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    Home » Slow Cooker

    Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

    Published: Dec 15, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    Whether you’re hosting a party or simply welcoming the kids home from school, making a batch of Crock Pot Hot Chocolate is always a good idea. Hot, creamy, and loaded with flavor, this Crock Pot Hot Chocolate recipe is super easy and practically hands free.

    Serve it for breakfast with Chocolate Butterhorn Pastry or at a Christmas Brunch for a fun and festive holiday beverage. It’s delightful with a plate of Christmas Cookies or alongside a Dessert Charcuterie Board.

    glass mugs of hot chocolate in front of small tabletop Christmas tree and a slow cooker. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs
    • More Great Bevvies
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

    Enjoy hot cocoa? Then you will really love this Crock Pot Hot Chocolate. We’ve made it several times this month and I plan to include it in our Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

    Why Make This

    It’s easy. It takes just a couple minutes to whisk together the ingredients for this Crock Pot Hot Chocolate. Then you can just walk away. This is one of the easiest slow cooker recipes you’ll ever make.

    It’s very make-ahead. It takes about two hours to bring this cocoa up to temperature, so you can easily make it before a party or even a few hours before breakfast. A stir every once in awhile is all it needs.

    It taste delicious. Similar to my Stovetop Hot Cocoa, this recipe is super tasty. The spices play really well with the chocolate and bring a little heat to the party.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you need to make Crock Pot Hot Chocolate:

    ingredients for crockpot hot chocolate laid out on black counter.

    powdered sugar – Many crockpot recipes call for sweetened condensed milk, however I find this to be way too sweet. Control the sweetness with powdered sugar instead. It dissolves easily and brings just the right amount of sweetness to your hot chocolate.

    unsweetened cocoa powder – Cocoa powder is great for bringing easy chocolate favor to the pot.

    spices – ground cinnamon and ground ginger make this such a warming beverage. You can swap in other flavors as you like. Scroll down for some hot cocoa variations.

    vanilla extract – Vanilla ia a great addition to chocolate recipes, bringing out the creaminess and reducing its bitterness.

    salt – Salt, too, plays a role in rounding out the flavors of chocolate. You don’t need much, but you’ll miss it if you omit it.

    hot water – You need just a bit of hot water to help dissolve the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. 

    milk – You can use whole milk or a lower percentage fat milk. You can also use almond milk or another plant-based milk. For added creaminess, you can add a bit of heavy whipping cream.

    toppings – Toppings are optional, but definitely make your Crockpot Hot Chocolate more fun! Offer any of the folling for toppings: whipped cream, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, shaving from a chocolate bar, mini semi sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, crushed candy canes, cinnamon sticks, or peppermint sticks.

    Variations

    There are lots of ways to tweak this recipe to suit your tastes.

    • Peppermint – Omit the spices and add peppermint extract or peppermint syrup instead.
    • Mocha – Omit the spices and add 2 scoops of instant coffee to the cocoa mixture.
    • Malt – add ¼ cup malted milk powder to the cocoa mixture.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s how to make Crock Pot Hot Chocolate:

    dry ingredients in bottom of slow cooker.
    dry ingredients whisked together in crock, with whisk.
    hot water added to dry ingredients and whisked together with whisk.
    milk added to chocolate mixture in the crock.

    In the crock of a two-quart slow cooker, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, spices, vanilla, and salt. Whisk in the hot water and stir until very smooth.

    Whisk in the milk. Cover and heat on LOW until hot, about 2 hours, stirring occasionally. 

    Serve hot with optional toppings. That’s all there is to it!

    TLDR? Watch the How to Make Crockpot Hot Chocolate web story.

    FAQs

    How do you keep hot chocolate warm for a party?

    Using a crock pot or the slow cooker function on your instant pot is a great way to keep hot chocolate warm. Just give it a stir every once in awhile to keep things mixed.

    Can you just heat chocolate milk to make hot chocolate?

    Hot chocolate is in essense, chocolate milk. However, you may want to enrich your chocolate milk with extra chocolate, either chocolate syrup or chocolate chips.

    Can you make crockpot hot chocolate ahead of time?

    You can prep this mixture in a pitcher or other container and store it in the refrigerator. Pour it into the slow cooker, give it a good stir, and heat according to the recipe.

    clear mugs of hot chocolate with toppings on white saucers, a plate of croissant in the background.

    More Great Bevvies

    • Milk Nog or Eggless Egg Nog Recipe
    • Bailey’s Iced Coffee
    • French Press Cold Brew Coffee
    • Homemade Iced Coffee

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    clear glass mug of crockpot hot chocolate on black table.
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    5 from 1 vote

    Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

    Crock Pot Hot Chocolate is a must make for cold days. Rich in flavor from cocoa and spices, it’ll warm your tummy this winter.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 176kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $3
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • slow cooker ideally 2 quart

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup powdered sugar
    • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup hot water
    • 4 cup milk
    • toppings for the cocoa whipped cream, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, etc
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • In the crock of a two-quart slow cooker, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, spices, vanilla, and salt. Whisk in the hot water and stir until very smooth.
      ¾ cup powdered sugar, ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¾ teaspoon salt, ½ cup hot water
    • Whisk in the milk. Cover and heat on LOW until hot, about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
      4 cup milk
    • Serve hot with optional toppings.
      toppings for the cocoa

    Notes

    Nutritional values are approximate and are based on ⅙ of the recipe. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and use within 4 days.
    Variations: There are lots of ways to tweak Crockpot Hot Chocolate to suit your tastes.
    • Peppermint – Omit the spices and add peppermint extract or peppermint syrup instead.
    • Mocha – Omit the spices and add 2 scoops of instant coffee to the cocoa mixture.
    • Malt – add ¼ cup malted milk powder to the cocoa mixture.
    Toppings are optional, but definitely make your Crockpot Hot Chocolate more fun! Offer any of the folling for toppings: whipped cream, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, shaving from a chocolate bar, mini semi sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, crushed candy canes, cinnamon sticks, or peppermint sticks.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 355mg | Potassium: 360mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 214mg | Iron: 1mg
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