This rich and creamy slow cooker hot chocolate is perfect for any party or special occasion. Don’t forget the marshmallows!
This is the ultimate treat for hot chocolate lovers, you’ll never want to use a dry mix again!
We’ve got this strange fall weather thing going on in California where it’s freezing cold in the morning and blazing hot by afternoon. I know that by next month all those weather extremes will give way to cooler temperatures, and what better for a cold day than a piping hot mug of hot chocolate? This slow cooker hot chocolate puts those little packets of powder to shame, it’s rich and creamy and perfect for a party. All it takes is 5 minutes of prep time, which is really not much more time than you’d spend making a cup of instant cocoa!
How to make hot chocolate from scratch
This crock pot hot chocolate recipe is pretty simple, it’s a combination of milk, cream, condensed milk, cocoa and chocolate chips. If you’re looking for a super creamy hot chocolate, use whole milk; if you’re looking to cut a few calories, 1% or 2% is fine, but I would recommend against using skim milk. I like to use a combination of semisweet and milk chocolate chips here, but you could use one or the other instead of both if you prefer. The toppings for this hot chocolate are up to you, but for me, marshmallows are always a must! I like to make a large batch of this slow cooker hot chocolate for the holidays, and leave it on the warm setting with a ladle and some mugs. Guests can help themselves and I put out a toppings bar with marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips and candy canes. It’s a fun little indulgence and the best possible way to warm up on a chilly day.
When you first take the lid off your slow cooker, all the chocolate chips will have melted to the bottom. Simply stir, stir, stir and after a few minutes your hot chocolate will come together into a smooth and creamy drink. You can even add a holiday twist to this recipe by adding a few drops of peppermint extract and garnishing with candy canes. I’ve done this before and it’s a big hit!
Other holiday recipes you might like
- Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls
- Christmas Crack Saltine Toffee
- Christmas Wreath Cookies
- Christmas Cookie Dough Dip
- Peppermint Bark Cookies
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder sifted
- 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 7 cups milk use whole milk for the creamiest hot chocolate!
- 1 cup heavy cream can use half and half, but cream gives the best results
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- Marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate chips etc. for garnish
Instructions
- Place the cocoa powder, condensed milk, heavy cream, milk, vanilla extract, semisweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips in a slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cook on LOW for 2 hours. Stir well until thoroughly mixed. Turn the slow cooker to the KEEP WARM setting until you're ready to serve the hot chocolate. Garnish with marshmallows and/or whipped cream if desired.
Karly says
November 20, 2017 at 8:17 pmPure perfection. This is EXACTLY what I want to curl up on the couch with every night!
Farrah says
October 31, 2017 at 10:36 pmAughhh, this looks so good! I love that you can make it in a slow cooker! :] Perfect for a holiday get-together!
Debbie says
October 30, 2017 at 9:27 pmPerfect for the fall weather we are having! I’ve got the Bunco babes coming over and this will be fun!
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
October 26, 2017 at 11:30 pmI need to get a slow cooker, never even thought about making hot chocolate in a slow cooker before. This is great as I do not drink coffee or tea but I do love cocoa. Great to come home to during those winter months.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
October 26, 2017 at 10:02 pmWow. I did not know you can make hot chocolate in a slow cooker! I can just imagine my house filled with the smell of hot chocolate. Yum. Thanks for sharing the procedure. Peppermint sticks or candy canes in a cup of hot chocolate sounds delicious too!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
October 26, 2017 at 9:23 pmI will definitely try this! That drink looks really comforting!!
Heather says
October 26, 2017 at 8:54 pmI’m so happy to see something other than three digits in the forecast. I want to enjoy some fall, and this slow cooker hot chocolate sounds like a yummy way to do that.
Carol Cassara says
October 26, 2017 at 7:46 pmWhat a brilliant idea! I would love to make this for me and the family when the nephews come to visit! I’m sure they’re going to love it.
Theresa says
October 26, 2017 at 7:45 pmNothing beats homemade hot cocoa! Do you think this would work with almond milk as well? I’ve cut dairy out of my diet this past year and am wondering how well milk alternatives work with recipes like this.
Sara says
October 26, 2017 at 8:03 pmYes I think it would work, although you might want to add some coconut milk too in order to better replicate the whole milk!
AnnMarie John says
October 26, 2017 at 7:39 pmThis is perfect for the whole family! I’ve never made hot chocolate in slow cooker before so that’s really interesting! I wouldn’t mind giving this yummy drink recipe a try!
kristi says
October 26, 2017 at 5:41 pmOh wow… almost like a drinkable dessert, which sounds amazing! We have an outdoor event next week, this would be perfect for the cold mornings.
Pam says
October 26, 2017 at 4:50 pmYum, this slow cooker hot chcocolate sounds delicious. Perfect for the chilly weather we are having right now.
Tonya says
October 26, 2017 at 3:15 pmThe temperatures have really dropped this week and I’ve been thinking that I need to load my grocery shopping list up with some good comfort foods and drinks like hot cider and hot chocolate. This recipe sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it.
Liz Mays says
October 26, 2017 at 2:58 pmThis is going to be so nice in the winter! Gosh, it just looks so tasty. I’m definitely going to be using my crock pot for this.
Maureen says
October 26, 2017 at 1:45 pmI honestly never thought to make slow cooker hot chocolate. What a brilliant idea. I will have to try this, thanks for the recipe! Nothing beats hot chocolate on a cold day!
Sheena Tatum says
October 26, 2017 at 1:03 pmWow, this looks beyond delicious! I’ve never thought of making my own before and the crock pot is the perfect way to do it!
Wendy Polisi says
October 26, 2017 at 1:02 pmThis reminded me of how delicious homemade hot chocolate is. I love how rich this recipe is too.
Makeba Giles says
October 26, 2017 at 11:23 amA perfect hot drink for the cooler weather. It will go well with a nice fire in the wood stove or a fireplace!
Tracey says
October 26, 2017 at 8:24 amI’ve alway wanted to try making hot chocolate in the slow cooker. This is a great recipe and I will be trying it out.
Bill Sweeney says
October 26, 2017 at 7:47 amThat is awesome! I love slow cooker hot chocolate. My wife used a recipe similar to this last year, and it had such a richness to it. I think we have a new recipe to try this year!