Posted Nov 26, 2022, Updated Jun 23, 2024 I host a Christmas party every year with over 50 people. So, I created this crock pot hot chocolate recipe as the ultimate hot cocoa to serve at a large gathering! This slow cooker hot chocolate is more delicious than any powered mix. Made with two forms of chocolate, whole milk and heavy cream – it’s rich & creamy and irresistibly chocolatey. Pure chocolate decadence in drink form. In this recipe, the ingredients are cooked on high for about 1 hour. Once the chocolate is melted and sugar dissolved, the mixture is kept warm in the slow cooker. This way, guests can enjoy the warm slow cooker hot chocolate throughout the party.
Crock Pot Hot Chocolate: Ingredients & Substitutions
Whole milk. Technically 2% milk would work in this recipe. However, for the creamiest hot chocolate I recommend using whole. Heavy cream. Half and half is an acceptable substitute for heavy cream. Granulated sugar. white sugar, organic cane sugar and honey all work well to sweeten the recipe. Semisweet chocolate. I use chocolate chips to make this recipe easy to make. You can chop your favorite chocolate bars, just be sure to use 10 oz. Any chocolate variety works well – milk, semisweet, dark, or even white chocolate! Vanilla extract. vanilla bean paste or the seeds from one vanilla bean are good substitutes.
How to Make Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
I love this slow cooker hot chocolate recipe because it’s easy to make and is the best to serve to party guests. We’ll walk through the process step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video. Begin by adding the ingredients in the order listed to the container of a 5-quart slow cooker. Whisk to combine. I suggest whisking the cocoa powder into the liquid before adding the chocolate chips. Next, cook the mixture on high, whisking occasionally (every 15-20 minutes or so) until the sugar is dissolved and the chocolate chips are melted (about 1 hour). Once the hot chocolate is warm and smooth, turn the crock pot to low or warm until it’s time to serve. Alternately, you can warm it on low for longer, still whisking occasionally. I like to melt the ingredients quickly, which is why I choose to cook it on high then switch to warm.
Serve
I use a stainless steel ladle to serve the crockpot hot chocolate. If you’re hosting a large gathering, set out mugs or heat-proof cups and put the ladle on a spoon rest next to the crockpot. Then guests can serve themselves hot chocolate whenever they want to enjoy it! I like to leave bowls of toppings next to the crock pot for guests to enjoy. I recommend homemade whipped cream and homemade marshmallows!
Store
Store leftovers in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. Sometimes I even use leftovers to put in my coffee in the morning! If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
