Learn how to make hot chocolate using chocolate chips. It only needs three additional ingredients to make it super delicious!
Want to upgrade from your hot cocoa from a packet? This easy hot chocolate recipe is made with real chocolate for a rich and delicious drink. It’s so cozy!
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
Video: Hot Chocolate With Real Chocolate Or With Cocoa Powder
What Kind Of Chocolate To Use
Hot chocolate made with real chocolate can’t be beat! You can use whatever kind of chocolate chips you like. I prefer dark chocolate so I go with those. If you like a sweeter, creamier hot chocolate, then try milk chocolate chips.
If you don’t have chocolate chips, use baking chocolate and finely chop it. You can also make this amazing Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate recipe with real chocolate.
How To Heat Milk
All you do to make this hot chocolate is to pour milk into a microwave-safe mug and then microwave it until very hot. For one mug, it usually takes a minute to a minute and a half for me. You can microwave in 30 second bursts if you’re not sure. You want it hot but not boiling.
If the handles of your mugs tend to get too hot to hold comfortably, heat the milk in a glass measuring cup. Then you can pour the hot milk into your mug to make the hot chocolate recipe.
If you’re making several mugs, you can also heat the milk on the stovetop. Just pour the amount of milk needed into a saucepan and warm over medium heat. Keep an eye on it though! It should be hot and steaming but not boiling, and you’ll want to stir occasionally so that it doesn’t start to burn.
Scoop in the chocolate chips and some sugar into your warmed milk to make the hot chocolate. Stir until it’s smooth. Drink!
More Chocolatey Recipes
If you love this delicious chocolate recipe, try one of these next.
Podcast Episode: Making Hot Chocolate
Listen to learn how to make this recipe, along with some great tips from Christine:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Easy Hot Chocolate with Real Chocolate
This is the real deal. No hot chocolate mixes here!
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Microwave
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 2 Tbsp. chocolate chips
- 1 tsp. granulated sugar
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- In mug, add milk and heat in microwave until hot but not boiling ( 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds).
- Add chocolate chips and sugar to the mug. Stir together until the chocolate is melted and very well mixed. Add a pinch of salt and stir.
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This post originally appeared in December 2015 and was revised and republished in October 2024.
So easy! Tastes delicious! You can use any kind of chocolate as well! 10/10 would recommend!
Thank you, Mia! I love this one.
wow!! amazing recipe, wanted to drink something sweet and warm and this was perfect! thanks for sharing 🤗🤗
You’re welcome, Anabelle! So happy you loved it.
Tasted amazing love the recipe
Thank you, Isabelle!
I was craving hot chocolate and realized I ran out of the powder mix and also had no more cocoa powder! So I went on google and found your recipe, it came out delicious and one of the best and easiest hot chocolates I ever tried! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Isabella! So happy you got your hot chocolate.
Really good! Loved it alot ❤
Thank you so much, Jennia!
This is so good! Just wondering, can the milk be replaced with water? I really want some hot chocolate but milk is very limited due to Corona Virus. Any tips?
Mallory, I’m sorry but I don’t think you can make this with water, as it is. You could try using a lot more chocolate and that might work to make a nice drink but it won’t taste the same, really.
It’s very good, although at first it will takes a little different then what we are used but we are also using chocolate chips instead of coco mix. I put a little more sugar it was a little bitter at first. I suggest you mix in whipped cream or maybe heavy cream the make it more creamy.
Arianna, The addition of heavy cream sounds wonderful. Great idea!
Thank you so much for this quick and delicious way to make hot chocolate. I used soy milk and dairy free chocolate chips to make it vegan and it was delicious. Thanks again!
Melanie, You’re welcome! And it’s great to know that soy milk and dairy-free chocolate work. Thank you!
What about chocolate milk? I have been using 1.4 ounces coca powder and 2 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch along with 13 tablespoons of sugar to treat a half gallon of milk.
I want to try using Ghiradhelli milk chocolate chips. How much would be sufficient for a half gallon of milk?
so amazing make sure the milk is hot
Bridget, So happy you liked it!
Simple, delicious, and REAL! The best kind of hot cocoa.