Best Ever Creamy Crock Pot Hot Chocolate Recipe

Crockpot Hot Chocolate is extra creamy and makes plenty of servings for holiday entertaining. Try this recipe for delicious and easy crockpot hot chocolate, then customize it with all of your favorite cocoa toppings! It’s the best hot chocolate for a cold day! 

You can whip this up for holiday parties, or special occasions – there are no rules! A simple hot cocoa recipe like this is also the best way to kick off Christmas morning!

Having a warm drink in hand and celebrating family and friends sounds perfect for the holiday season.

Don’t forget that everyone can easily add their own favorite toppings to take the flavor over the top.

Crushed candy canes, peppermint sticks as stirrers, mini marshmallows, chocolate shavings, dark chocolate chips, and other fun options are an easy way to turn good drink recipes into favorite holiday drinks. 

Enjoy a mug of hot chocolate with only a handful of ingredients needed! You’ll love the flavor of this batch of slow cooker hot chocolate! 

Crockpot Hot Chocolate

Cozy up with a warm mug of this incredible cocoa — you’ll never go back to instant packets again!

This crockpot hot chocolate recipe makes enough for the whole family whether you want an afternoon treat or you’re filling mugs on your way out the door.

It’s perfect for parties too! Simply mix everything together and let the crockpot do the rest.

Looking for more wintertime drink recipes? You’ll love Wassail, a spiced apple cider drink that can also be prepared in the crockpot. 

We also have a fabulous Italian hot chocolate that is sure to warm you up!

And if you’re feeling crafty, try your hand at the trendy cocoa bombs that melt right in your mug.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Chocolate Chips and Cocoa Powder – You’ll need both to get the right flavor and consistency. 
  
  Use semi-sweet chips and unsweetened cocoa so your slow cooker hot chocolate isn’t overly sweet.
  
• Sugar – Stick with regular granulated sugar or extra-fine (labeled baker’s sugar) if you can find it. The finer the grain, the easier it will be to dissolve.
  
• Vanilla Extract – A little goes a long way to add some warmth to hot chocolate in the slow cooker.  You can also swap this for another extract to change up the flavor!
  
• Heavy Cream and Whole Milk – The bulk of this drink is made with milk, with the heavy cream helping to thicken the silky mixture. 
  
  More fat means a richer beverage, so feel free to make adjustments as you would like.

Tips for Making Hot Chocolate in Slow Cooker

• Use quality ingredients. 

While store brands will still be tasty, there’s a noticeable difference in flavor when using more gourmet varieties of cocoa and baking chips for this crockpot hot chocolate recipe.

• Whisk it first. 

Get as much of the cocoa and sugar dissolved in the liquid as you can before adding in the semi-sweet chips.

• Too rich? 

This is a very creamy hot chocolate recipe, but you can easily replace some of the heavy cream with more milk or use reduced-fat milk entirely.

However, do not try to thin slow cooker hot chocolate with water. It can cause the ingredients to separate and really affects the flavor.

• Make a double batch. 

As long as your crockpot is large enough, feel free to increase the ingredients as needed.

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Topping Ideas

If you’re hosting a get-together, set up a cocoa bar and let guests come up with their own concoctions!

Set out bowls filled with extra marshmallows, crushed peppermint candies, and crumbled cookies to sprinkle on top. 

Cinnamon sticks, pumpkin pie spice, and chai mix would also be delicious.

Add containers of store-bought or homemade whipped cream and caramel sauce. 

You could even have some flavored liqueurs handy such as Baileys, Kahlua, or Frangelico if the adults want to spike their crockpot hot chocolate!

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Slow Cooker – Great for soups, roasts, shredded chicken, and more! I love it in the cooler months, but it’s also great in the summer when you don’t want to heat up the whole house with the oven.
• Ladle – A must for dishing up this easy crockpot hot chocolate!
• Measuring Cups and Spoons – You may be tempted to eyeball the amounts, but I recommend using the proper tools so it comes out just right.

Crockpot Hot Chocolate Recipe FAQ

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Originally published October 2021, updated and republished November 2024

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