As with hot chocolate, use any milky liquid you prefer, whether it's from a cow, nuts (almond milk), beans (soy milk), or grains (rice milk). For sweeteners, feel free to substitute maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar for sugar, but start with less, about 1 tablespoon, and taste the combination before adding more.

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What you’ll need

Vanilla Extract
$20 At Amazon
Kosher Salt
$12 $11 At Amazon
Silicone Spatula
$10 At Amazon

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 to 2 tablespoons sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)

Pinch of salt

1 cup milk or any combination of milk, half-and-half, or cream

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Step 1
Whisk together the cocoa, sugar, salt, and about 2 tablespoons milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until cocoa and sugar are dissolved. Whisk in the rest of the milk and heat it over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until it is hot. Stir in the vanilla and serve.
Step 2
If you like it frothy, blend it in the blender.
Step 3
This recipe multiplies easily. When you get up to a quart of milk, use ¼ teaspoon salt.

Leave a Review

Reviews (115)

It's so hilarious many of the negative reviews either didn't realize this recipe is designed for you to make it to your personal taste or didn't follow the instructions and then didn't like the results. Another it's very clear the author has a serious health issue with one of the ingredients which would result of they consumed ingredient no matter what they made using it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this combination of ingredients it's a typical, normal, everyday hot cocoa recipe using typical, normal, everyday ingredients.
- Anonymous
- San Diego
- 8/15/2023
I added a pinch of cinnamon and coffee just to heighten/intensify the flavor, tastes amazing!!!!
- Anonymous
- 7/18/2023
I love this. Simple and wonderful. I use just over 1 tablespoon of sugar. Don't leave out the tiny bit of vanilla. Will make many times. Thanks!
- Anonymous
- Vienna, VA
- 11/6/2022
i made this at home and i loved it
- Anonymous
- abingdon va
- 10/28/2022
I added a couple squares of 70% chocolate and halfway through drinking, I decided to blend it again with a banana. Very nice but I'd add less dark chocolate and two bananas at the start if I did it again
- Anonymous
- Skibbereen, Cork
- 6/11/2022
Love this recipe. Sharing on my page.
- ItzMa
- Oshawa, Ontario
- 3/24/2022
Jane Farticia, thanks for the tip! 😉
- Stephanie Matto
- Bean Town, USA
- 2/28/2022
it tastes exactly like the hot chocolate we had when we went to the Polar Express soooooo good!!!!!
- sav
- boston,ma
- 2/13/2022
I made this for my daughter. It seemed to only need one tablespoon of sugar and 1/2 Tablespoon of cocoa, but she prefers milk chocolate. For me, 1 1/2 Tablespoons of cocoa is good.
- Kara
- Bethesda, MD
- 2/3/2022
First time making hot cocoa using cocoa powder. This is DELICIOUS! Thanks for the recipe.
- Jean Evansmore
- West Virginia
- 1/29/2022
Definitely recommend 👌it's delicious. I've tried all the 5 stars recipes they ate very complicated and not delicious but yours is amazing keep the great work. Robin
- Anonymous
- Lebanon
- 1/24/2022
Simple, quick, and satisfying. I like it best using only 1 Tablespoon of sugar, whole milk, and a swirl of whipped cream on top.
- Teresa
- Flint, Michigan
- 1/17/2022
Very underwhelming. Needs lots of adjustments. Basically just double the ingredients.
- Raven
- 1/16/2022
not just GREAT and SIMPLE, but VERY "adjustable". BTW excellent to make in a milk "frother"
- Anonymous
- too many to list
- 1/15/2022
I love that this is so easy! My son loves it, and I feel good about the ingredients!
- Janaki
- Rockville, MD
- 1/8/2022