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!

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A ladle full of slow cooker hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.

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!

A mug of slow cooker hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.

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.

Slow cooker hot chocolate topped with an assortment of marshmallows.

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

5 from 12 votes

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

AuthorSara Welch
A ladle full of slow cooker hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.
This rich and creamy slow cooker hot chocolate is perfect for any party or special occasion. Don't forget the marshmallows!
Time
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Serves 8

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 121mg | Potassium: 472mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 845IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 304mg | Iron: 2.1mg

Hello! I’m Sara!

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Comments

  1. I 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.

  2. 5 stars
    Wow. 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!

  3. I’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.

  4. What 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.

  5. Nothing 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.

    1. Yes I think it would work, although you might want to add some coconut milk too in order to better replicate the whole milk!

  6. This 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!

  7. Oh wow… almost like a drinkable dessert, which sounds amazing! We have an outdoor event next week, this would be perfect for the cold mornings.

  8. The 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.

  9. This 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.

  10. I 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!

  11. 5 stars
    Wow, this looks beyond delicious! I’ve never thought of making my own before and the crock pot is the perfect way to do it!

  12. 5 stars
    A perfect hot drink for the cooler weather. It will go well with a nice fire in the wood stove or a fireplace!

  13. 5 stars
    I’ve alway wanted to try making hot chocolate in the slow cooker. This is a great recipe and I will be trying it out.

  14. 5 stars
    That 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!