When it’s freezing outside, stay inside and cozy up with a mug of Thick Hot Chocolate For One made with melting chocolate and not cocoa powder. Recipe can easily be doubled to serve two people.
Happy December! This will be my last post for 2017 (!!!), so I wanted to do something super easy and seasonal. But not too seasonal so we can enjoy it all winter long.
Let’s talk about hot chocolate! Not just any hot chocolate. Thick Hot Chocolate For One.
I’m tired of ordering hot chocolate and getting powdered mix.
The worst offender is a local amusement park where they made it with water. I understand it’s cheaper, but if you’re not going to offer real hot chocolate, at least use milk. I couldn’t even finish my overpriced flavored water.
Real hot chocolate is rich, thick, and creamy. It’s almost like you’re drinking a liquid chocolate bar.
On occasion when it’s late at night I’ll do a hot cocoa mix made with milk, but when I want a special treat, you can never beat this thick hot chocolate recipe for one.
Making thick hot chocolate at home means you can customize it to your tastes. Want it thinner? Add more milk. Want it darker? Use dark chocolate. Want it lighter? Use semisweet chocolate.
Although the recipe is for one serving, it can easily be doubled or even tripled. I wanted it to make it for one person in case you wanted a special treat for yourself without sharing.
The difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa is in the name.
Hot chocolate is a thick drink made from melting chocolate into milk (sometimes referred to as drinking chocolate).
Hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder, sugar, and milk.
In order to make this the best hot chocolate, you need to use high quality chocolate.
Yes, it’ll be pricey, but trust me – you’ll taste the difference. Start out with a few brands and see which one you like the best.
You’ll also want to use melting chocolate between 60% and 80% cocoa range. Under 60% and it may be too sweet. Over 80% and it may be too bitter.
Now the next question – top it with whipped cream or marshmallows?
I love homemade whipped cream on mine! Go traditional with Small Batch Homemade Whipped Cream or get creative with Peanut Butter Whipped Cream or Chocolate Whipped Cream.
If I don’t have any whipped cream on hand, I have no problem plopping a handful of marshmallows on top.
This recipe is meant to be thick and rich at 1/2 cup milk per serving. If you want it thinner and a little less rich, use 3/4 cup milk.
Thick Hot Chocolate For One
When it’s freezing outside, stay inside and cozy up with a mug of Thick Hot Chocolate For One made with melting chocolate and not cocoa powder.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk (use 3/4 cup if you want it thinner)
- 2 ounces high-quality chocolate, chopped (60%-80% cacao range)
- Homemade whipped cream (get recipe here) or marshmallows, for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat the milk until hot and bubbly but not boiling.
- Stir in the chocolate until melted.
- Bring to a boil. Cook until thickened, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat.
- Cool 5 minutes then top with whipped cream or marshmallows.
Lkeke35 says
What about those of us who can’t drink milk? I’m lactose intolerant, is milk substitute like almond milk, or soy milk a good sub.
Carla says
I haven’t personally tried it with non-dairy milk, but you should be able to use almond or even coconut.
hotchocofreak says
Find the lactose-free milk variety in your local supermarket. Cowhead is a brand that comes to mind. I’m lactose-intolerant, too, and this kind of milk works for me. Thing is, hot chocolate won’t have that creamy consistency if the milk you use isn’t whole milk. So, forget plant-based milk for this recipe. Hope this helps!
Carla says
Great tip on the milk! Definitely something to keep in my mind due to the fat content of the milk used. Canned coconut milk may also work due to the fat, but I haven’t personally tried it yet.
arj says
Silk brand soy milk is creamy and works well for a non-dairy sub in hot chocolate. There’s also a brand of oat milk that is creamy, Chobani extra creamy. Oat milk has the most neutral flavor so is good as a sub in recipes.
Carla says
Thanks for sharing! I bet this will help a lot who are asking the same question.
Jane says
What yummy, I adore it!
Photos are very beautiful.
Carla says
Thanks!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
YAAAAS-this is totally my kind of hot chocolate!!!! And I totally agree that homemade whipped cream on top is the way to go!
Carla says
Always!
Olivia Duensing says
I followed the recipe and it didn’t make that much
Carla says
It’s a recipe for one serving, so it’s not going to be a lot. It’s also rich from the chocolate so a small amount does go a long way.
Hollis Ramsey says
I am not a fan of chocolate. But I love a rich cup of hot chocolate topped with freshly whipped cream. I always whip up more cream than will fit because I am a HUGE fan of heavy cream, whether whipped or not, so I’ll be going back for seconds on the whipped cream. A half cup of milk isn’t enough for me, so I bump it up to six ounces, increasing the amount of chocolate accordingly. I have to try your peanut butter whipped cream, and I’m planning to make a brown sugar cardamom syrup because right now I’m addicted to cardamom — it’s wonderful in sweet as well as savory dishes. It would be fabulous drizzled over whipped cream in my hot chocolate! I love your insistence on full-fat milk and excellent chocolate; you’re my kind of cook!
Carla says
I think the brown sugar cardamom would go lovely in some hot chocolate with the spice. Maybe even in white hot chocolate as well.