Crockpot Hot Chocolate

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Creamy, rich, and cozy, this Crockpot Hot Chocolate comes together easily! Perfect for a crowd, this slow cooker hot chocolate will warm you up from the inside out! You won't want to buy store-bought powder after trying this decadent and luscious homemade hot chocolate at home.

You will fall in love with this homemade slow cooker hot chocolate recipe. I love how creamy and rich it is and how perfect it is for a cold winter day. Both kids and adults will be reaching for seconds!

A mug of crockpot hot chocolate with whipped cream, marshmallows, and chocolate chips.

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
How To Make This Crockpot Hot Chocolate Recipe
Hot Chocolate Variations
Tips and Notes
Recipe
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Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's super easy to make! You just have to whisk everything together in the crockpot and then let it work its magic!
It's perfect for parties, holiday gatherings, or just on a cold winter day. I love putting out a little tray of toppings, so everyone can scoop their own drink and top it to their heart's desire! Plus, it's a pretty hands-free recipe, so you can prep it before a party and just serve it when ready.
Thanks to the combination of real chocolate and cream, this slow cooker hot chocolate is extra creamy and rich. It is sooooo much better than a store-bought powder mix!

Ingredients You'll Need

Ingredients needed to make crockpot hot chocolate.

whole milk — I recommend using whole milk and not skim or low-fat milk for the best results.
heavy cream — the cream adds additional richness and thickness to the crockpot hot chocolate.
sugar — for sweetness. I usually use white sugar, but in a pinch, you could use brown sugar.
semi-sweet chocolate bar — you cannot swap the chocolate bar for chocolate chips. A lot of chocolate chips are coated in a powder that helps them hold their shape so they won't melt as smoothly in comparison to a chopped chocolate bar.
cocoa powder — you can use unsweetened natural or dutch-process cocoa powder.
instant espresso powder or coffee powder — don't worry, this won't make your drink taste like chocolate. Instead, it'll amplify the chocolate flavor.
pure vanilla extract — just a bit! I prefer the flavor of pure vanilla extract over artificial extract.
toppings — the best part! Take your pick. I usually go with mini marshmallows, whipped cream, or mini chocolate chips.

How To Make This Crockpot Hot Chocolate Recipe

Set of two photos showing all ingredients added to the slow cooker and whisked.

Put the milk, heavy cream, sugar, semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder, instant espresso, and vanilla extract into the crockpot.
Whisk to dissolve the cocoa powder as much as possible or until you don’t have any chunks floating to the top.

Set of two photos showing a hot chocolate in a crockpot then scooped into a glass mug.

Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours, whisking every hour or so to prevent the chocolate from scorching on the bottom.
Top with your favorite hot chocolate toppings, such as marshmallows, whipped cream, and chocolate chips!

A clear mug of crockpot hot chocolate on a coaster.

Hot Chocolate Variations

Add in a few teaspoons of peppermint extract instead of vanilla extract to make a peppermint hot chocolate.
Stir in ½ cup of caramel sauce and ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt to make salted caramel hot chocolate.

A glass mug of crockpot hot chocolate with whipped cream, mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips and two straws.

Tips and Notes

A serrated knife is great for coarsely cutting the chocolate bar.
I would skip using milk chocolate as it might be too sweet for the hot chocolate.

How do I store leftovers?

Refrigerate leftover hot chocolate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

How do I reheat it?

To reheat the hot chocolate, gently reheat it in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat, whisking throughout.

A glass mug of crockpot hot chocolate with whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips.

Recipe