Name: Perfect Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 84 grams dark or semisweet chocolate, melted; 1 cup whole milk; 1 cup heavy cream; 2 wide strips or orange zest; 2 cinnamon sticks; 50 grams light brown sugar; Pinch of salt; 1/4 tsp peppermint extract ((optional)); 3 tbsp Baileys Irish Cream ((optional) (approx. 1 shot))

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Hot chocolate is great, but we want more. We want it creamy. We want it to have body. We want it deeply chocolate-y. We want it to literally deliver the warmth of the holidays in beverage form. This hot chocolate is all of that, and more. This version is made with all real melted chocolate, giving it a deep, velvety flavor that goes way beyond anything from a mix.

This is my perfect hot chocolate, based on a blend of both milk and cream to give the drink more body. The texture is luxuriously smooth, thick without being too heavy, and perfectly balanced in sweetness. Subtle notes of cinnamon and orange elevate it from your every day hot chocolate, and you can customize it with peppermint, Baileys, or simply a dollop of whipped cream depending on your mood.

Best of all, it comes together in minutes using simple pantry ingredients. It’s cozy, comforting, and exactly the kind of treat you’ll want to sip all winter long.

Why You’ll LOVE This Hot Chocolate

Real melted chocolate creates a deeper, more luxurious taste than any mix
Perfect texture balance—smooth, warm, and just thick enough to feel indulgent without being heavy
Comes together in minutes with basic ingredients you already have
Easily customizable—add peppermint, extra cinnamon, or Baileys to suit any mood or season

Here’s what you’ll need:

Kitchen staples – Milk, cream, brown sugar
Chocolate – Good quality dark or semisweet chocolate (don’t use chocolate chips for this)
Orange zest – We’re talking wide strips—the kind you get from a peeler, not a zester!
Cinnamon sticks – This will add a subtle spice background note
Festive mug – Okay, maybe not a need, but what better way to get cozy while drinking your hot chocolate?

Hot Chocolate Tips

Selecting your chocolate. “I’ve got chocolate chips in the pantry!”…and that’s where they’ll stay for this recipe! Joking aside, you can use chocolate chips in a pinch, but we want to use high quality dark or semisweet chocolate, as this will be the primary flavor for the hot chocolate. I used Ghirardelli 70% dark chocolate bars when developing the recipe, but anything in the 55%-75% range would work well.

Infusing your base. Waiting is no fun, but don’t rush this bit! We want to let the flavors from the orange zest and cinnamon sticks enrich our milk-cream base, which takes a little time—at least 30 minutes.

How to make this hot chocolate:

Heat your milk and cream just to a simmer and infuse with zest and cinnamon.
Reheat and whisk in melted chocolate, followed by brown sugar and salt.
Add any other flavorings/additions, and then immediately pour into mugs to serve.
Top with whipped cream, marshmallows, shaved chocolate, and/or peppermint sticks, and enjoy!

FAQ

Most dark or semisweet chocolate bars work well here. Look for something listed as between 55%-75%.

For flavor, yes, and I highly recommend it. If you skip this step, the milk-cream base will lack much of the orange and cinnamon notes that add complexity to the hot chocolate. Of course, if you prefer a simpler hot chocolate, you can skip past this step without issue.

The hot chocolate can be made up to 3 days ahead of time, stored in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to serve, gently reheat in a pot while stirring continuously.

Shop The Tools I Use

Kitchen scale: https://amzn.to/48OrR0f
Y-peeler: https://amzn.to/4qGHBZP
Wire whisk set: https://amzn.to/3Jy5bqS
Mesh strainer set: https://amzn.to/4nupOSA
3-Quart sauce pan: https://amzn.to/49rxq4W

“Get this away from me, or I will drink the whole thing.” – Hari J.

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Ingredients

84 grams dark or semisweet chocolate, melted
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 wide strips or orange zest
2 cinnamon sticks
50 grams light brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1/4 tsp peppermint extract (optional)
3 tbsp Baileys Irish Cream (optional) (approx. 1 shot)

Instructions

Add whole milk, heavy cream, orange zest, and cinnamon sticks to a medium pot over medium heat. Heat until just simmering, stirring occasionally.
Take pot off heat, cover with lid or plastic wrap, and let infuse for 30 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon or strainer, remove orange zest and cinnamon sticks. Place the pot back onto medium heat until warm.
Whisk in melted chocolate and then light brown sugar and salt. Optional: Whisk in peppermint extract and/or Baileys Irish Cream.
Serve immediately in a cozy mug topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, and/or a peppermint stick. Enjoy!

Notes

* This recipe is written to yield 2 servings, but it can easily be doubled/tripled/etc. for larger batches!

* You can adjusted the amount of light brown sugar added if you prefer more or less sweetness for your hot chocolate.

Did you make this recipe?

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