Homemade Hot Chocolate
Creamy and frothy homemade hot chocolate. This cozy cuppa is a combination of the chocolate of your choice, maple syrup, and frothed milk. This recipe is versatile, easy, and ready in a few minutes.
Table of Contents
Nothing is cozier than sitting by the fire with a warm cup of hot cocoa on a cold night. Yet while I love a cup of hot chocolate, I don’t always want the sugar and additives in store-bought mixes.
Luckily, this scratch-made hot chocolate allows you to tailor the ingredients to meet your dietary needs and preferences.
No matter how you make your hot chocolate, it’s sure to cozy up your winter night and holiday gatherings.
Watch how to make a homemade chocolate
What type of chocolate should you use?
The answer is easy: use whatever you want! I prefer dark chocolate chips. But you can use milk chocolate, peanut butter chocolates, mint chocolates, and more.
Also, cocoa powder will also work just fine. However, since it is unsweetened, you will need to adjust the maple syrup/sweetener as necessary.
What are the best sweeteners for homemade hot chocolate?
Since I don’t like very sweet drinks, I prefer a dash of maple syrup. But you can use any sweetener you prefer:
- White sugar
- Brown sugar
- Honey
- Monk Fruit
- Agave
- Coconut sugar
Of course, there are plenty of other sugar substitutes for hot cocoa. Feel free to use what you prefer and have on hand.
What types of milk will work?
Creamy froth requires a delicately balanced ratio of sugar, fat, water, and protein. As such, organic, whole milk works best. Keep in mind that different brands yield varying results. I’ve had the best luck with Costco and Good & Gather brands.
Plant-based milk substitutes generally don’t have the fat-protein ratio for froth. A good choice though is coconut whipped cream. It won’t have quite the same consistency as froth. But it’s delicious and stencils nicely. Also, according to customers, Oatly Oat Milk Barista Edition creates a perfect plant-based froth.
Do you need to use a coffee art stencil?
Technically, the answer is no. But I hope you do! I design and make the coffee art stencils out of my home. I truly believe they not only make your coffee and cocoas adorable, but they also elevate the experience of enjoying a scratch-made cuppa.
I have a number of tutorials for using a coffee/cocoa stencil that you can check out. In short, you just put them on your drink, sprinkle with cinnamon or cocoa powder, and enjoy!
Tools You May Need
- Heavy-bottomed saucepan
- Milk frother
- Mug
- Coffee art stencil
- Powder shaker (if using a stencil)
Ingredients
- 1 oz. chocolate of your choice – or as much as preferred
- 1 cup milk of choice, divided
- Maple syrup – as much as preferred
- Cinnamon and coffee art stencil (optional)
How to Make a Homemade Hot Chocolate
- In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan, combine the chocolate and 2-3 tablespoons of the milk. You want just enough to stir and melt the chocolate without it burning or sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Add in maple syrup to taste. Continuously stir until warm.
- Remove from heat.
- Froth the remaining milk with either an electric, handheld, or steam frother.
- Pour chocolate mixture into a mug.
- Pour half of the frothed milk into the mug. Stir to combine. Then, fill the mug with the remaining frothed milk.
- Embellish with with a coffee art stencil or add a cinnamon stick for a decorative touch.
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 oz chocolate of your choice – or as much as preferred
- 1 cup milk of choice, divided
- maple syrup – as much as preferred
- cinnamon (if using a coffee art stencil)
Instructions
- In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan, combine the chocolate and 2-3 tablespoons of the milk. You want just enough to stir and melt the chocolate without it burning or sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Add in maple syrup to taste. Continuously stir until warm.
- Remove from heat.
- Froth the remaining milk with either an electric, handheld, or steam frother.
- Pour chocolate mixture into a mug.
- Pour half of the frothed milk into the mug. Stir to combine. Then, fill the mug with the remaining frothed milk.
- Embellish with with a coffee art stencil or add a cinnamon stick for a decorative touch.
Video
Notes
- You can use any chocolate of your choice: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, peppermint chocolate–you name it!
- If you don’t have chocolate on hand, cocoa powder will work. You may need to adjust the sweetness accordingly.
- Milk substitutes will also work. However, not all milk alternatives froth well. I recommend using Oatly’s Barista Edition if you want a frothy cuppa.
