Crockpot Hot Chocolate
Crockpot Hot Chocolate is rich, creamy, and perfectly sweet, making it a cozy homemade treat everyone will love. It comes together easily and stays warm in the slow cooker, making it great for parties, holidays, and all kinds of winter gatherings.
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A Note from Kim
The Ultimate Cozy Drink
During the colder months, crockpot hot chocolate is an absolute must in our house, and this homemade version never disappoints. It’s rich, creamy, and deeply chocolatey, everything a good cup of hot cocoa should be. Best of all, it comes together in just about 5 minutes of prep, which is hardly more effort than stirring up a packet of instant cocoa, but the payoff is so much better.
It’s wonderfully indulgent, stays warm for hours, and is perfect for serving a crowd, whether that’s a house full of guests on Christmas Day or a cozy winter get-together. Just let the slow cooker do the work, then ladle it into mugs whenever you’re ready to enjoy.
With love (and lots of good eats), 
Absolutely delicious, my kiddos were huge fans for my test batch, and I’m so excited to make it for a family Christmas party!
— Jennifer
Ingredients You’ll Need
Crock pot hot chocolate is a simple recipe that uses everyday ingredients, yet tastes amazing with wonderful chocolate flavor! You’ll never want to go back to packet hot cocoa. You can find the list of ingredients with measurements in the recipe card below.
- Sweetened condensed milk. Adds richness and sweetens the drink.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder. I recommend a high-quality cocoa powder or cacao powder. I typically like to use Ghirardelli’s 100% cocoa for the best flavor.
- Vanilla extract. To balance out the cocoa flavor.
- Whole milk. You could also make this lower in fat by using 1 or 2% milk, but it will be less rich.
- Half-and-half. To make this even creamier and more flavorful. Can sub with heavy cream.
- Coffee creamer. The secret ingredient that makes this hot chocolate so irresistible. You won’t know what to do with yourself after one sip. Have fun trying different flavors!
- Salt. Balances all the sweetness and brings out the cocoa flavor.
- Mini marshmallows. Optional for serving. More topping ideas, below.
Flavor Variations
We love this slow cooker hot chocolate recipe as-is, but feel free to change it up and customize the taste depending on your mood. Here are some delicious ideas:
- Creamers. Experiment with different flavored creamers. We especially love using the holiday varieties, like gingerbread and eggnog! The peppermint mocha is incredible too!
- Peppermint. Add one drop of peppermint extract into each cup and serve with candy canes. Don’t add any more than 1/8 teaspoon per mug, as peppermint extract is very potent.
- Boozy. Pour in a bit of bourbon, brandy, kahlua or Bailey’s Irish cream for an extra fun adult beverage.
- Salted caramel. Add a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle salted caramel sauce over it.
- Mexican hot chocolate. Stir in about 1/4 tsp cinnamon, a very small pinch (less than 1/8 tsp per mug) chili powder and ground cayenne, and serve with a cinnamon stick.
- Classic. Top it off with marshmallows and a sprinkle of cocoa powder.
How to Make Hot Chocolate in a Crockpot
Perfect for snow days and the holiday season, this cozy recipe comes together easily and is made to be enjoyed warm and slow.
You can find printable instructions in the recipe card below.
Step 1. In the bottom of a cold crockpot, add sweetened condensed milk with unsweetened cocoa powder and vanilla extract.
Step 2. Whisk this coco mixture together until smooth.
Step 3. Now, whisk in the milk, half & half and creamer, being sure to get to the edges. Sprinkle in the salt. Cover and warm on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours. You’re not cooking it, just warming it through!
Step 4. Once it’s to the desired temperature, switch crockpot to ‘warm’ or LOW heat setting.
Step 5. When you’re ready to serve, add in mini marshmallows and more coffee creamer, if desired. Enjoy!
Crockpot Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 12 cups whole milk
- 1 cup half & half
- 1 cup coffee creamer, any favorite flavor works
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mini marshmallows, optional for serving
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Instructions
- In the bottom of a cold crockpot, whisk 2 cans sweetened condensed milk with 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract until smooth.
- Whisk in 12 cups whole milk, 1 cup half & half and 1 cup coffee creamer, being sure to scrape the edges. Stir in the 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and warm on high for 2 hours or low for 4. You're not cooking this, just warming it through! Once it's to the desired temperature, switch crockpot to 'warm' or LOW heat setting.
- When you're ready to serve, add in 1 cup mini marshmallows and more coffee creamer, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Storing leftovers. Cool completely, place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheating. Reheat in a saucepan over low heat on the stovetop until warm, stirring frequently. Alternatively, place in a microwave-safe mug and heat in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring each time, until nice and hot.
- Slow cooker. When serving at a party, we love to keep hot cocoa warm in a slow cooker on the low heat setting.
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Kim’s Recipe Tips
- Dairy products. This recipe is definitely dairy-forward, so it’s probably not the best fit if you’re lactose intolerant. It’s made with a blend of rich milk products that create a hot chocolate that’s indulgent and creamy without being overly heavy. If you’d prefer a lighter version, you can swap the richer dairy for more milk to make a lower-fat hot cocoa, just keep in mind it won’t have quite the same rich, velvety texture.
- Crockpot temperature. Once heated to desired temperature, keep the slow cooker on LOW. This recipe doesn’t involve cooking, just warming everything. We definitely don’t want to curdle any dairy products.
- Scrape the sides. As you add in your dairy, make sure to mix well. Scrape the sides with a spatula to ensure that all the chocolate base is incorporated.
- Half the recipe. This recipe makes about 15 cups. If that is too much for your family or gathering, cut this recipe in half and make it in a smaller crockpot. Keep in mind, it might take less time to get hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crockpot hot chocolate is the perfect beverage for a winter party or gathering! Simply keep the slow cooker on the low heat setting and let it keep the drink warm all day or evening long!
This recipe calls for whole milk and half-and-half to make the hot cocoa lusciously thick, rich and deliciously creamy. For a dairy-free version, use oat milk, almond milk or cashew milk and a plant based half-and-half or omit completely and use more milk. The dairy-free hot chocolate will not be as rich and creamy.
Many times the names are used interchangeably, but hot cocoa contains cocoa powder. It is typically sweeter, thinner and a milder flavored drink. Hot chocolate on the other hand is made with real chocolate, usually chopped or shaved and added to either cream, milk, or water, resulting in a fuller-bodied beverage that’s less sweet and also goes by the name “drinking chocolate”, a term often used with European counterparts. So, this recipe is technically hot cocoa.
Yes, no crockpot? No problem! Add all of the ingredients to a large stockpot in the same way as this recipe instructs and warm through over medium-low to medium heat, whisking frequently, until warm, but not boiling). When the mixture is fully combined, smooth and heated, serve with your favorite toppings.
Topping Ideas
Hosting a party? Crockpot hot cocoa served with a toppings bar is always a hit, especially for holiday gatherings and parties. Here are some options:
- Whipped cream
- Mini marshmallows
- Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips
- Crushed candy cane
- White chocolate
- Chocolate syrup
- Caramel syrup
- Sprinkles
- Peppermint sticks or candy canes
- Chocolate shavings from a chocolate bar
Serving Suggestions
You’ll definitely want a little something sweet to pair with your hot beverage! Here are some ideas:
Storing & Reheating
- Storing leftover hot chocolate. Cool completely, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating
- Stovetop. Reheat in a saucepan over low heat until warm, stirring frequently.
- Slow cooker. When serving at a party, we love to keep hot cocoa warm in a slow cooker on the low heat setting.
- Microwave. In a microwave-safe mug, place in the microwave and heat in 30 second intervals, stirring each time, until nice and hot.
If you try this hot cocoa recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Absolutely delicious, my kiddos were huge fans for my test batch, and I’m so excited to make it for a family Christmas party!
I made this recipe for Christmas and everyone loved it. I can’t wait to try another one of your recipes.
I made this for a work cocoa bar and everyone absolutely loved it! I have tried a couple different recipes that were just too sweet, this one was perfect. Huge success!!