When it’s cold outside, warm yourself up with a mug of this crazy rich and chocolatey Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate made with half and half, heavy cream, chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, and unsweetened cocoa.
Hot Cocoa is a childhood favorite of mine. My grandmother used to make it for me on the stove top using a packet of instant hot chocolate (with the mini-dried marshmallows, of course), and she would add a little bit of warm whole milk to make it richer than just adding water. I had the best grandma. Now that I am older and like to entertain around the holidays, make Christmas traditions, and stay cozy over the winter, it is time to come up with my way of making hot chocolate that people can serve using a crock pot.
My Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate is some of the best and richest hot cocoa. It has unsweetened cocoa powder and real chocolate simultaneously, making this hot chocolate recipe even more decadent. You don’t need to add sugar because the sweetened condensed milk is plenty sweet. You throw everything in a slow cooker, set it on low or high depending on how quickly you need it to be ready, and you’re ready to go.
Make a Hot Chocolate Bar
One thing I do when I make this recipe is I lay out different toppings that people tend to love on their hot chocolate, such as:
- Bailey’s
- Pirouettes
- Marshmallows
- Candy Canes
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Chopped Chocolate
- Ice Cream, even!
I’m sure there are other toppings you guys can think of, but these are my typical go-to favorites. So this holiday season, when you’re craving something hot and chocolate, try my Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate, which will easily become an annual favorite!
Commonly Asked Questions
Yes! I have used coconut milk to replace the half-and-half and vegan sweetened condensed milk. It tastes great!
Once the hot cocoa is warm, thick, and creamy, I would only keep the hot chocolate in the crock pot for an additional 4 hours if it last that long. The longer it stays in the crock pot, the thicker it will continue to get. You may have to add more milk periodically.
Can I use a different type of chocolate?
Yep! Instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips, you can use milk chocolate chips. You can also use dark chocolate for a deeper chocolate flavor.
Similar Recipes
If you like this easy hot chocolate recipe, you will like the recipes below:
- Easy Hot Chocolate Recipe
- The Best Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe
- Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Chocolate Mint Cookies
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 mins
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
Throw your ingredients in a Slow Cooker and watch the magic happen. This Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate is warm, chocolatey, and rich. Top off with whipped cream and large marshmallows for a complete treat.
Ingredients
- 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 c. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 5 c. Half and Half
- 1 1/2 c. whipping cream
- 4 oz. Semi-Sweet baking chocolate, chopped
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. espresso powder (or instant coffee)
- Pinch of Salt
Instructions
- Place the slow cooker on low and allow to sit for 10 minutes to get warm. Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and whisk cocoa powder to blend.
- Next, pour in the half and half and whipping cream. Using a whisk and mix the ingredients.
- Add the baking chocolate, vanilla extract, and espresso powder. Stir occasionally and allow to cook for at least an hour and a half. Serve with whipped cream and chocolate syrup
Notes
Create a hot chocolate bar by laying out fun toppings like marshmallows, peppermint sticks, whipped cream, chocolate chips, caramel topping, and whatever makes you happy.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 mins
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: hot chocolate, slow cooker hot chocolate, hot chocolate recipe, hot chocolate in a slow cooker, crockpot hot chocolate, hot chocolate
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