Description
Creamy hot chocolate recipe heightens winter warmth with rich cocoa, milk, and sweet chocolate chips. Comfort and indulgence mingle in this simple slow cooker treat that welcomes friends and family to relax together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 (14 oz / 397 g) can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- whipped cream
- mini marshmallows
- chocolate syrup or caramel drizzle
- crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Chocolate Base Creation: Combine heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, and salt in the crockpot, whisking until the mixture appears smooth and well-integrated.
- Slow Infusion: Cover the crockpot and set to low heat, allowing the ingredients to gently meld and transform into a luxurious hot chocolate over approximately two hours, stirring occasionally to prevent chocolate from adhering to the bottom.
- Texture Refinement: Once chocolate chips have completely dissolved and the liquid achieves a glossy, uniform consistency, perform a final thorough stirring to ensure total ingredient integration.
- Serving Preparation: Carefully ladle the steaming hot chocolate into individual mugs, encouraging personalization with optional toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed peppermint, or a dusting of cinnamon.
- Temperature Maintenance: If serving over an extended period, transition the crockpot to warm setting, stirring intermittently to preserve optimal temperature and prevent surface film formation, ensuring a continuously inviting beverage for guests.
Notes
- Chocolate Selection Matters: Use high-quality chocolate chips or chopped chocolate for richer, more complex flavor profile and smoother texture.
- Prevent Scorching: Stir mixture every 30-45 minutes to ensure even heating and prevent chocolate from burning or sticking to crockpot bottom.
- Customize Consistency: Adjust milk quantities for thicker or thinner hot chocolate; add extra chocolate chips for more intensity or more milk for lighter version.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap whole milk with almond, oat, or coconut milk for lactose-free or vegan alternatives; use dairy-free chocolate chips to make completely plant-based.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Drinks, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg