There is nothing better than a mug of creamy, rich hot chocolate on a cold Winter’s Day! This is the best slow cooker hot chocolate recipe you’ll ever try – it’s pure indulgence.
It’s perfect for an event like Bonfire Night or Halloween, a weekend treat for your family or whenever you fancy a decadent hot chocolate you can make in advance!
There are times when only chocolate will do. This recipe for creamy slow cooker hot chocolate is the answer to all your chocolate dreams.
It’s the perfect treat to curl up with on the sofa on a freezing cold day. A good movie, snuggly blanket and twinkly fairy lights while you sip on your hot chocolate are essential for that feel good factor.
why you’ll love this crock pot hot chocolate recipe
1.Convenient – It’s a great way of serving hot chocolate to a group of people quickly and easily. Perfect for parties, sleepovers, book clubs or cosy nights in with friends!
2. Even heating – The slow heat of the slow cooker ensures that the hot chocolate warms evenly.
3. Safe – Using a slow cooker to make hot chocolate instead of the stovetop eliminates the risk of milk boiling over, causing burns or making a mess. Just be sure to keep the slow cooker well away from children and pets.
4. Keeps warm without risk of burning: The keep warm setting on the slow cooker keeps the perfect temperature for a few hours, so you can come back for that second hot chocolate effortlessly!
ingredients
You just need five ingredients to make this recipe. You will need:
- Milk. Whole milk gives the best results, but you can use semi-skimmed. I would not recommend using skimmed milk – it’s too thin.
- Double (heavy) cream
- Cocoa powder. If you use a good quality, it will make all the difference. I like Green and Black’s and Callabeut.
- vanilla extract adds a beautiful flavour. Be sure to use proper extract, not essence.
- milk chocolate. You can use either a bar or chocolate chips. The better quality the chocolate, the more rich and delicious your hot chocolate will be.
If you prefer dark hot chocolate, feel free to use dark/plain chocolate instead. My favourite brands are Guittuard and Callebaut (I promise I’m not on the payroll!) A bar of supermarket chocolate is also fine to use, as long as it isn’t “cooking chocolate”.
how to make slow cooker hot chocolate
step 1 – Preheat your slow cooker. Using a small whisk, mix the cocoa powder with 50ml of milk to make a smooth, lump free paste.
Step 2 – Place the milk cream, vanilla extract, chocolate chips and the cocoa paste into the slow cooker. Stir well to mix.
Step 3 – Pop the lid on and cook on HIGH for one hour or LOW for roughly two hours or until the hot chocolate is creamy, thick and delicious.
TIP – Open the lid and stir the hot chocolate every 40 minutes or so to make sure the chocolate isn’t sticking to the bottom of the bowl.
slow cooker hot chocolate serving suggestions
I recommend copious amounts of whipped cream……and I’ll never turn my nose up at squirty cream from a can, by the way. Marshmallows and grated chocolate are also a must, but festive sprinkles are also fun.
variations
- If you want a boozy hot chocolate (for adults only, of course!) you could add Baileys, Amaretto, Kahlua, brandy, whisky……you get the picture! Add a generous slug when you add all the other ingredients. If it’s not strong enough, you could always add more when serving!
- Add 1/2 teaspoon orange extract or a whole Terry’s chocolate orange (or any other orange flavoured chocolate) for chocolate orange hot chocolate.
- salted caramel hot chocolate – add 100g of salted caramel sauce and drizzle the whipped cream with salted caramel…..heavenly!
- For peppermint candy cane hot chocolate, add 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract and top the whipped cream with crushed candy canes….or After Eights! After all, it is Christmas!
- Italian style hot chocolate – for a really thick hot chocolate that you almost need to eat with a spoon, mix one tablespoon of cornflour to the cocoa powder and milk, making sure the mixture is nice and smooth before stirring into the milk.
storing leftover hot chocolate
In the unlikely event of leftovers, they can be stored in the fridge and reheated in a saucepan over a low heat the next day.
How long does slow cooker hot chocolate stay hot?
When the hot chocolate is ready, it should stay hot for about two hours. I will depend on your slow cooker. Mine has a handy “keep warm” setting. I have this 3.5 litre crock pot.
faqs
If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can make this hot chocolate in a saucepan on the hob/stovetop. Place all of the ingredients in a large saucepan and cook on a low-medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring often to make sure the chocolate has melted.
Mixing the cocoa powder with the milk to a smooth paste is a very important step in the recipe. If you skip this step, the hot chocolate will definitely have lumps. If you’ve done this and are still finding lumps, whisking will hopefully help. If it still isn’t smooth enough, straining through a sieve will do the job.
This recipe can easily be made dairy free by swapping the milk and cream for plant based alternatives. Soy, oat, almond milk and a cream alternative such as Elmlea plant double cream are good substitutes.
more festive drinks to try this winter
did you make this recipe?
I really hope you loved it! Let me know by leaving a comment below and please rate the recipe by clicking on the stars in the recipe card.
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
Once you've tried this slow cooker hot chocolate recipe, you'll be making it all Winter long. It's thick, creamy and so indulgent. Use the best quality ingredients you can find for the best flavour.
Ingredients
- 25g good quality cocoa powder
- 50ml milk (to mix with the cocoa powder)
- 1 Litre milk (not skimmed)
- 300ml double (heavy) cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 225g milk chocolate chips or chunks
- Whipped cream, grated chocolate and marshmallows for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your slow cooker. Using a small whisk, mix the 50ml milk with the cocoa powder until smooth and lump free.
- Pour the milk, cream, vanilla extract and chocolate chips into the slow cooker bowl along with the cocoa powder paste. Give the mixture a good whisk, then fit the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for one hour or LOW for two hours. Stir the mixture a couple of times during the cooking process to make sure the chocolate isn't sticking to the bottom of the bowl.
- When you have a creamy, fairly thick hot chocolate it's ready to serve. Pour into heatproof mugs and top with whipped cream, marshmallows, grated chocolate or whatever takes your fancy. Now sit down, relax and savour every sip!
Notes
Variations:
If you want a boozy hot chocolate, add a generous slug of Baileys, brandy, Kahula, Kisch, Amaretto the list goes on!
Make a chocolate orange hot chocolate by adding 1/2 teaspoon orange extract or a Terry's chocolate orange!
Make a peppermint hot chocolate - add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract and top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes - or after Eight chocolates!
Why not try a salted caramel hot chocolate? Add 100g salted caramel sauce to the ingredients and drizzle the whipped cream with extra salted caramel sauce.
Fancy a really thick, Italian style hot chocolate that you almost need to eat with a spoon? Add 1 tablespoon of cornflour to the cocoa powder and milk, making sure the mixture is very smoth and lump free.
Storing leftover hot chocolate:
Store any leftovers in a jug or tupperware box and reheat in a saucepan over a low heat.
To make on a stovetop/hob:
Place all of the ingredients in a large, deep saucepan and heat for about 15-20 minutes, stirring well. Don't allow the mixture to come to the boil.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 325Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 117mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 2gSugar: 30gProtein: 10g
Calories and nutritional information are provided by a third party application and should be viewed as indicative figures only.