One of my favorite things to do in the winter is curl up with a steaming cup of hot cocoa and spend the evening relaxing.
This white hot chocolate makes those evenings feel even more decadent with an easy, but velvety blend of milk, chocolate vanilla and toppings.
What's In This Article
White Hot Chocolate
Though I’ve been in denial that summer is coming to an end, the truth is that fall is nearly here.
With fall, comes leaves changing (which I love) and pumpkin (which I also love…even pumpkin spice) but it also means that winter and cold weather (not my favorite) are just around the corner too.
I’m not a huge fan of cold weather but what I AM a huge fan of is curling up with a hot beverage and relaxing in front of the TV or reading a book under a blanket it.
My preferred hot beverage of choice? Homemade White Hot Chocolate!
It’s rich and decadent with a subtle chocolate flavor that’s not overpowering.
Is White Chocolate Really Chocolate?
Did you know white chocolate doesn’t actually have any chocolate in it? There are no cocoa liquors or chocolate solids in white chocolate, unlike those found in milk and dark chocolate.
Some chocolate lovers like to argue that it’s not “real” chocolate but I say it’s all a technicality and white chocolate hot chocolate is one of the best homemade hot chocolates.
PRO TIP: Even after the chocolate has melted, keeping stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn’t scald.
This White Hot Chocolate recipe is so easy to make. All you need is white chocolate chips (I prefer to splurge on the “fancier” brands), milk and vanilla extract.
Does white hot chocolate have caffeine? White chocolate does not have caffeine.
Double Batches, Make Ahead & Storage
One thing I love about this recipe is how easy it is to double, triple or even quadruple. This particular recipe makes 4 servings but can easily serve a large group of guests too.
It can be made ahead and simply reheated, but since it really just involves 3 ingredients, it isn’t much of a bother.
Homemade hot chocolate can also be frozen in individual freezer bags and thawed for a quick cup.
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
You’ll see a lot of recipes out there for slow cooker or crockpot hot chocolate and quite frankly, there is no benefit to actually cooking your hot chocolate in a slow cooker versus on the stove. In fact, it might take longer.
The only pro is the nearly 100% certainty that it won’t scald, but to do that you still need to stir it every so often.
However, if you are serving white hot chocolate at a party and want to keep it at the optimal temperature for a long period of time, feel free to keep it in a slow cooker on the “keep warm” setting.
Variations
In my opinion, homemade white chocolate hot chocolate is a great drink to serve around the holidays. It’s family-friendly and kids LOVE it, especially when you add in some hot chocolate stir sticks.
And if you want to make it not-so-kid-friendly? Both Kahlua and Irish cream taste AMAZING with white hot chocolate!
Or you can make into a Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate or Almond White Hot Chocolate with just a couple of modifications.
Can I make this recipe with milk chocolate? You sure can! Simply substitute white chocolate for milk chocolate or even dark chocolate.
Can I add other flavors? Sure! Also check out my pumpkin spice hot chocolate and almond hot chocolate. Alo try adding mint extract or peppermint extract. Really any flavor you can think of!
White chocolate with raspberry is also a fabulous combination.
Can I make white hot chocolate with almond milk? I supposed you can, but I’ve never tried it. If you do, come back and let us know how it was!
Can I use cocoa powder? This type of recipe doesn’t lend well to cocoa powder. It won’t disintegrate and will remain grainy. Instead, use real chocolate chips, the same amount.
Can I use heavy cream or whipping cream? I wouldn’t use all of either. You can use half & half though. Cream will be super heavy and probably give you a massive tummy ache!
The only cream used for this recipe should be the whipped cream on top!
More easy drink recipes:
- Wassail Hot Toddy
- Holiday Whiskey Fizz
- Red Sangria
- Hot Chocolate Cookies– might not be a drink, but you can eat your hot chocolate!
Tools:
Heavy Bottom Sauce Pan– this will be one of your most used kitchen tools. Having something that is heavy bottom will distribute heat better and prevent burning whether you are using an electric or gas range.
Ladle– The best way to get your hot chocolate out of the pan! I use plastic because metal can get too hot. Just make sure you take the ladle out because it can melt slightly.
Slow Cooker– If you are serving white hot chocolate at a party, serve it in a slow cooker. It will stay at the perfect temperature to be hot and melted without scalding.
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Homemade White Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 4 cups milk
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Toppings of Choice
- Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks
Instructions
- Heat milk in a heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat.
- Reduce to low heat and add white chocolate chips and vanilla extract, stirring until completely melted.
- Remove from heat and ladle into cups.
- Garnish with toppings of choice and hot chocolate stir sticks.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come on back and let us know how it was!
How would I make this in a slow cooker?
Hi Denise, heat the milk in the slow cooker and when warm, whisk in chocolate and vanilla. Make sure you wait until the milk is hot or else the chocolate will just sink to the bottom and burn. Enjoy!
I made this for a treat tonight using almond milk and some peppermint extract instead of vanilla and it was delicious!! Both me and my husband really enjoyed it! So good 🙂
Yay!!!! Thank you for coming back to let us know!
I just made this for Christmas Eve. It was a hit. My hubby who isn’t even a fan of hot chocolate even had a second cup. My daughter loved it as well. Thank you. I’m even tempted to try it with almond milk next time for those of us that are lactose intolerant.
Give it a try and let us know how it goes!
This was an absolutely delicious choice! Best one I’ve tried. Looking forward to many more drinks! Thank You for this recipe! I needed this!!!
Woohoo! That is what we like to hear. Happy holidays!
Delicious!
Thank you for stopping by to let us know!