This rich and creamy Chocolate Chips Hot Chocolate is a unique and satisfying way to savor the sweet taste of chocolate. With just two simple ingredients and no cocoa powder, the chocolate chips blend together perfectly to create a smooth and velvety texture that will leave you craving for more.
Plus, it's easily customizable, so you use your favorite type of chocolate and add different toppings, like marshmallows or whipped cream, to take your hot chocolate to the next level.
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I don't know a single person who doesn't put the concepts of winter and hot chocolate together. When the temperature drops, our bodies crave the comfort of a hot and creamy beverage, and nothing quite hits the spot like a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
Unlike my more traditional Cocoa Powder Hot Chocolate, this hot chocolate recipe is made with real chocolate, offering a smooth and indulgent taste sensation that's perfect for any chocolate lover.
What's also great is that this recipe can be customized based on your favorite milk. Whether you're a fan of Oat Milk Hot Chocolate like me, or you prefer one of the many other delicious plant-based milk options out there, this recipe can be easily adapted to your liking.
So go ahead and get creative, because the possibilities are endless when it comes to making this recipe your own.
Why you'll love this recipe
- It's healthier than instant hot chocolate packets; preservative and added sugar-free.
- Making hot chocolate with chocolate chips delivers a velvety texture and a deeply rich taste. It's a pretty indulgent recipe and a real treat.
- Customizable; you can add flavors to it and toppings.
- Convenient; the ingredients are super accessible from any grocery store.
- A quick and easy-to-make treat, this recipe can be whipped up after a meal and served as dessert.
Ingredients & substitution notes
- Chocolate Chips: you can really use any kind of chocolate chips: I love dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips but you can also use milk chocolate chips or even white ones. Choose vegan or dairy-free chocolate chips for a dairy-free version. You can really make this your own.
- Milk of Choice: the same goes for the milk. Use regular milk or a dairy-free milk such as soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, coconut milk, macadamia or almond milk - the options are endless. Milk with higher fat content will result in a creamier hot chocolate.
See recipe card for quantities.
What type of chocolate chips are best
For this hot chocolate to turn out perfect, I highly recommend choosing high-quality chocolate.
High-quality chocolate chips are made with high-quality ingredients, such as real vanilla, pure cocoa butter, and high-quality milk (if used).
Typically, a good quality-dark chocolate will contain 70% or more cocoa solids while a milk chocolate contains a little less. Usually, it's also a good sign if the chocolate has very little ingredients.
My favorite chocolate chips to use in this recipes are the semi-sweet, dark chocolate chips from Callebaut with 54,5% cocoa solids. Other popular brands which often contain little ingredients include Guittard, Ghirardelli or Hersheys.
How to make hot chocolate with chocolate chips
This simple homemade hot chocolate comes together in only 2 quick steps.
STEP 1: Heat your milk gently over a low-medium heat. Don't allow it to boil.
STEP 2: Stir or whisk in your chocolate chips until they have dissolved completely and you have a smooth consistency. Serve with toppings of your choice.
Top tips
- High-Quality Chocolate Chips: My favorite chocolate chips to use in this recipes are the semi-sweet, dark chocolate chips from Callebaut with 54,5% cocoa solids. Other popular, high-quality brands which often contain little ingredients would be Guittard, Ghirardelli or Hersheys.
- Don't boil the milk or it might burn. It should simmer gently while heating up.
- Stir constantly using a whisk to ensure that the chocolate is evenly melted and silky.
- Play around with the flavors by using this recipe as a base to create your own winter magic.
Variations
- Dairy-free/ Vegan: choose vegan chocolate chips and a plant based milk or try my Oat Milk Hot Chocolate recipe.
- Type of Chocolate: use your favorite type of chocolate chips such as milk, dark or white to create your preferred flavors.
- Adjust Sweetness: add less chocolate chips or add additional sweetener of your choice. Maple syrup or a dash of brown sugar can sweeten things up while using unsweetened almond milk can lower the sweet notes at the end.
Add-ins ideas
- Peppermint: add in a few drops of peppermint essence or sprinkle in a few crushed candy canes for a Christmas feel.
- Vanilla: add a splash of vanilla extract.
- Caramel: Aadd in a tablespoon of my Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce for the yummiest treat.
- Spices: a sprinkle of chai or cinnamon powder. Cardamon and chocolate are a lovely combo too so pop a few split pods into the pot as you heat the milk. Don't forget to strain them out at the end.
- Alcohol: for a boozy drink, add a splash of rum or whiskey to the hot milk.
- Coffee: add in a shot of espresso and a teaspoon of orange zest.
- Orange Zest: some grated orange zest is lovely with chocolate, try this with white chocolate chips.
- Pinch of salt
Toppings
Raise this hot chocolate to the next level by adding your favorite toppings!
- Homemade whipped cream such as my Vegan Whipped Cream
- Mini marshmallows
- Grated chocolate or cocoa nibs
- Crushed candy canes and edible glitter
- Orange peel or zest - poach them in a little sugar syrup if you want to be extra fancy.
- Crumbled Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pairing suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this homemade hot chocolate:
Either alongside some delicious breakfast:
or mouthwatering desserts:
Storage
- To store: You can store your leftover hot chocolate in the fridge in a sealed mason jar or airtight container for a day.
- To reheat: When you're ready to reheat it, pop into in the microwave using a microwave-safe mug or heat it gently on the stove using a small saucepan.
FAQ
You can heat the milk on low heat in the microwave in a microwave safe mug. You'll need to check it every few minutes and possible seconds so that it doesn't boil and overflow.
Yes, but you'll need to chop the chocolate bar up into pieces first. Thereafter, treat it just like chocolate chips.
You can use any but keep in mind that the higher the fat content of the milk, the creamier your hot chocolate will be. Also, certain types of milk are sweeter than others (eg. oat milk is sweeter than almond or soy milk), so take that into consideration when choosing a milk.
Yes, technically you can but it won't be as creamy as one made with milk, and also a little less sweet so you might want to add a few more chocolate chips.
Yes, you can use cream but it will be very rich, so be prepared.
More recipes
Looking for other warm drink recipes? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chips Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup (230 ml) milk of choice
- ¼ cup (45 g) chocolate chips *see notes
Instructions
- Heat milk in a saucepan over medium to low heat until hot but not boiling.1 cup milk of choice
- Add the chocolate chips and whisk until fully dissolved.¼ cup chocolate chips
- Taste and adjust sweetness by adding more chocolate chips or another sweetener of choice. Add optional add-ins and enjoy!
Video
Notes
-
- High-Quality Chocolate Chips: My favorite chocolate chips to use in this recipes are the semi-sweet, dark chocolate chips from Callebaut with 54,5% cocoa solids. Other popular, high-quality brands which often contain little ingredients would be Guittard, Ghirardelli or Hersheys.
- Dairy-free/ Vegan: choose vegan chocolate chips and a plant based milk or try my Oat Milk Hot Chocolate recipe.
- Don't boil the milk or it might burn. It should simmer gently while heating up.
- Stir constantly using a whisk to ensure that the chocolate is evenly melted and silky.
- Play around with the flavors by using this recipe as a base to create your own winter magic.
Teresa Berry says
Could I use carob chips instead of chocolate chips?
Katie Roux says
Hi Teresa... the only tricky thing with carob is that it doesn't melt as easily as chocolate but it might be worth a try!