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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

    Published: Sep 16, 2020 Modified: Sep 16, 2020 by Tonje / This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe | Pin Recipe
    Overhead view of 2 mugs of hot chocolate with whipped cream and toppings.
    Overhead view of hot chocolate in a white mug.
    Overhead picture of hot cocoa in a mug topped with whipped cream and mini marshmallows.

    This creamy and comforting slow cooker hot chocolate is the perfect drink for dark fall evenings or chilly winter mornings.

    A cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows.
    Hot cocoa made in the slow cooker is so easy and delicious!
    Jump to:
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Backstory
    • 🥘 Ingredients Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 👪 FAQs
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🍫 Suggested Serving Companions
    • Hot chocolate toppings
    • 🍶 More Beverage Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe Card
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    👩🏻‍🍳 Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Backstory

    Fall is my favorite season by far! I love the fresh air, the big scarves and all the baking. But most of all I love sinking down into my sofa with a big cup of a hot beverage in my hands.

    Through the years I've made plenty of fall appropriate beverages, like this spiced hot orange juice with cinnamon, or my hot lemon and ginger drink for sore throats, but nothing beats a creamy hot chocolate as far as comfort is concerned.

    Now, as a big fan of my slow cooker, it was simply a matter of time before I decided to throw some chocolate and cream in there and see what happened. And I'm happy to report that this slow cooker hot chocolate is a raging success.

    Let me set the scene: it's Saturday morning. You're spending time with your kids, working away at your computer, reading the news, or doing whatever you normally do in the morning. As the hours go by, the smell of chocolate spreads through your house. Your trusty Crock pot keeps the creamy hot chocolate warm for the remainder of the day, allowing everyone to grab a cup or two whenever they feel like it.

    This recipe is perfect for making a big batch of hot chocolate, which is excellent if you're like me and want to keep drinking it through the whole day, and it's become an essential part of our Christmas Day routine.

    🥘 Ingredients Needed

    The ingredients required to make slow cooker hot chocolate laid out on a table.
    Just a few ingredients are all that is needed to make this sweet and delicious hot beverage!
    • Dark chocolate - A dark, slightly bitter chocolate adds tons of flavor to the hot chocolate.
    • Milk chocolate - The milk chocolate adds a milder flavor and slightly sweetens up the drink.
    • Cream - Thick, hearty, delicious.
    • Whole milk - I like to use whole milk as it makes an extra thick and creamy hot chocolate.
    • Vanilla extract - Gives the hot chocolate a mild flavor of sweet vanilla. An optional, but welcome ingredient.

    🔪 Instructions

    Cream, milk and chopped chocolate in a slow cooker.
    Add the cream, milk, vanilla, and chocolate into the slow cooker.
    1. Roughly chop or break up the chocolate. Add all the ingredients to a slow cooker, and cook on high for 2-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
    2. Stir once or twice while the hot chocolate cooks to ensure that the chocolate breaks up and blends in completely.
    3. Serve up the beverage, and top with your favorite toppings such as whipped cream, marshmallows, syrups, sprinkles and more!
    Hot chocolate in a slow cooker with a ladle.
    Soon you will have the creamiest, chocolatey-est hot cocoa!

    👪 FAQs

    Can I make hot chocolate without cream?

    Yes, you can make it using only milk. The result will be a lighter hot chocolate. This is a good option if you don't like your hot chocolate to be super thick, or if you want to make it a little healthier.

    Can I use only dark chocolate or only milk chocolate?

    Yep. Using only milk chocolate will make the drink mild and sweet, and using only dark chocolate will give it a slightly bitter chocolate flavor.

    How long does the hot chocolate last?

    After it has finished cooking, you can keep it on the warm setting for several hours. Leftover hot chocolate can then be stored in a refrigerator for up to 2 days and enjoyed as cold chocolate milk or reheated.

    Two cups of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows, with bowls of sprinkles and marshmallows in the back.
    This hot cocoa is perfect with whipped cream and marshmallows.

    📖 Variations

    • Add liqueurs like Kahlua, Baileys, Tia Maria, Creme de Menthe or Grand Marnier for adult versions of the drink.
    • Add some peppermint extract, extra vanilla extract or orange extract to add flavor to the hot chocolate.
    • You can make this using only dark chocolate, or only milk chocolate if you prefer those flavors, instead of a combination of the two.
    Hot chocolate in cups.
    This recipe makes a rich and velvety hot chocolate that all your friends and family will love!

    🍫 Suggested Serving Companions

    You can enjoy hot chocolate on its own, with a sweet treat, or with your breakfast. Embrace the season and serve it with Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oatmeal or Peppermint Marshmallow Rice Cake Treats (double marshmallow joy!), or treat yourself to some Eggless Banana Bread.

    .. or what about some Easy Chocolate Raspberry Fudge? To be honest, there's never a wrong time to serve hot chocolate, especially if you're accompanying it with even MORE chocolate!

    Bowls of marshmallows, sprinkles and chocolate shavings.
    There are lots of toppings that would be delicious - these are just a few!

    Hot chocolate toppings

    Hot chocolate can be so much fun to make, and I love adding different toppings! Marshmallows and whipped cream are obvious classics, but you can even add sprinkles, chocolate chips, crushed or crumbled gingerbread or candy canes!

    Top your hot chocolate with caramel sauce, chocolate sauce (there's no such thing as too much chocolate), hazelnut syrup or truffles. For adult versions you can also add liqueurs like Baileys or Kahlua.

    We love to make a "make your own hot chocolate station" with a large slow cooker filled to the brim with hot chocolate, and any toppings you could possibly imagine.

    🍶 More Beverage Recipes

    Here are some other delicious beverage ideas worth checking out:

    • Side shot of a glass wine tumbler with sangria garnished with mint and fruits on a marble surface with a pitcher of it in the background and fruits scattered on the side.
      Moscato Sangria
    • Overhead shot of acai smoothie garnished with blueberries and mint in a clear glass on a white surface with blueberries scattered around.
      Easy Healthy Acai Smoothie
    • Overhead shot of mango lassi in a clear curvy glass garnished with mango chunks and pieces of almonds.
      Mango Lassi Recipe
    • Side shot of kiwi smoothie with a slice of kiwi on top in a clear glass on a bamboo mat.
      Banana Spinach Smoothie with Kiwi

    If you loved this recipe, make sure to let me know by commenting below and giving it 5 stars!

    📋 Recipe Card

    Cups with slow cooker hot chocolate.

    Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

    Recipe Author: Tonje
    This creamy and comforting slow cooker hot chocolate is the perfect drink for dark fall evenings or chilly winter mornings.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email Bookmark Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Course beverage
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 614 kcal

    Equipment

    • Slow cooker

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 2 ½ cup whole milk
    • 4 ounces dark chocolate
    • 4 ounces milk chocolate
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Roughly chop or break up the chocolate.
      4 ounces dark chocolate, 4 ounces milk chocolate
    • Add all the ingredients to a slow cooker, and cook on high for 2-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
      1 cup heavy cream, 2 ½ cup whole milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Stir once or twice while the hot chocolate cooks to ensure that the chocolate breaks up and blends in completely.
    • Serve up the beverage, and top with your favorite toppings such as whipped cream, marshmallows, syrups, sprinkles and more!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 614kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 531mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 1122IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 239mg | Iron: 4mg

    Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.

    Want to make cooking even easier?Sign up here to receive FREE DBH exclusive content, including my favorite kitchen shortcuts and hacks, and unlock access to the DBH resource library with many other free downloads!

    Tonje is the owner of Hintofhealthy.com, where she shares easy and healthy everyday recipes. Follow her on Facebook or Instagram for more family friendly meal inspiration.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Abi

      October 21, 2020 at 2:29 am

      5 stars
      This is just what my tummy needed tonight. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Kristin

        October 21, 2020 at 8:25 am

        You are welcome. 🙂 Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Priya Lakshminarayan

      October 20, 2020 at 11:59 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this recipe! Looks drool-worthy!

      Reply
      • Kristin

        October 21, 2020 at 8:24 am

        Sure thing! Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Cathleen

      October 20, 2020 at 11:40 pm

      5 stars
      Okay, but you are KILLING it with all of those toppings!!
      Also, I love the idea of adding liqueur to this. Will definitely try this 🙂

      Reply
      • Kristin

        October 21, 2020 at 8:24 am

        Haha! I agree, Tonje really went to town with the toppings. You can really have fun with this recipe!

        Reply
    4. Anjali

      October 20, 2020 at 11:28 pm

      5 stars
      Omg this hot chocolate is so decadent and delicious!! Perfect for these cooler months coming up!

      Reply
      • Kristin

        October 21, 2020 at 8:23 am

        Thanks Anjali! And this is great for the holidays, too, especially when you have guests over!

        Reply
    5. Liz

      October 20, 2020 at 9:08 pm

      5 stars
      I love to make things from scratch! Love this recipe and that you use dark chocolate!

      Reply
      • Kristin

        October 21, 2020 at 8:23 am

        Thanks Liz! I agree, Tonje's idea to use the dark chocolate is brilliant! 🙂

        Reply

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    👋 Hey there, I'm Kristin! As a full-time working wife and mom, my life is such a whirlwind, it makes me dizzy sometimes! So I have been working to develop quick, easy, family-friendly recipes for 20+ years, and this site is where I share them with you! Happy cooking!

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