This creamy, rich homemade hot chocolate recipe will warm ya right up! It’s made with a few simple ingredients, including milk, cocoa powder and real dark chocolate. So, get cozy and curl up with this yumminess. Don’t forget your favourite mug and a good holiday movie!

Today I’m bringing you my very first holiday recipe of the season: homemade hot chocolate from scratch!
This festive holiday drink is made in minutes with simple ingredients (that you probably have on hand) and so much better than any store-bought stuff.
It’s sure to be one you’ll enjoy all throughout the holidays (and cold winter months ahead).
What’s your favourite holiday treat? Oh, and favourite holiday movie?
I know it’s corny, but mine is Christmas Vacation. A few years ago my brother gave our whole family those moose punch glasses that are featured in the movie and I LOVE them.
Just the other day, hubby and I were out and about and came across a wine glass version; I’m saving those for Christmas Eve!

How To Make This Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
Add milk, half-and-half, sugar and salt to a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Warm through until hot and it’s bubbling around the edges (not boiling).
Turn off the heat and whisk in cocoa powder. Then add dark chocolate and whisk until melted.
Pour into your favourite mug (this is essential for the holidays, if you ask me), garnish and enjoy!
Full details are in the recipe card below.

Can I Reheat Hot Chocolate?
Absolutely!
Simply place in a pot and warm through (again, don’t boil), just heat until it bubbles around the edges.

Can I Use Non Dairy?
Yep!
You can replace both the milk and half-and-half with your favourite non dairy, like almond or oat milk.
You may also want to use a dairy-free chocolate and sub the whipped cream with non-dairy whipped cream.
Helpful Tips for Making The Best Hot Chocolate
- Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan and don’t leave it. Whisk, whisk, whisk.
- Use good quality chocolate! Dark chocolate was used here, but you could use milk, if you prefer.
- Chop the chocolate into small chunks so it melts quickly when you add to the hot milk.
- Lighten things up! Replace the half and half with more milk.
- Like things less sweet? Reduce the sugar to taste.
- Of course, whipped cream and sprinkles are totally optional, but they’re so fun for the holidays.
- Prefer not to make your own whipped cream? Use store bought!
- This hot chocolate drink can easily be doubled if serving more than 2 people. It just may take a little longer for the dairy to heat through.

Treat Yourself
Looking for some holiday desserts to go with this homemade hot chocolate? These chocolate mint avocado pudding tarts are always a winne and, of course, buttery shortbread cookies are delicious.
Turn on your favourite holiday movie, put on that fun ugly sweater and sip on this deliciousness! Sound good?
Hope you enjoy this classic Christmas drink as much as we do!
If you make this homemade hot chocolate recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!

Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe (With Real Chocolate)
Ingredients
Homemade Hot Chocolate
- 2.5 cups milk, use 3% milk fat or whole milk
- ½ cup half-and-half, or milk
- ⅓ cup sugar
- pinch salt
- ¼ cup good quality unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped small (about 56 grams)
Whipped Cream
- ½ cup whipping cream (35% milk fat), or heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Garnish Ideas (optional)
- Chocolate shavings, to taste
- Sprinkles, to taste
Instructions
Homemade Hot Chocolate
- To a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat, add milk, half-and-half, sugar and salt. Stir to combine. Heat until warmed through and bubbling slightly around the edges, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Be careful not to scorch the bottom of the saucepan (the milk).
- Turn off heat and whisk in cocoa powder until smooth and there are no clumps. Whisk in dark chocolate until melted and smooth.
Whipped Cream
- Combine whipping cream, sugar and pure vanilla extract in a mixer and, using a whisk attachment, whisk on medium-high until stiff peaks form. Alternatively, you can place ingredients in a mixing bowl and use a hand mixer (or simply use your favourite store-bought whipped cream).
Assemble
- Divide the hot chocolate into mugs, then top with whipped cream. Garnish with chocolate shavings and sprinkles if you like. Serve and enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Gabby says
Somehow I have never made my own hot chocolate, but it looks way easier than I thought! Will definitely have to try it out!
Girl Heart Food says
Soooo easy, Gabby! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Ann says
Hot chocolate is so essential this time of year! It’s an important part of our tree-decorating tradition. I seem to try a different recipe every year cause I haven’t found the perfect one yet, but this could be it Dawn!!
Girl Heart Food says
Yay! Hope you love it, Ann! Thanks so much 🙂 Have fun decorating your tree!
Clarissa Otto says
Love the look of your hot chocolate and your chocolate shortbread cookies. I think I’ll try them both!
Girl Heart Food says
Thanks Clarissa 🙂 Hope you enjoy them!
Kathy Flegal says
I like to make my hot chocolate in the slow cooker! Perfect for the ODR!!!
Girl Heart Food says
Gotta love hot chocolate this time of year 🙂
Jolina says
Looking great Dawn! 🙂 And first holiday recipe of the season…can you believe it?? Soon we’ll be talking 2018 resolutions. Yikes. I do love your winter drinks and I remember those moose glasses. Oh my, was that already a year ago? This is a great giveaway you got, perfect for the holidays. I live in sweats and comfy clothes most days too. Favourite holiday movie…it’s got to be Love Actually. It’s just so funny to think Rick of TWD was in it. I guess he didn’t realize then he’d be leading a group of apocalypse survivors haha. Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
Girl Heart Food says
Thank you Jolina 🙂 I seriously can’t believe how fast the time is going! It seems like only yesterday it was Christmas 2016. Hope you’re having a great week too!
Tony says
Dawn your hot chocolate looks delicious. I will have to give it a try, I love everything with chocolate so Christmas is a very special time to indulge even more
Girl Heart Food says
Thank you! You definitely do have to give it a try! I know you’ll love it 🙂
Joan says
I will have to come visit you Dawn, you can make some of that decadent hot chocolate for your auntie, oh yeah!
Girl Heart Food says
You will 😉 That sounds like a great idea!
Jenness M says
I’m totally getting my hubby to make me that hot chocolate!
Girl Heart Food says
Yay! Hope you guys enjoy it Jenness 🙂
Amy Heffernan says
Oh gosh that looks SO good and so easy! A nice holiday treat!
Girl Heart Food says
Thank you Amy! It really is 🙂 Hope you get a chance to try it!
Nicole Fraser says
What’s better than hot chocolate and a cozy sweater on a windy, winter evening? Nothing, nothing at all. This hot chocolate looks incredible and the pour shot had me drooling!
Girl Heart Food says
Agreed!! Thank you so much, Nicole 🙂
Shauna says
Comfy sweater, hot chocolate, fireplace… doesn’t get any better over the holidays, does it?!
Girl Heart Food says
Definitely not 😉 Thanks Shauna!
Milena | Craft Beering says
Totally love seeing the pictures of you, hot chocolate or not:) But better with the hot chocolate of course. We just baked triple choc chips cookies last night and some hot chocolate sounds great. Stay warm Dawn and keep smiling:)
Girl Heart Food says
Thanks Milena! Yum – those cookies sound delish! Why don’t ya send me some for taste testing 😉
Jo Vanderwolf says
Love how cozy all your photos look. I could climb right in that mug 🙂
Girl Heart Food says
Thanks Jo 🙂
Luci's Morsels says
Love the inclusion of dark chocolate in this recipe! Such a perfect way to class up a perennial favorite!
Girl Heart Food says
Thanks Luci! It really adds a lot of yummy flavour 🙂
Pam says
I think I’ll have to give this a try this weekend! Great post!
Girl Heart Food says
Thanks Pam! I know you’ll love it 😉