This white hot chocolate is luxuriously creamy and sweet, made with real white chocolate, milk, and vanilla for a café-style sip at home. Warm gently (don’t boil), melt until silky then load it up with whipped cream, sprinkles, or hot chocolate stir sticks.
Why You’ll Love Homemade White Hot Chocolate
A hot drink that’s full of vanilla flavor with the perfect creamy consistency- what’s not to love!
- Great for the holiday season – This delicious drink will warm you to the core, and can certainly be dressed up with peppermint candies to ring in the holiday cheer.
- Only 3 ingredients – With milk, white chips and vanilla, you have all you need to make this favorite white chocolate recipe.
- Easy to customize – This is a very basic recipe that can be modified and dressed up to create your own hot white chocolate. Think peppermint, caramel or mocha twists.
Recipe Essentials- Only 3 Ingredients!
You only need three simple ingredients to make this easy white hot chocolate that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
- White chocolate – Use a good quality chocolate which can be white chocolate chips or bar chocolate. It does best when added in smaller pieces.
- Milk– Whole milk is certianly the best choice for richness. Alternative milks like oat milk, almond milk or even soy milk can also be used. Pick flavors like vanilla to take the flavor up a notch.
- Vanilla Extract– We use vanilla extract because the kiddos like it, but if I am making it for adults, use vanilla bean paste or swap it out for other extracts or flavorings. Peppermint, almond or even rum is fun. For a boozy drink, give it a quick pour of bourbon.
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.
- Alcohol – And if you want to make it not-so-kid-friendly? Both Kahlua and Irish cream taste AMAZING with white hot chocolate!
- Change the flavor – Or you can make into a Almond White Hot Chocolate or even peppermint with just a touch of almond extract or peppermint extract
- Mocha hot chocolate – Dissolve 1 teaspoon of instant espresso in the hot milk before adding chocolate.
- Hot chocolate bar – Make it into a hot chocolate bar so friends can build their own creation.
- Toppings – Top your whipped cream with white chocolate mocha sauce, regular white chocolate sauce, easy caramel sauce, mini marshmallows, a white chocolate bar or fudge.
- Grinch Style– Make this into a Grinch Hot Chocolate with a little food coloring. Both yellow and green make the perfect Grinch color.
Slow Cooker White Hot Cocoa
This recipe can be made or kept warm in a slow cooker for parties. Here is how to do it:
- Prep the chocolate– Finely chop your white chocolate bar or use chips. The smaller the pieces, the smoother it melts. (Yes, this still matters in a slow cooker.)
- Add everything to the slow cooker– the milk, chocolate and vanilla. Give it a whisk to avoid clumping at the bottom.
- Cook low and slow– Cover and cook on LOW for 1½–2 hours, whisking every 30 minutes. You’re looking for the chocolate to be completely melted and the mixture to be steaming hot but not boiling.
- Whisk until silky– Once the chocolate is melted, whisk well to make it smooth and glossy. Taste and adjust: add a bit more chocolate for richer, a splash more milk if it’s too thick.
- Switch to WARM for serving– Turn the slow cooker to WARM and keep it there for up to about 2 hours. Stir occasionally so it doesn’t form a skin or get weird around the edges.
- Serve with all the fun stuff– Ladle into mugs and top with whipped cream, marshmallows, crushed candy canes, caramel, fudge sauce—go wild.
Test Kitchen Tips
Although it’s quite easy, I’ve tested this white hot chocolate recipe several times to bring you the best tips and tricks.
- Chop chocolate finely – The finer your chocolate it chopped, the faster it will melt and lumps will be prevented.
- Too thick? If your white hot chocolate is a little too thick to sip, try adding a few tablespoons of whole milk or heavy cream.
- Too thin? If you’d like to thicken the mixture a bit, try adding more melted white chocolate and whisking.
- Double it – 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.
Commonly Asked Questions
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.
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!
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. It is actually made from cocoa butter so it has a very different flavor profile.
More Easy Drink Recipes
When the weather turns cold and snow is falling, these are my favorite drinks to cozy up with.
White Hot Chocolate (Creamy 3-Ingredient Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup white chocolate , if using a bar, finely chop
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Toppings of Choice
- Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks
Instructions
- Heat the 4 cups whole milk in a heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat, but do not boil.
- Reduce to low heat and add the 1 cup white chocolate and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, stirring until completely melted. Do not let the mixture boil, the chocolate will settle to the bottom and scald.
- Remove from heat and ladle into cups while hot.
- Garnish with toppings of choice and whipped cream.
- If you've tried this recipe, come on back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Can I add espresso or coffee to this?
Sure can! That sounds delicious!
Delicious! Made this several times last winter; a perfect compliment to my favorite season. Also went great with my winter cupcakes.
I’m making christmas gifts and would love to have a instant mix version of this, Great christmas gift with no added sugars, it looks delicious and can’t wait to try it. Thank you so much for the recipe.
Turned out perfect!
Delicious! I love live white chocolate and this recipe did not disappoint! And the peppermint whipping cream was the peppermint on top!
Best white cocoa. My kids beg for it every christmas morning. One year i didnt make it and i never hears the end of it. My husband splashes in a little kaluha in his mug to kick off the day. This cocoa is a holiday tradition! Thanks.
Yay! Love to hear that and I like your husband’s style 🙂