Rich and creamy slow cooker hot chocolate made in the crock pot is the easy way to make a big batch of hot cocoa! Heavy cream, milk, cream, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder combine to make the BEST hot chocolate!
Making hot chocolate in the slow cooker is the perfect way to make a big batch of homemade hot chocolate! Slow cooker hot chocolate is great for everything from a hot chocolate bar to family movie night to holiday parties.
This recipe makes super rich and creamy hot chocolate! The hot cocoa is very decadent; it tastes almost like drinking melted chocolate bars!
It's also really easy to make! Just whisk it up in the slow cooker, and you only have to stir it every 30 minutes. It's lets you be more hands-off thank making cocoa on the stove.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Milk - Feel free to use any milk from skim milk to whole milk.
- Heavy cream - The hot chocolate is very rich! You can use milk in place of the heavy whipping cream if you prefer.
- Sweetened condensed milk - Be sure to use sweetened condensed milk and NOT evaporated milk as the sweetened condensed milk provides the sweetness for the hot cocoa.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips - You can use milk chocolate chips or bittersweet chocolate chips depending on how sweet you would like the cocoa to be.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder - I use unsweetened cocoa powder, but Dutch-processed would also work.
- Vanilla extract - You can omit the vanilla extract or use another extract, like peppermint, if you prefer.
- Salt
How to make slow cooker hot chocolate
Add the milk, cream, condensed milk, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and salt to the slow cooker insert. A 4-5 quart slow cooker works well.
Whisk until well-combined. It's ok if the cocoa powder is still a little lumpy. It will incorporate into the cocoa as you stir it.
Cover, and cook on LOW for about 2 hours, or until the chocolate has melted, stirring every 30 minutes or so.
Turn the slow cooker to WARM. The hot chocolate can stay on warm in the crockpot for about 2-3 hours.
Give it another good stir, and carefully ladle into mugs. Top with desired toppings just before serving.
Serving suggestions (toppings)
Hot cocoa can be served with
- Marshmallows (mini, regular, or flavored)
- Whipped cream or chocolate whipped cream
- Chocolate syrup
- Caramel sauce
- Grated chocolate
- Candy canes
Storage
Let the hot cocoa cool to room temperature. Store leftover hot chocolate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
More slow cooker recipes!
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Crisp
- Slow Cooker Brownies
- Crock Pot Triple Chocolate Bread Pudding Recipe`
If you’ve tried this slow cooker hot chocolate recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!
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Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add the milk, cream, condensed milk, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and salt to the slow cooker insert. A 4-5 quart slow cooker works well.
- Whisk until well-combined.
- Cover, and cook on LOW for about 2 hours, or until the chocolate has melted, stirring every 30 minutes or so.
- Turn the slow cooker to WARM.
- The hot chocolate can stay on warm for about 2-3 hours.
- Give it another good stir before serving.
- Top with desired toppings just before serving.
- Store leftover hot chocolate in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Milk - Feel free to use any milk from skim milk to whole milk.
- Heavy cream - The hot chocolate is very rich! You can use milk in place of the heavy cream if you prefer.
- Sweetened condensed milk - Be sure to use sweetened condensed milk and NOT evaporated milk as the sweetened condensed milk provides the sweetness for the hot cocoa.
- Semisweet chocolate chips - You can use milk or bittersweet chocolate chips depending on how sweet you would like the cocoa to be.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder - I use unsweetened cocoa powder, but Dutch-processed would also work.
- Vanilla extract - You can omit the vanilla extract or use another extract, like peppermint, if you prefer.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Amy
This was just what we needed with the snowstorm.
Kate
I'm so glad! Stay warm!