10 Decadent Hot Chocolate Recipes

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

With these delicious recipes, making hot chocolate from scratch will be so easy to do at home. Get tips on how to make delicious hot chocolates, from peppermint to matcha green tea!

Six hot chocolates in glass mugs.

Want to save this article?

Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, get recipes & tips every week!

Save Recipe

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate is a drink made of chocolate and milk. The combination is good as is, but to make it delicious and decadent, it’s all in the details like using high-quality cocoa powder.

There’s caffeine in chocolate so there’s caffeine in hot chocolate, but not a lot. In a 10 ounce hot chocolate, there’s about 20 mg of caffeine. That’s much less than a cup of coffee, which has about 240 mg caffeine.

If you’re looking for a caffeine-free hot chocolate, make white hot chocolate. It’s made with cocoa butter and contains absolutely no caffeine.

10 Hot Chocolate Recipes

1. Hot Chocolate

For a classic hot chocolate, follow this simple recipe. It uses just 2 ingredients — chocolate syrup and whole milk — making it perfect for chocolate purists.
You can use store-bought or homemade chocolate syrup. If possible, make the syrup yourself because it will taste so much better.
The drink is also topped off with a generous cloud of homemade whipped cream, making it even more decadent and rich.
Once you've made this basic hot chocolate recipe, you can easily make different versions by adding other ingredients and toppings.
Ingredients: Milk, chocolate syrup, heavy cream, sugar, salt
HOT CHOCOLATE

2. Peppermint Hot Chocolate

This Peppermint Hot Chocolate is a Starbucks copycat recipe. It's made just like the real thing.
A cold weather favorite, hot chocolate meets peppermint in this tasty drink. Make the chocolate and peppermint syrups ahead of time and your drink comes together in 7 minutes, including the whipped cream.
The shaved chocolate is an optional garnish, but add it if you can. It will give flavor and richness to your beverage.
Ingredients: 2% milk, chocolate sauce, peppermint syrup, heavy cream, vanilla syrup, shaved chocolate
PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE

3. Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

This hot chocolate recipe is flavored with toffee nut syrup, just like the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate at Starbucks.
Toffee nut syrup adds a sweet and salty taste that pairs so well with chocolate.
The drink is topped with homemade whipped cream, caramel sauce, salt, and turbinado sugar, making it even richer.
Ingredients: 2% milk, chocolate sauce, toffee nut syrup, heavy cream, vanilla syrup, caramel sauce, turbinado sugar, sea salt
SALTED CARAMEL HOT CHOCOLATE

4. Mexican Hot Chocolate

If you enjoy warm and spicy flavors, make this Mexican hot chocolate. Ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, and cayenne pepper add depth to the drink.
This version uses chocolate syrup, so it's sweeter than traditional Mexican hot chocolate. Use homemade chocolate syrup if possible.
For the creamiest beverage, whole milk is the best choice, but other types of milk will do.
Don't forget to add some salt, which will balance the sweetness in the drink.
Ingredients: Milk, chocolate sauce, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground cayenne pepper, heavy cream, sugar, salt
MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

5. Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate

Cinnamon and white chocolate make this snickerdoodle hot chocolate a perfect cozy cold weather drink. It takes just 5 minutes to make.
The recipe calls for cinnamon syrup, which is simple enough to make at home. All you need is cinnamon, brown sugar, and water.
Also, white chocolate chips are used for the white chocolate flavor. Use a high-quality product for the best taste.
Since white chocolate isn't true chocolate, this drink doesn't contain any caffeine. This makes it a good option if you're sensitive to caffeine or craving a tasty nighttime drink.
Ingredients: Milk, white chocolate, cinnamon syrup, heavy cream, sugar, cinnamon sugar
SNICKERDOODLE HOT CHOCOLATE

6. White Hot Chocolate

A caffeine-free drink, this recipe is a copycat of the white hot chocolate at Starbucks.
It's made with white chocolate sauce, which gives the drink a sweet taste. You can also use sweetened condensed milk for a similar flavor profile.
The Starbucks version uses 2% milk, though you're welcome to use your favorite milk, including non-dairy ones.
Ingredients: Heavy cream, vanilla syrup, 2% milk, white chocolate sauce
WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE

7. Earl Grey Hot Chocolate

If you love thick, European-style hot chocolate that's basically a melted down chocolate bar, this is for you.
It's made with Earl Grey tea, a black tea flavored with bergamot, a citrus fruit. The tea adds a delicious bright flavor.
The recipe also calls for heavy cream and chopped dark chocolate, making the beverage delightfully rich.
Ingredients: Milk, heavy cream, dark chocolate, Earl Grey tea sachets, sugar, salt, heavy cream, sugar
EARL GREY HOT CHOCOLATE

8. Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino

This Frappuccino is a frozen hot chocolate and it's the perfect drink for chocolate lovers. There's no coffee in this drink.
Top it off with homemade whipped cream, and you have a refreshing iced drink that's perfect for warm days.
Ingredients: Milk, ice, chocolate syrup, dark chocolate bar, Frappuccino base syrup, heavy cream, vanilla syrup
DOUBLE CHOCOLATY CHIP FRAPPUCCINO

9. Matcha Hot Chocolate

The next time you need a cozy pick me up, make a matcha hot chocolate. This pretty green drink is creamy, sweet, and simple.
Ready in just 6 minutes, this beverage is made with white chocolate, which complements the flavor of matcha.
Avoid using pre-sweetened matcha, which will make your drink overly sweet. Look for an unsweetened matcha within the $20 – $30 price range.
Ingredients: Milk, white chocolate, matcha, honey, salt, toasted marshmallow
MATCHA HOT CHOCOLATE

10. Hojicha Hot Chocolate

Made with hojicha tea and white chocolate, this simple drink is made with just 6 ingredients.
Hojicha is a type of roasted Japanese tea. It's a green tea, but the roasting process makes it brown and nutty.
The drink can be made with any type of milk, including non-dairy versions. You're also welcome to use maple syrup instead of honey to make it vegan.
Ingredients: Milk, white chocolate, hojicha loose tea, honey, vanilla extract, toasted mini marshmallows
HOJICHA HOT CHOCOLATE

10 Decadent Hot Chocolate Recipes

Author: Jee Choe
Make hot chocolate from scratch with these decadent recipes like this classic, homemade Hot Chocolate below.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 6 minutes
Total Time 6 minutes
Course Drinks
Yield1 serving (16 ounces)

INGREDIENTS
 

Hot Chocolate

  • 1 ½ cups milk (any kind)
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup + more for drizzle

Whipped Cream Topping

  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • pinch salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Classic Hot Chocolate

  • Whisk heavy cream, sugar, and salt to make whipped cream. Set aside.
    Use a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream in seconds. Whip until soft peaks form.
  • Combine milk and chocolate syrup in a saucepan. Simmer chocolate and milk on low heat for 4 minutes.
    Don't let it come to a boil. Stir occasionally.
  • Pour hot chocolate into a mug. Top drink with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

NUTRITION

Calories: 541 | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 184mg | Potassium: 695mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 1468IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 495mg | Iron: 1mg

2 thoughts on “10 Decadent Hot Chocolate Recipes”

  1. Best hot chocolate I ever had was something I invented on a whim one day. Just take a small handful of fun size 3 Musketeers bars and melt them into some milk and stir. That’s it! The nougat, it whatever you call it, gives it a nice lightly malted flavor and adds to the creaminess. So good.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

RATE THE RECIPE: