mexican hot chocolate. You can even spice it up with adult coffee flavored brandy or brandy!
If you're planning a party, you can easily adapt the recipe to a larger crowd, and many foods pair well with hot chocolate. Sweet desserts and fruits naturally pair well with hot chocolate, but salty or spicy foods can add a delicious flavor contrast. Salted nuts, pretzels and crackers are just a few of the many options.
“The slow cooker makes it easy to make a large batch of hot cocoa for a crowd. I used the slow cook function on my Instant Pot; it worked great! The combination of cream and milk made for a particularly decadent drink. It never formed a skin on top, as sometimes happens with stovetop cocoa.” – Danielle Centoni
6 cups Whole milk
2 cups whipped cream
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dark or semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoon regular or Dutch procedure unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups mini marshmallows, for serving, optional
Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack
In a 3-quart slow cooker (or larger) or Instant Pot (with the slow cook function), combine milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, chocolate chips, and cocoa. Stir to combine.
The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack
Cook on low for 2 hours, stirring after 15 minutes and then every 30 minutes to prevent the chocolate chips from burning as they melt.
The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack
Pour the hot chocolate into cups or mugs and garnish with mini marshmallows or other toppings of your choice.
Hot chocolate bar
Create a self-serve bar of hot chocolate for friends and family. Arrange cups and spoons with various toppings around the crockpot. Here are a few fun and creative ideas:
Recipe variations
- Add a few drops of peppermint extract to taste.
- For a sweeter hot chocolate, add an additional tablespoon or two of granulated sugar.
- Replace 1 cup of cream or milk with Bailey's creamy liqueur.
- Spice up the hot chocolate with about 3/4 cup of liqueur or liqueur.
- Add 1 cinnamon stick and optionally about 3/4 teaspoon chili powder to the pot.
- Version with sweetened condensed milk: Omit the sugar and add a 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk to the pot and increase the amount of unsweetened cocoa powder to 5 tablespoons.
Here's how to store it
- Store leftover hot chocolate in airtight containers or mason jars with screw-top lids in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Heat cold hot chocolate in a saucepan on the stove until hot.
What is the difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa?
Many people use the terms interchangeably, but hot cocoa is typically a sweeter, thinner drink made with cocoa, sugar, and water or milk. Hot chocolate is a richer, thicker drink typically made with melted chocolate and, depending on the sweetness of the chocolate, with little or no added sugar.
