Top 10: Best Homemade Hot Chocolate RecipesBy Angelica Malin

Looking for the best homemade hot chocolate recipes? Look no further. We’ve got an array of delicious hot chocolate recipes to see you through winter – we say, grab your favourite book and get ready to cuddle up with a warming drink:

Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes: Classic

Classic Hot Chocolate

Looking for something delicious and indulgent? Created by Juliet Sear, this recipe uses the Billington’s Golden Caster Sugar; which gives the Hot Chocolate light caramel undertones, making it the perfect winter warmer.

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 450ml whole milk
• 100g 72% cocoa chocolate, finely chopped, grated or blitzed
• 60g good quality milk chocolate (minimum of 35%) finely chopped
• 75ml single cream
• Large pinch ground cinnamon
• Pinch salt
• 1-2 tsp Billington’s Unrefined Golden Caster Sugar to taste

Optional Ingredients

• Dash of your favourite tipple
• Marshmallows to serve

Method

1. Warm 150ml of milk in a pan over a gentle heat and stir in the chocolates.
2. Continue to stir until the chocolate has melted into the milk, then whisk in the remaining milk
   and the cream.
3. Finish with your favourite toppings

Ultimate Belgian Hot Chocolate

Looking to get your winter warming hot chocolate fix? We have a fancy hot chocolate for every taste bud, so go grab your mug, blanket and boxset for a cosy night in.

Ingredients:

• 200g Lily O’Brien’s Dark Belgian Chocolate Share Bag Chocolate Drops (chopped)
• 100g quality cocoa powder
• 75g icing sugar
• 30g cornflour
• 50g Horlicks or similar malted drink
• Mug of full fat milk per serving as required

Method:

1. Place the chocolate in the fridge for 30 minutes, then remove and blitz until fine in a food processor.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients with a good pinch of sea salt, and pulse until mixed to create a mix you can keep for when you fancy a hot chocolate fix.
3. Decant into an airtight jar, pop the lid on and give it a good shake up, then pop on your shelf until you’re ready for the perfect mug of chocolatey heaven.
4. To make a hot chocolate, simply put 2 heaped tablespoons of mixture and a mug of milk per person into a pan.
5. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat, whisking regularly, then pour your thickened, silky, frothy hot chocolate into mugs.
6. Leave to cool just a little, then sit back, relax and indulge.
7. Feel free to embellish your mug of hot chocolate with a little extra deliciousness – a few marshmallows, a dollop of whipping cream, a little grating of chocolate or nutmeg, even a bit of orange zest (you may want to add a dash of orange essence if you add the zest) – the choice is yours.

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

A simple interpretation of this hugely popular salted caramel flavour combination. This makes a rich, smooth hot chocolate that isn’t too sweet due to the presence of that all important pinch of sea salt!

Serves 1 

Ingredients: 

• 200ml milk, whole or semi skimmed
• 25-30g 70% dark chocolate finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon dulce de leche caramel
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed sea salt

Method:

1. Put most of the chopped chocolate, reserving some small pieces to sprinkle on top when made, and 2 tablespoons of the milk into a small heavy based pan. Warm gently to melt the chocolate into the milk.
2. Using a small balloon whisk, stir this mixture into a smooth paste and once you are happy that the chocolate has all melted, then add the caramel, salt & the rest of the milk.
3. Bring to the boil whisking constantly to start to create a foam and just before it starts to boil, take off the heat and continue to whisk vigorously for a minute.
4. Pour your foaming hot chocolate into your cup, top with the remaining chocolate flakes & enjoy.

Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes: Creative

Spiced Hot Chocolate

This delicious spiced hot chocolate recipe was created by Flora Shedden, the youngest ever semi-finalist on the BBC’s Great British Bake Off. We recommend using Gold Top Milk as it is not only creamy and smooth, but contains 20% more calcium, 18% more protein and more vitamin A and D than any other milk.

Ingredients: 

• 600ml Graham’s Gold Top milk
• 200ml Graham’s Gold Top double cream
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• ½ tsp chilli flakes
• 2 peels of orange rind
• 150g good quality chocolate (ideally 54% cocoa solids) finely chopped or in drops
• Graham’s whipping cream to serve

Instructions: 

1. Measure out the cream and milk in a saucepan.
2. Add the spices and orange rind and bring to the boil.
3. Set aside to infuse for 5-10 minutes.
4. Strain the cream mixture and reheat over a gentle heat with the chocolate. Stir regularly to prevent burning.
5. Once the chocolate has fully melted serve with some whipped cream.

Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes: Vegan

Peanut Butter CBD Hot Chocolate

This Peanut Butter CBD Hot Chocolate is sweet and salty, creamy dreamy deliciousness in a mug.
19mg CBD per cup.

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

For the hot chocolate:

• 2 tbsp cacao or cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp maple syrup/coconut sugar
• 2 tbsp organic unsalted smooth peanut butter
• 1 cup milk (almond/cashew work best)
• 1 tsp Raised Spirit CBD Coconut Oil with CACAO
• Pinch sea salt

Optional toppings:

• Whipped cream
• Grated dark chocolate (85% cacao solids or above)
• 1 tbsp smooth peanut butter mixed with 1 tbsp maple syrup
• A small drizzle of Raised Spirit CBD Coconut Oil with CACAO

Method:

1. Start by adding your cacao powder, maple syrup, and peanut butter to a milkpan and whisk in 2-3 tbsp of milk until smooth paste forms. Repeat until all of the milk has been whisked.
2. Place the pan on a low heat and whisk continuously until warm through and frothy. Do not let the mixture come to the boil.
3. Next whisk in the CBD infused coconut oil CACAO and sea salt until thoroughly mixed together. Pour into a mug and add some additional toppings if you’d like!

Dairy-Free Matcha White Hot Chocolate

Fancy something different? Try this unusual recipe using the almond milk from Califia Farms. Made from nuts, seeds, fruits and roots, all of Califia Farms’ plant milks are specially crafted to be mindful and delicious, with 50% more calcium than milk and no added sugar.

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup dairy-free white chocolate
• 250ml organic coconut milk (blend coconut milk prior to use)
• 125ml Califia Farms unsweetened almond milk
• 1 Teaspoon matcha powder
• Coconut sugar (optional)

Method:

1. In small sauce pan, melt white chocolate.
2. Add coconut milk and almond milk, then whisk to combine on medium heat.
3. Add matcha powder and whisk.
4. Serve hot and garnish with marshmallows, if desired.

Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes: Boozy

Boozy Spiced Hot Chocolate

Coole Swan is a premium Irish cream liqueur, which combines single malt Irish whiskey, Belgian white chocolate and fresh Irish cream to deliver a distinctive smooth and velvety taste experience. The addition of Belgian white chocolate is unique to Coole Swan and is the secret to delivering its distinctive brilliant white pour.

Ingredients

• Hot chocolate
• 200ml Coole Swan
• 600ml full fat milk
• 120g chopped dark chocolate
• Pinch mixed spice

Method

1. Place all ingredients into a medium pot and gently bring to the boil, whisking until smooth. Serve warm

Mulled Wine Hot Chocolate

Created by Paul A Young, this drink is the perfect combination of all things wintery. Paul says: “It was inevitable that at some point I would come up with this recipe as I love both mulled wine and hot chocolate. A warming, indulgent and very boozy drink, it is definitely one for adults only.”

Makes plenty of generous cups

Ingredients:

• 400g golden caster sugar
• 200g cocoa powder
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 5 star anise
• 8 cloves
• 500g 67% dark chocolate from the Dominican Republic, broken into pieces
• 2 clementines or satsumas, skin left on, halved
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 1 bottle of fruity red wine

Method

1. Put 500ml water, the sugar, the cocoa powder and all the spices in a pan and bring to a simmer.
2. Remove from the  heat, add the chocolate and whisk well until the chocolate is fully incorporated.
3. Add the clementines and rosemary and allow to infuse for 10 minutes.
4. Add the red wine and warm through gently.
5. Serve warm rather than hot.

Baileys Black Forest Hot Chocolate

What’s better than chocolate Baileys in winter? Not a lot much, really. This seasonal treat is pimped up with the addition of cherry liqueur, for a drinkable version of Black Forest Gateaux. We love.

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 30ml Baileys Chocolat Luxe
• 15ml cherry liqueur
• Top with hot chocolate

Method:

1. Build, and then serve in a mug dipped in melted chocolate and before it dries.
2. Add some dried cherry pieces for an extra flavourful crunch
3. Pairs perfectly with: Black Forest Gateaux with cherries