Name: Hot Cocoa
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1/3 cup boiling water; dash of salt; 4 cups whole milk (, divided); 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Cozy up with the best homemade Hot Cocoa recipe! It's rich, creamy, and made from scratch, with real ingredients. It tastes so much better than a store-bought mix.

This homemade Hot Cocoa recipe transforms pantry staples into the perfect mug of hot cocoa. It's easy and beats anything store-bought!

5-minute Hot Cocoa that's Better than a Packet

Honestly, it doesn't take me much longer to make this hot cocoa drink from scratch that it does to boil water and stir in a packet. Plus, I always have the ingredients. It's ready in just 10 minutes using one pot, and the flavor is so rich and satisfying.

Be sure to use a high quality unsweetened cocoa powder–it will make all the difference! My favorite it Ghirardelli or Guittard brand unsweetened cocoa powder. And you can use a low-fat milk (or any dairy-free milk), but whole fat milk will make it more creamy.

Try more homemade drinks, like Frozen Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice Eggnog, or Classic Homemade Eggnog, or a Boba Smoothie.

How to make Hot Cocoa:

Make the Cocoa Base: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together the cocoa powder and sugar. Add a dash of salt and the boiling water (I add boiling water because it will help the cocoa powder immediately bloom” and give a richer flavor). Bring the mixture to a gentle boil while stirring constantly, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 2 minutes.

Add the Milk and continue stirring until the cocoa is steaming hot, but not boiling. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in vanilla.

Serve: Divide hot cocoa among four insulated mugs, then top each with a splash of half and half. Let this homemade hot cocoa recipe cool slightly before serving, and don’t forget a dollop of whipped cream on top, if you’d like!

This simple hot chocolate recipe only takes 10 minutes and tastes rich, sweet, and absolutely perfect!

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5 from 127 votes

Hot Cocoa

Author: Lauren Allen

This creamy homemade Hot Cocoa recipe is the ultimate cold weather treat, made with milk, cocoa powder, and just the right amount of sweetness. Skip the mix, this from-scratch hot chocolate is quick to make and incredibly comforting.

Prep: 5

Cook: 5

Total: 10

Servings:

Equipment

sauce pan

Ingredients

Instructions

Combine the cocoa and sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a dash of salt and the boiling water.
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, dash of salt, ⅓ cup boiling water
Bring to a slow boil, stirring continuously. Once boiling, turn down to a simmer and stir continually for 2 minutes.
Stir in 3 ½ cups milk and heat until very hot, but not boiling. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs.
4 cups whole milk, ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
Serve: Add another splash of milk to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature, if desired. Top with whipped cream.
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Rewarm on the stove over low heat, stirring frequently.

Notes

Slow Cooker: Add cocoa and sugar to a slow cooker. Add a dash of salt and the boiling water. Cook over low heat for 2-3 hours. Stir in milk and cook for 30 more minutes, or until cocoa is hot. Ladle into mug, and top with half and half, as needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 102mg, Potassium: 471mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 453IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 305mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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I originally shared this recipe November 2013. Updated November 2019, February 2024 and November 2025.

5 from 127 votes (117 ratings without comment)

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Sara Sprecher

3 months ago

I used 3 C unsweetened almond milk & 1/2 C heavy cream. I also had some Hershey’s special dark cocoa powder so used some of that & some regular cocoa powder. Delicious, warm & comforting at 2:30 am when I can’t sleep. Thanks for a good & easy recipe!