Sweetened condensed milk makes this extra creamy and saves you measuring sugar. Set it up two hours ahead and let guests help themselves.
Ingredients
You’ll need: Small saucepan, Whisk
Method
Whisk the cocoa with 1 cup of the milk until smooth.
Add everything to a 5-6 quart slow cooker and whisk.
Cook on LOW for 2 hours, whisking every 30 minutes, until hot and the chocolate is melted.
Turn to WARM and set out toppings: marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed candy canes and cinnamon sticks.
Tips
Keep it on WARM, not HIGH, or a skin will form.
Whisk before each serving: chocolate settles.
Nutrition per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 290
- Protein
- 9g
- Carbs
- 35g
- Sugar
- 32g
- Fiber
- 2g
- Fat
- 14g
- Caffeine
- 16mg
Estimated from standard USDA values for the ingredients listed; brands vary.
Variations
Stovetop: Heat in a large pot over medium-low, whisking, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition at a glance
One serving has about 290 calories, 32 g sugar, 9 g protein and about 16 mg caffeine. Values are estimates from USDA data for the exact amounts listed; your chocolate brand and milk change them: check your version with our chocolate drink calorie calculator.
Storing and reheating
Leftover hot chocolate keeps in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, whisking well: the chocolate settles as it cools. A skin on top is normal; whisk it back in.
Choosing your chocolate
For drinks made with cocoa powder, Dutch-process gives a darker, smoother, mellower cup and natural cocoa a brighter, fruitier one. For melted chocolate, use a bar you’d enjoy eating: chips contain stabilizers that resist melting. See our cocoa and hot chocolate mix reviews and cocoa powder guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long can it stay in the slow cooker?
Up to about 4 hours on WARM, whisking occasionally.
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Gear for this recipe
A top pick in America’s Test Kitchen’s cocoa tasting for complex, layered chocolate flavor. Comes in natural and Dutch-process versions.
- Type
- Cocoa powder
- Size
- 8 oz
- Cost
- about $1 per oz
- Make with
- Make from scratch
A higher-fat Dutch-process cocoa that gives hot chocolate a dark color, smooth flavor and fuller body.
- Type
- Cocoa powder
- Size
- 8 oz
- Cost
- about $1.60 per oz
- Make with
- Make from scratch
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