Description
Bring that famously thick, sip-worthy hot chocolate home. This version uses rich dairy, good cocoa, and sweetened condensed milk so the drink comes out velvety and decadent — close to the park classic without the lines.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chocolate Base
- 2–3 cups whole milk
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup good-quality cocoa powder (Dutch-processed if available)
- 1–2 tbsp finely grated milk chocolate (or mini chips)
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract
For finishing
- Fresh whipped cream
- A pinch of ground cinnamon
- Chocolate curls or shavings (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the dairy: Combine the whole milk and heavy cream in the saucepan and heat over medium until the liquid is steaming and small bubbles form at the edges. Do not allow it to boil.
- Make a smooth chocolate paste: In the small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder with about ½ cup of the warm milk until it becomes a lump-free paste. Stir in the grated chocolate.
- Bring it together: Pour the chocolate paste back into the saucepan while whisking. Add the sweetened condensed milk and the vanilla. Keep whisking until everything is fully integrated and glossy.
- Thicken gently: Lower the heat and let the mixture simmer very gently for 3–5 minutes, stirring often, until it reaches a spoon-coating consistency. If it becomes too thick, thin with a splash of warm milk.
- Serve: Ladle into mugs, top with whipped cream, dust with cinnamon, and finish with chocolate shavings if you like. Best enjoyed immediately while hot.
Notes
- Yield & Notes
- Makes about 2–4 servings depending on cup size.
- Leftovers: Store in a sealed container in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat slowly on the stove over low heat, whisking and adding a little milk if needed. Avoid microwaving (it can separate).
- To scale up: Multiply ingredients proportionally and follow the same gentle heating and whisking technique.
- Nutrition (approx. per 1-cup serving)
- Calories ~385 • Carbs ~48 g • Protein ~12 g • Fat ~18 g (Saturated ~11 g) • Cholesterol ~55 mg • Sodium ~165 mg • Fiber ~3 g • Sugar ~44 g
- Pro tips
- Use top-notch cocoa and a real chocolate bar for grating; quality makes a noticeable difference.
- If you prefer a thinner drink, use 3 cups milk and only ¼ cup cream. For ultra-luxury, increase the cream to 1 cup.
- For a vegan or dairy-free version, swap to full-fat oat or coconut milk, coconut cream, and a dairy-free sweetened condensed milk; you may need a touch more cocoa to boost the chocolate flavor.