Piping hot, lusciously creamy, and best sipped with holiday tunes in the background (or maybe best sipped directly from the slow cooker with a straw?), this decadent Crockpot Hot Chocolate is my cozy drink of choice this winter!
Ever since I was a little girl making hot chocolate with Swiss Miss hot cocoa packets after dinner (while splashing the requisite amount all over the counter—sorry, mom), hot chocolate has been one of my great comforts.
- In Paris, I tasted hot chocolate so thick and rich, it was akin to a melted hot chocolate bar. My copycat recipe French Hot Chocolate tastes just like it and is an absolute treat for special occasions.
- How to Make Hot Chocolate gives you everything you need for a perfect cup at home.
- For an everyday cup, this Healthy Hot Chocolate is more best behavior.
- This Easy Hot Chocolate is good when you need something in between and are only making hot chocolate for one or two.
- And for those times when one cup of hot chocolate simply will not do? Enter CROCKPOT HOT CHOCOLATE.
5 Star Review
“INCREDIBLE! Best hot chocolate we’ve ever had. It was so creamy and our friends all loved it.”
— Macy —
The Best Crockpot Hot Chocolate
This recipe is easy, will keep your stovetop free, and the slow cooker makes it ideal for serving at a party, when guests can help themselves.
It also tastes magnificent.
This is some of the best hot chocolate I’ve ever made.
It is wonderfully rich, but well-balanced.
Since this is a crockpot hot chocolate without condensed milk, it’s creamy without being *so* over the top, you can only handle a tiny cup, making it dangerous indeed!
I was not kidding about the temptation to drink it right from the crockpot with a straw.
Tip!
I found that making this creamy crockpot hot chocolate recipe without heavy cream was best—whole milk and a touch of half-and-half are all you need to create a luxurious hot chocolate texture.
Ben at one point dared to suggest this was too chocolaty, but what does he know?
The rest of my recipe testers thought it was juuuust right. I think you’ll agree with us!
But, if you’d like to dial the chocolate down, you can certainly splash in some additional milk or half-and-half (just make sure I fill my cup first ;-) ).
How to Make Crockpot Hot Chocolate
Forget crockpot hot chocolate using Swiss Miss, this easy crockpot hot chocolate is as simple as stir, set, sip!
- As written, I left this as a simple, classic hot chocolate recipe, though it’s certainly open to adding other flavors (including the spirited variety). Don’t miss the variations below for inspiration.
The Ingredients
- Chocolate. Once the chopped chocolate melts in the slow cooker, it creates an irresistibly luxurious texture and rich flavor. The chocolate flavor is important here, so make sure to use a high-quality variety (that means no crockpot hot chocolate with instant mix).
- Cocoa Powder. The other half of our chocolate flavor duo. Making this crockpot hot chocolate with cocoa powder provides intensity.
- Whole Milk + Half-and-Half. Yes, you can put milk in the crockpot. In order to achieve the most smooth and creamy texture, it’s important to make crockpot hot chocolate with milk, not water. I used whole milk. I also used half-and-half to keep things a little lighter than heavy cream while still tasting indulgent.
- Sugar. Helps balance out any bitterness in the chocolate.
- Vanilla. A can’t-miss addition that gives this drink an extra layer of coziness.
- Instant Espresso Powder. While optional, I find that it helps intensify the chocolate flavor further (it will not make the hot chocolate taste like coffee).
The Directions
- Add all of the ingredients (minus the toppings) to a slow cooker.
- Whisk to combine.
- Cook the crockpot hot chocolate on LOW for 2 to 3 hours or on HIGH for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Whisk occasionally to make sure the chocolate isn’t sticking.
- Serve and ENJOY!
Tip!
If you’re wondering how you keep hot chocolate warm for a party, here is an important tip:
- If you will be serving this at a party and leaving the slow cooker on, check periodically to make sure the chocolate isn’t burning or curdling if your slow cooker tends to get fairly hot. This is especially important as the amount of hot chocolate in the crockpot lessens.
Ways to Flavor Crockpot Hot Chocolate
- Alcohol. Crockpot hot chocolate with alcohol would make a scrumptious adult beverage! I’d recommend Baileys Irish cream, peppermint schnapps, Kahlua, or Frangelico hazelnut liqueur. YUM!
- Coffee. Mix hot chocolate and coffee together to create a drink called café mocha. Add a shot of espresso or a pour of strongly brewed coffee to your cup, then top with as much hot chocolate as you like. We have this every Christmas morning, and it’s divine.
- Nutella. For an out-of-this-world rich and tasty hot chocolate, stir in a spoonful of Nutella.
Crockpot Hot Chocolate Toppings
Add a flourish to your mug with one of these hot chocolate toppings:
- Marshmallows. Whether you prefer mini marshmallows, regular marshmallows, or jumbo-sized marshmallows, you can’t go wrong with this classic and beloved topping.
- Whipped Cream. For a decadent treat, top your hot chocolate with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Chocolate Chips. A handful of milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips will take the chocolate factor up another notch.
- Caramel Sauce. A drizzle of caramel sauce on top would be tasty!
- Crushed Peppermint. For a minty and festive twist, sprinkle some crushed peppermint over top.
- Cinnamon. Finish your hot chocolate batch with a sprinkle of cinnamon. You could also add some cinnamon sticks.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Store leftover hot cocoa in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm gently in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat, whisking to combine.
What to Serve with Crockpot Hot Chocolate
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Slow Cooker. Enjoy slow cooker hot chocolate on demand!
- Small Whisk. The smaller size of this whisk helps keep liquids from splashing.
- Ladle. How to serve large amounts of hot chocolate.
3-Quart Slow Cooker
This smaller-sized slow cooker is ideal for drinks, dips, and soups. It has a “keep warm” function that will deter overcooking.
Wishing you all warm fuzzies, a cloud of marshmallows, and plenty of crock pot hot chocolate refills!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you prefer your crockpot hot chocolate with condensed milk, you can add a little for extra decadence. Be careful, as sweetened condensed milk is very sweet. I’d omit the sugar to start.
I recommend making this crockpot hot chocolate without chocolate chips (use an actual chopped chocolate bar), as chocolate chips contain stabilizers to hold their shape and thus do not melt as smoothly.
Unfortunately, I don’t recommend making this a dairy-free crockpot hot chocolate. I’m afraid the consistency won’t be right without the half-and-half. You could experiment by swapping in something like cashew milk for the whole milk, and you could try using full-fat coconut milk instead of the half-and-half (it would alter the overall flavor).
Crockpot Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 3 cups whole milk must be whole for the best texture!
- 1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream if you want to make this outrageously decadent
- 6 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate* coarsely chopped (between 62% and 70%; the darker, the more intense the chocolate flavor will be; I used 66%)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch process cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder or coffee powder optional for a more intense flavor
- Pinch kosher salt
- Toppings of choice: marshmallows whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel, a handful of extra chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients except for the toppings into 3-quart slow cooker (or a 5-quart or larger if you are doubling the recipe): milk, half-and-half, chocolate, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, espresso powder, and salt.
- Briskly whisk to dissolve the cocoa powder as much as possible. Keep whisking until none of it floats to the top; this may take 1 to 2 minutes.
- Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours or on high for 45 minutes to 1 hour (depending upon your slow cooker; it may finish sooner. Once it's hot and the chocolate is melted smoothly, you can serve it as soon as you like; I prefer to do this on low to make sure the chocolate doesn't burn). Whisk every 45 minutes or so to make sure the chocolate isn’t burning on the bottom of the crock pot. At this point, you can keep it on "low" or switch to "keep warm" if you have that setting. Do not keep it on high, as if the chocolate becomes too hot, it can burn or separate.
- Ladle into serving cups and add your toppings of choice.
Video
Notes
- *I do not recommend chocolate chips, as they do not melt as smoothly. Since chocolate is the primary ingredient, be sure to use good quality. Lindt and Ghirardelli are both excellent. I also had good luck testing with the Baker’s brand bittersweet chocolate bar.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm gently in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat, whisking to combine.
Nutrition
Join today and start saving your favorite recipes
Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes and access FREE meal plans.
Sign Me Up
Looks and sounds delicious, Erin! Have you tried non-dairy milk such as almond or oat for this recipe? Thank you!
Hi Candise! I’m afraid the consistency won’t be right without the half-and-half especially. You could experiment by swapping in something like cashew milk for the whole milk, but I think you’ll need the half-and-half. You could try using full-fat coconut milk instead of the half-and-half, but that would alter the flavor. If you decide to play around with it, I’d love to hear how it goes!
My husband and I are recently (and begrudgingly) dairy free for health reasons. Are there any dairy free milks that you can recommend to work with this? (Should also note, my husband is also tree-nut free). Thanks so much, I love all of your recipes!
Hi Kate! I’m afraid the consistency won’t be right without the half-and-half here. I’d recommend trying my Healthy Hot Chocolate recipe instead (make sure your chocolate is also dairy-free). I hope this helps!
Cue “Sleigh Ride” – this was the most DELICIOUS and simple hot chocolate. It delivered the “comfy, cozy” vibe I was looking for this holiday week.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Ashley! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Seriously, the most decadent and delicious hot chololate I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. So easy to make and sooooo tasty. Highly recommend trying this recipe.
Allison
Thankyou Erin!!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Allison! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This is a fantastic party idea and we drank up the ‘tester batch’ in one day! Simply delicious!
Hi Lela! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Question: Have you ever tried to double this? I might need more than 6 servings, so wondered if it would need longer to cook if doing that?
Also, most recipes I saw had sweetened condensed milk, but I was happy to find one that didn’t since I don’t want it to be too sweet, just a good chocolate flavor that beats the hot chocolate packets. Is this recipe a good fit for that?
Hi Kristi! I haven’t tried it myself but tt will depend on the size of your crockpot if a double batch will fit. I don’t believe you would need to add any additional cooking time. As far as flavor this has a good balance for me. Hope this helps!
Most recipes call for sweetened condensed milk, which we didn’t have on hand, so I picked this recipe to make today. I used my good Ghirardelli chocolate and it was so bitter it was virtually undrinkable. My husband added more sugar to make his cup palatable, but the rest of us couldn’t drink it, even with added marshmallows. We’re very disappointed with it.
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, Andrea. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
INCREDIBLE! Best hot chocolate we’ve ever had. It was so creamy and friends all loved it.
Hi Macy! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind review!