Do you have any family Christmas traditions?
One of our favorite family activities is driving around to see Christmas lights each year. Sometimes we stay close by and others, we’ll drive quite a ways. But the outcome is always the same – we create lasting moments with our family that we will always remember.
Now, Christmas light viewing isn’t complete without having a cup of warm hot chocolate in your hands. Before we leave the house, I’ll make my super easy homemade hot chocolate recipe. This stuff is delicious, y’all.
No, it’s not as easy as just opening up a packet and adding some hot water, but it is so creamy and delicious that you’ll never want to go back to the packets if you can help it.
So whether it’s an evening of driving around in the car or a day spent opening up presents, this recipe is one the kids and kids at heart in your family will love. And make sure to include a few toppings for each person to make it their own.
What Toppings Go Well With Hot Cocoa?
The amount of toppings are endless when it comes to what you can put on your hot coca. Some of my favorite toppings include: marshmallows, toffee bits, coarse sea salt, mini chocolate chips, crushed peppermints, candy canes, soft peppermint sticks, whoppers, Lindt truffles, pirouette cookies, whipped cream, dark chocolate syrup, and caramel sauce.
Homemade Hot Cocoa
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ cup hot water
- 20 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate
- 10 cups whole milk (or 2%)
- 2 ½ cups half and half
- 1 12 ounces can evaporated milk (not fat-free)
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Stove Top Instructions
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Add the water and cocoa powder to a large stock pot and whisk until mixed.
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To the cocoa mixture, add the chopped chocolate, milk, half and half, evaporated milk, and salt.
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Heat over medium heat until the chocolate is melted, stirring periodically.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Start by adding the cocoa powder to a bowl, pour in the hot water, and whisk until mixed.
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Add the cocoa mixture along with the chopped chocolate, milk, half and half, evaporated milk, and salt to a 6-quart slow cooker or larger. If you're serving this with a hot chocolate bar and toppings, consider leaving out the sugar to avoid the hot chocolate being too sweet. If you're serving the hot chocolate solo, add in the sugar.
- Cook the hot chocolate on the high setting for 3-4 hours or on low for 6 hours. Low for 6 hours is what I prefer. Make sure to stir the hot chocolate every hour to keep the chocolate from settling to the bottom.
- Keep on the warm setting if you’re serving it hot chocolate bar style with toppings on the side. Leftover hot chocolate can be refrigerated for up to one week and warmed in the microwave before serving.
More Christmas Recipes You’ll Love
Candy Cane Christmas Cake Roll
Hot Chocolate Monkey Bread With Marshmallows
Thank With Google
If you’ve been a reader for a while, then you’ve noticed something new here at the bottom of each blog post. I’ve gotten the awesome opportunity of being a part of an experiment pilot feature called Thank with Google. I’m excited to be one of Google’s paid early testers and get to tell you more about this new project from Google. What is Thank with Google? Thank with Google is a way for my fans/readers to support me and show their appreciation for certain posts through the purchase of a virtual sticker. It’s a fun and interactive way for my fans to connect with me and show me appreciation for my work. And I love the personal notes that can be included with the paid stickers as well. You can find the new Thank with Google feature floating at the bottom of the page here or on the sidebar (if you’re using a desktop). Please feel free to test it out and let me know what you think!
