Rich and Creamy Homemade Hot Cocoa (Stovetop)
Make rich and creamy homemade hot cocoa from scratch on your stovetop in minutes. This recipe tastes better than any store-bought mix and uses simple pantry ingredients for a truly decadent winter drink.
- Prep Time: 3 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 8 min
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 3 cups milk (whole milk recommended for best results)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt until combined.
- Pour in the hot water and whisk constantly until the mixture is smooth and forms a thick paste. This step dissolves the cocoa and sugar, preventing graininess.
- Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it is hot and steaming. Do not let it boil.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the rich and creamy cocoa into mugs. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- For an extra decadent hot chocolate, stir in 1 ounce of chopped dark chocolate along with the milk.
- You can substitute any milk, but whole milk provides the best creamy texture. For a dairy-free option, use full-fat oat milk.
- Customize your drink by adding a dash of cinnamon or a pinch of cayenne pepper for a Mexican hot chocolate flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 20mg