Crockpot Hot Chocolate is the easiest way to make a homemade decadent hot drink that’s perfectly warming for winter weather. This recipe takes only 5 minutes to prepare and produces a smooth and comforting, creamy slow cooker creation using only 5 simple ingredients–it’s the set it and forget it method to “cook” your cocoa!
Homemade Crock Pot Hot Chocolate–The Hottest Drink Of The Season
Say goodbye to those powdered packets because this Crockpot Hot Chocolate is undeniably the ultimate mouthwatering chocolate experience in a mug! I love this recipe, not only because it is an easy and convenient way to cook a rich and creamy cocoa, but also because it tastes like pure melted chocolate with a velvety, smooth texture (Because guess what? It is made with 2 full bars of melted chocolate!!).
The best part of using a crockpot is that it only takes 5 quick minutes to prepare in advance, and then the hot chocolate can cook while you’re busy building snowmen, baking Christmas cookies, or getting ready to feed your family and friends.
Did you know that hot chocolate (in moderation of course!) can be beneficial to your health? Because this homemade recipe is made without artificial ingredients that are often found in pre-made pouches, it’s loaded with flavonoids, antioxidants, and calcium. So go ahead and enjoy every soothing sip knowing that your cocoa contains a bit of nutrition and a whole lot of comfort.
Why We Love This Crockpot Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Quick and easy to make in advance.
- Only uses 5 simple ingredients.
- Rich, creamy, and warming for the winter weather.
- Velvety smooth texture and a deliciously decadent flavor.
- A perfect hot beverage to drink after sledding or playing outside in the cold.
- Keeps hot for a long period of time so it is great for fundraisers, potlucks, or for multiple servings on a chilly day.
- Make a big batch to feed a crowd at school parties, office parties, holiday parties, or any large gathering.
Ingredients / Shopping List
- Sweet cream creamer: You can find sweet cream creamer in the dairy section of almost any grocery store. The sweet cream is what is adding sweetness to your hot chocolate. If you are using a less sweet creamer, add in 1-2 Tablespoons of sugar to sweeten the chocolate.
- Half and half: You can use heavy cream instead for a thicker hot chocolate or additional milk for a thinner result.
- Cocoa powder
- Semi-sweet chocolate bars: I recommend using actual baking chocolate instead of chocolate chips. Chocolate chips tend to have additives in them to help keep their shape during the baking process. This will make it difficult for them to melt down completely for a smooth chocolate. For a sweeter hot chocolate, use milk chocolate bars.
- Mini marshmallows
Substitutions and Additions
- Customize Your Creamer: Feel free to switch up the creamer flavors for a different taste. There is a wide variety of flavors to choose from, such as caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, and so many more!
- Add An Extract: You can also add your favorite extract flavor to this hot chocolate. Some ideas include peppermint, orange, raspberry or vanilla extract.
- Boozy Beverage: For an adult beverage, try adding some Kahlua, Peppermint Schnapps, Bailey’s, Chambord, Cinnamon schnapps, Creme de cacao, Frangelico, or Creme de menthe.
- Tasty Toppings: There are so many tasty ways to top your hot chocolate, from mix-ins to sauces to toppings. Some of my favorites are chocolate syrup, chocolate shavings, cinnamon, whipped cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce, and peppermint sticks.
- Leave Out The Lactose: If you are lactose intolerant, make your hot chocolate with almond, coconut, soy, or rice milk instead of half and half and use a non-dairy creamer.
Recommended Tools
- Slow cooker
- Measuring tools
- Mixing spoon
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How to Make the Crockpot Hot Chocolate
This Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate recipe makes a big batch of rich and creamy cocoa. It is so quick and easy to prepare because you literally load 5 ingredients into the crockpot and stir occasionally–that’s all it takes to create a delicious drink that feeds a crowd!
- Break the chocolate bars into small squares, add it to the slow cooker.
- Whisk together sweet cream creamer, half and half, cocoa powder and then cover.
- Cook for 2 ½ hours on low while whisking every 30-45 minutes.
Pro Tip: For a smoother hot chocolate, make sure to whisk the hot chocolate vigorously in order to help the chocolate break down. Using high quality chocolate also helps the chocolate to break down faster. It also usually means there are less additives in the chocolate. If you find that your hot chocolate is still chunkier than you would like, feel free to run it through a wire mesh strainer until it reaches your desired smoothness. Be sure to do this step before you add in the mini marshmallows. - Add marshmallows to the slow cooker 10 minutes before it is done cooking.
- Pour into mugs and top with desired toppings. Enjoy!
Tips
- If making this for a crowd, feel free to double or triple the recipe and follow the same cooking instructions.
Storage Tips
- To Store: Place this in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- To Reheat: Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions
One of my favorite ways to serve this Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate is by making a beverage bar. Leave your slow cooker on a warm setting, and set a table up with mugs for your guests to serve themselves. Place bowls full of optional toppings, like chocolate chips, hot fudge or caramel sauce, crushed candy canes, more marshmallows, or chocolate flakes, and let everyone at your party customize their cocoa.
When you make hot chocolate in a crockpot, it heats up the milk slowly so that it won’t curdle. The chocolate bars also warm up slowly enough so that they don’t burn or seize. If you have trouble with them melting you can always turn the heat to high for a little while, stir until they melt, and return the setting to low or warm. You can also make a lot of it, without having to worry too much about keeping an eye on it.
Hot Cocoa has a thinner consistency and tends to be creamier and sweeter because of the additives and artificial ingredients. True Hot Chocolate, on the other hand, is much richer and denser; it can also have a bittersweet flavor depending on the type and percentage of pure cacao used as the base.
Homemade hot chocolate, like this recipe, can provide health benefits when sipped in moderation. It’s high in antioxidants, which help prevent cancer and heart disease because they fight free radicals in the body. Hot chocolate also has an abundance of flavonoids which increase the blood flow and oxygen to the brain. However, hot chocolate is often high in calories, fat, and sugar, and chocolate contains caffeine. When enjoyed in moderation, this delicious beverage can be a sweet treat!
Other Easy Drink Recipes
- Harry Potter Hot Butterbeer
- Rainbow Sherbet Punch
- Crockpot Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Whipped Hot Chocolate
- Banana Bread Smoothie
- Unicorn Hot Chocolate
Crockpot Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 5 cups sweet cream creamer
- 2½ cups half and half
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 4 ounce (2 bars) semi-sweet chocolate bars
- 1½ cups mini marshmallows
Optional Toppings:
- Chocolate syrup
- Chocolate shavings
- Cinnamon
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Add the sweet cream creamer, half and half, and cocoa powder in a crock pot and whisk together until combined. Break the chocolate bars into smaller squares and add it to the slow cooker then cover.
- Let cook for 2 ½ hours on low while whisking every 30-45 minutes. I recommend whisking vigorously in order to help break up the chocolate.
- 10 minutes before the cook time is done, add the marshmallows.
- Pour and serve with any additional desired toppings.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Place this in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- To Reheat: Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
- For a smoother hot chocolate, make sure to whisk the hot chocolate vigorously in order to help the chocolate break down. Using high quality chocolate also helps the chocolate to break down faster. It also usually means there are less additives in the chocolate.
- If you find that your hot chocolate is still chunkier than you would like, feel free to run it through a wire mesh strainer until it reaches your desired smoothness. Be sure to do this step before you add in the mini marshmallows.
- If making this for a crowd, feel free to double or triple the recipe and follow the same cooking instructions.
I use this recipe but do it on the stove top.
this is a wonderful hot chocolate recipe. !!! Thank you for posting this. !!
Love your recipes this hot cocoa is awesome! Love this