Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe With Chocolate Chips

Last Updated on August 14, 2022

There are few things better than an authentic homemade hot chocolate recipe with chocolate chips. Our recipe is quick, easy, rich, and creamy!

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Why We Love This Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe With Chocolate Chips

Where to start?! First of all, who doesn't like hot chocolate? But this hot drink is far better when it is made with real chocolate chips. The actual addition of chocolate gives the creamy milk base a much richer texture than its powdered counterparts simply can't!

Furthermore, making recipes from scratch is far better than buying some mass-produced product. This way, you know your homemade hot drink doesn't contain unnecessary additives or colorants. Or even worse, fake chocolate that gives it an awful taste!

You can choose exactly what you want to add and how much you want to add. Choosing high-quality chocolate is always best, but at the same time, you have control over how much you are willing to spend on this luscious drink.

It is also a very quick process for what you ultimately get. And, best of all, by making it in a microwave, you will cut out even more time!

Variations for this hot chocolate recipe

So, hot chocolate may seem very straightforward to most people. And it really is. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't a ton of variations for this recipe.

For one, we absolutely love using semi-sweet chocolate chips. But, you can also make it with milk chocolate, white chocolate, or dark chocolate chips. Because the milk and cream mixture is virtually flavorless, it creates the perfect base for any other flavor.

If you cannot find the right flavor of chocolate chips, you can also just use chopped chocolate. It will most likely also work out a lot cheaper seeing as the chocolate hasn't been shaped for decorative purposes. This also applies to chocolate discs and chocolate drops.

And of course, there are a wide variety of dairy products you can use to make the base with. We like to use mostly milk because it is much more affordable than using just cream. The 1 cup of heavy cream we do add is enough to make the hot drink richer and creamier. You can also use half-and-half if you prefer.

And for our vegan or vegetarian readers, you can use plant-based or dairy-free options as well. We highly recommend either oat milk or almond milk. These have the best flavors for sweet hot beverages and they are more affordable than many others.

Finally, when it comes to toppings, the world is your oyster. Of course, something like mini marshmallows, whipped cream, and cocoa powder are classic. But you can also use some more unconventional additions like whipped toppings, ground spices, crushed candy cane, or chopped pretzels or nuts.

so, if you aren't convinced yet, all that's left to do is try this homemade hot chocolate recipe with chocolate chips yourself. It will speak volumes!

What You Will Need For This Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe With Chocolate Chips

Ingredients

• 3 cups full-cream milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons granulated white sugar, optional
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Whipped cream, for garnish
• Cocoa powder, for garnish

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Medium saucepan
• Whisk
• Heat-proof glasses or mugs
• Pouring jug, optional

Step by step instructions

Step 1: Heat the milk and cream

In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and heavy cream. Give them a whisk to ensure they are mixed well. Then, heat them over low-medium heat. Once the mixture starts steaming, remove the saucepan.

Step 2: Whisk in the chocolate chips

Then, off of the heat, add the chocolate chips to the dairy base. Whisk gently until all of the chocolate has been melted. You should have a completely smooth and creamy hot chocolate mixture.

Step 3: Add the flavoring ingredients

Finally, add the sugar to your liking along with the vanilla extract. Again, give the mixture a whisk to properly mix the ingredients.

Step 4: Assemble your beverage

Once your mixture has been made, carefully pour it into your heat-proof mugs. Finally, top each with some whipped cream and dust them with cocoa powder.

Expert Tips And Tricks

• The key to this hot chocolate recipe with chocolate chips is to not overheat the milk. In doing so, you are changing the flavor of the milk. If you heat it too much, it will quickly take on a burnt flavor, which doesn't pair that well with the chocolate. So, always work over low and slow heat.
• No matter which dairy product you choose, make sure it is full cream if possible. This will give you a much creamier mouthfeel that is key to a good hot chocolate. Otherwise, it is simply going to taste watered-down.
• If you choose high-quality chocolate, the flavor of your drink will be much better. However, high quality doesn't have to mean you break the bank! There are some excellent budget-friendly chocolate chip options out there that are surprisingly affordable.
• You can also easily adjust the sweetness of this hot chocolate. The amount of white sugar we added to our recipe only takes away the extreme bitterness of the semi-sweet chocolate. But, you can add more, use a sugar alternative, or remove it completely.
• And finally, one of the biggest benefits of our hot chocolate recipe with chocolate chips is that it can be made in the microwave. Simply heat the milk in the microwave using medium heat. Use only 20-second intervals. Then, once the milk is steaming, add the chocolate chips and whisk until they are all dissolved.

Preparations Times And Servings

Conclusion

As you can see, our authentic homemade hot chocolate recipe with chocolate chips is super easy to make and takes less than 10 minutes. It is also extremely customizable and will warm you right up any day of the week!

So, if you love it as much as we do, feel free to share it with your family, friends, and chocolate-loving community!

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