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Crockpot Hot Chocolate is a well balanced, creamy, chocolatey, sweet homemade recipe everyone will enjoy! Take it over the top with creamer!
I’ve been a little enamored with the idea of a Crockpot Hot Chocolate for a few weeks now. I did a little research/internet trolling and a lot of recipe testing and came up with my favorite version of a Crockpot Hot Chocolate! It’s not too creamy, too sweet or too cocoa-y. It’s balanced really well AND!! I even included my secret ingredient that takes this over the top! People will try it and be amazed that homemade hot chocolate could be this good.
Crockpot Hot Chocolate Recipe
This is a simple recipe that uses everyday ingredients and will knock your socks off. You’ll never want to go back to packet hot cocoa. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – to sweeten.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – it wouldn’t be hot chocolate without cocoa!
- Vanilla Extract – to balance out the cocoa flavor.
- Whole Milk – you could totally make this lower in fat by using 1 or 2% milk and no half & half, buuuuuut I wouldn’t recommend it.
- Half & Half – to make this even creamier and more flavorful.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Coffee Creamer – my secret ingredient… YOU GUYS. This stuff is DREAMY in hot chocolate. You won’t know what to do with yourself after one sip.
- Salt – this helps counter all the sweetness and brings out the cocoa flavor.
- Mini Marshmallows – optional but very cute.
Tips and Tricks
Crockpot Temperature. Keep your crockpot on LOW, we aren’t cooking anything here, just warming things up. You don’t want to curdle any dairy products used.
Scrape the Sides. As you add in your dairy, make sure to mix super well. Scrape the sides to ensure that all the chocolate base is mixed in.
Halve the Recipe. If this is too much hot chocolate for your family or gathering, cut this recipe in half and make it in a smaller crockpot. Note that the heating time might take a little less when halved.
Dairy Products
This recipe uses a ton of dairy products so beware if you are lactose intolerant. The three main ingredients are half & half, coffee creamer and whole milk. The combination of these three make this crockpot hot chocolate delectable and creamy, but not overly creamy.
You can absolutely make this a low-fat hot cocoa by subbing out the half & half for more milk, but it doesn’t taste the same.
How to Make Hot Chocolate in a Crockpot
- At the bottom of a cold crockpot, whisk the sweetened condensed milk with cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth.
- Whisk in milk, half & half and creamer, being sure to get to the edges. Sprinkle in the salt. Cover and warm on high for 2 hours or low for 4. You’re not trying to cook this, just warm it through! Once it’s to the desired temperature, switch crockpot to ‘warm’.
- When you’re ready to serve, add in mini marshmallows and more coffee creamer if you so desire {which you totally should!!} Enjoy!
Leftovers
So you have 15 cups of hot chocolate, now what? Drink up!!! Chances are you might have some leftovers. Don’t worry because you can save this recipe.
Simply cool your hot chocolate completely then cover in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, simply transfer back into the crockpot and warm it up! Easy peasy!
Crockpot Hot Chocolate Variations
I guarantee that you will never have better hot chocolate than this.
WELLLLLL, maybe the hot chocolate I had in Paris was better but how many of you are going to Paris for Christmas? Don’t answer that.
Also delicious? All these other holiday creamers like gingerbread and egg nog!! SOOOOOOO good. The peppermint mocha is also glorious in case you were wondering. So go out and try different creamers and add-ins to customize your crockpot hot chocolate to your liking!
Topping Ideas
Mini Marshmallows. These are optional but so so cute for this recipe. Around the holidays you can find specialty shaped marshmallows to make your drink extra fun.
Whipped Cream. Make it easy on yourself and buy a can of this stuff, you can even just buy Cool Whip and mix in different extracts. A mint whipped cream is super easy to make.
Candy Canes. This is a super festive idea that will actually flavor your hot cocoa as it dissolves.
Freezing
Hello, make-ahead recipe! Make this recipe completely, minus the mini marshmallows. Cool completely then transfer to the freezer.
An easy way to do this would be to freeze the hot cocoa in smaller chunks. Do this by freezing in an ice tray then transferring to a large freezer bag. You could also just use small ziplock bags.
This recipe can be frozen for up to 3 months.
More Hot Cocoa Recipes!
- Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
- Egg Nog Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
- Halloween Oreo Frozen Hot Chocolate
So there you have it, folks. Crazy delicious hot chocolate for Christmas and/or wet, wintery weather. Make this today! You won’t regret it 🙂
Crockpot Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 12 cups whole milk
- 1 cup half & half
- 1 cup chocolate chip cookie coffee creamer + more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- In the bottom of a cold crockpot, whisk sweetened condensed milk with cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth.
- Whisk in milk, half & half and creamer, being sure to get to the edges. Sprinkle in the salt. Cover and warm on high for 2 hours or low for 4. You're not trying to cook this, just warm it through! Once it's to the desired temperature, switch crockpot to 'warm'.
- When you're ready to serve, add in mini marshmallows and more coffee creamer if you so desire {which you totally should!!} Enjoy!
Can I use less milk? And do I have to use the coffee creamer?
Yes you can use less milk and no you don’t have to use the coffee creamer, though I do recommend it because its delicious!!
WILL MAKE THIS DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS.
If I didn’t have diabetes before I’m sure this didn’t help in preventing it😄
Never thought to make hot chocolate in a crockpot. I’ll have to give it a try sometime. I really like your microwave fudge recipe, and do several variations of it on the stovetop. Thanks and Happy Holidays!
This looks delish and I might have to make it in a few weeks when the weather turns. We work outside no matter the weather so we definitely need a good warmup in the winter! Also, entering the giveaway 🙂
This is wonderful! I made it for my Girl Scout troop Christmas party. Of course we also had homemade scones, clotted cream (also made in my crock-pot), and strawberry jam. We were in London and Paris as a troop in July, 2018. 🙂
I’ve left a message on fb but wanted to respond directly on here so people would know about the creamer. That product is no longer being made.!! Of course, just when I find what sounds like the perfect Hot Chocolate recipe!! I did find a diy recipe for it online though so will try that in it as a test run before I make it for Christmas morning.
But would really like to know if you’re still making this recipe & what creamer you have decided on.
Thank you so much for all your wonderful recipes. You are a delight to follow!!
Any flavored creamer is fine! As long as you’d like the flavor, it should work just fine 🙂
[…] Crockpot Hot Chocolate to accompany a Cannoli of your choice […]
Please send me crockpot Hot Coco recipe. Thanks
This is the year to make crockpot hot chocolate! I love your blog and family pics!
I loved this recipe! I used it for my sons polar express class party and it was a big hit!!! Thank you for helping me make something the kids loved 😊
This hot chocolate is so good! It makes a ton which is awesome but I also was wondering if cutting the recipe in half would still turn out just as good? Thank you in advance.
Thank you so much for this SUPERB recipe!! I brought it to work to serve 4 gallons to our staff – it was a big hit!!! I have shared the recipe/your blog many many times!!! I made the larger batch in my electric roaster – in case anyone is trying to find a way to make a larger batch. We plowed through 6 gallons (with the 2 crockpots along side the roaster)….so so good….. 🙂
Looks like a great receipt, was wondering if you can put in the fridge after making.to much for one person. And how long will it last.
This looks so good and looks easy enough to do…No a million ingredients…Will be making this but I think I will use the Mexican chocolate creamer…
Thanks for sharing.
My coworkers have asked me to make another batch this year. What a great recipe!
Can this recipe be cut in half and still turn out ok? I’d like to make a small batch Christmas Morning!
Can this croxk pot hot cocoa be cut in half.and how long will it last in the fridge.
Left a comment earlier using the wrong email account. I receive your newsletter at the email account below. Love this crockpot hot cocoa recipe!
I can’t wait to make this cocoa for our family Christmas party!!
I am sooo going to make this for Xmas baking night.
I made this today & mistakenly thought 3.5 would work….i was wrong! Ended up Pouring all of the ingredients into a large beverage dispenser to mix, and then Poured Enough into That same Crock potAnd ended up having a small mixing bowl size left over A little over a court so I would suggest a 4.5 quart Or larger. everyone loved it, very rich and nothing at all like instant cocoa!
Wish I had had this when kids were growing up!
crock pot hot chocolate
What size would work best for the crockpot.
I have different sizes.
Love crockpot, dontcha! Lotsa hot cocoa recipes out here, but,girlfriend,you said the.magic word… SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK! All the light, healthy recipes, NOT! Needs the fat, to be creamy. Print and trying to pin, (darn clogged,internet),Many thanks and HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR ADORABLE FAMILY!
Do you have any good recipes that I can put in a mason jar or give away that way? I will try this for sure.
I think we will be having this for our family gathering at Christmas……sounds yummy
Some days I think you forget we are unable to get those “over the top” ingredients in Canada 🙁 Looks great though.
I accidently found you yesterday and have thoroughly enjoyed looking at all
the yummy food and seeing and learning about your beautiful family!! I am disabled and haven’t cooked or baked for several years but you have
enticed me to try again. Thank you!!
Glad I can be a little bright spot in your day, Kathie!!
How do you heat from frozen? In a pan? The microwave? I live that idea!
Sure, either would work for reheating. Just be careful not to boil the finished hot chocolate because this is all dairy and will curdle if you boil it.