Make Ahead Hot Cocoa
Which do you prefer? Hot Chocolate or Hot Cocoa? After years of tinkering, I have settled on this version which is a combination of both. The best part is you can make a big batch of this ahead of time and enjoy when ready!
This Hot Cocoa Recipe combines both cocoa and chocolate making it the best of both, a perfect hybrid. It's like a chocolate shop made it and its decadent and delicious! You can see the tiny specks of chocolate bits, mmmm!
I like to make a gallon of this Hot Cocoa Recipe and keep it in the fridge. That way, anytime the mood strikes one or all of us or or a gaggle of kids pop over, all I have to do is heat it up. No mess, no fuss. Easy-peasy!
This is also a great recipe to let your kids take the lead on. My kids do everything but pour in the boiling water. They are filled with anticipation while making it and I think that makes the payoff, the first mug of hot cocoa. all the sweeter because they helped make it!
Table of Contents
Ingredients Needed
- Fresh - Milk
- Pantry - cocoa powder, sugar, chocolate chips or a chocolate bar chopped, salt, cinnamon, vanilla & water
Tips When Making Hot Cocoa
- Make this before you head out for a ski weekend, family get together or camping trip. It will be ready with no effort at all. Just reheat and enjoy!
- The better quality your ingredients the better the result. And remember you are using unsweetened cocoa powder for this (regular of dark)
- If you use organic milk, it lasts longer (since expiration dates are almost always longer with organic milk).
- Look at expiration date of the milk when purchasing. If you don't think you'll finish the hot chocolate in a week, get the longest date there is. It's good till at least that date.
- Don't bring to a boil, you don't want to scald the milk or chocolate. Just heat until warm.
- You can also reheat in a crock pot.
Variations
- Add some red pepper (cayenne) to this for a spicy kick. Cayenne and chocolate were made for each other, mmm!
- Add peppermint extract or crushed candy canes for a peppermint flavor.
- Use semi sweet chocolate chips, or a semi sweet baking bar chopped up for this hot cocoa recipe. You can also use something like a Ghirardelli 60% chocolate bar. Just taste and adjust the hot chocolate if you want it sweeter. You may want to add additional sugar if using a less sugary chocolate.
- For a spiced flavor, use my Spiced Sugar recipe in place of the white sugar for this. It will add a lovely subtle flavor people will want to know "what's in it".
- Add more milk or water for a less chocolate flavor, making it "thinner".
Hot Chocolate Toppings
Keep it simple and enjoy as is or go wild! Here are some ideas for topping your homemade Hot Chocolate
- Top with marshmallow fluff or large or mini marshmallows.
- Fresh whipped cream and hot cocoa go together perfectly!
- Garnish your whipped cream, marshmallow fluff or marshmallows with a drizzle of chocolate syrup, chocolate jimmies, chocolate shavings or a dusting of cocoa powder.
- If making Peppermint Hot Chocolate, add a rim or sprinkle of crushed peppermint or candy canes.
Storage
- When making a large batch of hot cocoa, allow it to cook and then using a funnel pour it back into the milk jug it came from, into a large mason jar / jars or into a pitcher or other sealed container. Reheat when ready to enjoy.
- It will stay fresh until the expiration date of the milk you used, so jot that down somewhere and tape onto your storage container.
Originally when I shared this recipe back in 2013, my 8 year old son named it " The Best Most Delicious and Fantastic Chocolatey Hot Chocolate in the World"! Haha, memories!! Love you Connor!
Recipes For Chocolate Lovers
Hot Cocoa
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened cocoa love Hershey's
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon or more to taste cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups boiling water
- 96 ounces of milk ¾ of a gallon or 12 cups
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Optional: a few shakes of red pepper for adventurous adults
Instructions
- Place your cocoa, sugar, chocolate chips, salt and cinnamon in a large pot.
- Pour the boiling water in and whisk until the chips are melted and everything is well combined.
- Turn your burner on to medium and gradually whisk in your milk and vanilla.
- Allow your mixture to almost come to a boil (but do not boil), whisking every so often.
- Taste and adjust.
- Remove from heat and serve. Or cool down and pour it back into your milk jug.
- Refrigerate until ready to use. When ready to enjoy, shake up your jug and pour out the amount you wish to reheat.
- Feel free to increase the chocolate, spices, etc. to make this hot chocolate your family's favorite!
For kids: "Hot Cocoa!" For myself: "Hot Chocolate" or I go for a Mocha...either sounds more sophisticated 🙂
Oooh! Hadn't thought about adding red pepper to hot chocolate - the hubby would totally go for that since he adds spice to *everything*. 🙂
Princess Nagger the Shining Star – and Dork Child: Random Tuesday Thoughts Rebel
Cool! I love the idea of making up a batch and refrigerating it. I could serve it hot or cold.
YUM! I just need to go out and get cocoa and then I am prepared...happy this recipe came at the perfect time. I think it is snowing outside now;)
This looks so delicious. Love the combination of ingredients.
Would it be possible to substitute the flour with whole grain pastry flour and the butter with coconut oil and the sugar with honey? If so what are the proportions?