Easy Hot Chocolate with Chocolate Chips

Whip up a mug of rich and creamy hot chocolate with chocolate chips in minutes! This easy, delicious recipe has a way of leaving you wanting more.

I’ve always been a Swiss Miss kind o’ girl, but making hot chocolate with chocolate chips completely changed the game. I still keep a batch of homemade hot chocolate mix on hand for the kids, but this melted chocolate chip version has spoiled me. It’s so much richer, slightly thicker, and ultra-creamy.

white mug of hot chocolate with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I may never go back to the packets!”

“I didn’t have any mix with me at my grandson’s house so I tried this recipe. We all loved it. I may never go back to the packets! Thanks for the recipe!”

-Shelly, Flour on My Fingers reader

Let Me Tell You Why This Is My Favorite Way to Make It

Quick and easy: It may seem like hot chocolate from scratch takes extra effort, but this recipe makes 4 servings in just 20 minutes on the stovetop. You can also make a single-serving in the microwave.
3 simple ingredients: Just milk, chocolate chips, and a pinch of salt. That’s it!
Rich and ultra-creamy: Real melted chocolate chips create a decadently smooth texture and deep chocolate flavor that instant packets can’t replicate.
Easily customizable: You can swirl in extracts, spices, or fun toppings to make it your own.

Ingredient Notes

Whole Milk – Creates a perfectly creamy hot chocolate for my taste. For a creamier cup, use half-&-half instead. You can also use 2% milk or skim milk, but it’ll be slightly less creamy.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – Using a quality brand (like Nestle or Ghirardelli) adds thickness and richer flavor. I prefer semi-sweet, but you can also use milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips.
Sea Salt – A pinch of salt balances the sweetness.

The chocolate chips add all the sweetness that this cocoa needs, so you won’t need to add any extra sugar.

hot chocolate with chocolate chips ingredients on white marble countertop

How to Make Hot Chocolate with Chocolate Chips

Making this hot chocolate recipe with chocolate chips is super easy to do. Just follow these steps.

Pour the milk into a small saucepan. Let it warm on low to medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the chocolate chips, and whisk until melted.
Drop in a pinch of salt, and stir that into the mixture.
Warm the mixture, stirring constantly, until small bubbles start to form around the edge of the liquid on the sides of the pan; but don’t let it boil, or it will very likely curdle.

steps for how to make hot chocolate with chocolate chips in small saucepan

When it’s done, pour your hot chocolate into your favorite mug, and top with marshmallows or whipped cream. Hot chocolate with chocolate chips pairs well with so many Christmas candies, like buckeye chocolate balls, fantasy fudge, and Ritz cracker cookies.

pouring homemade hot chocolate with chocolate chips into white mug from saucepan

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Can I use water instead of milk?

I don’t recommend using water for this recipe, because the chocolate alone will not give you the sweet, rich, creamy effect that comes from the milk. That said, you can make dairy free hot chocolate by using a dairy free milk like almond milk. Make sure your chocolate chips are dairy free too.

Can I make a single serving of this in the microwave?

Yes, you can make single serve hot chocolate in the microwave. Add 1 cup of milk to a standard 8-ounce mug, and then heat it on high in the microwave for 45 seconds, or until it starts to steam. Stir in room temperature chocolate chips and the pinch of salt, and heat at 15-second intervals, stirring for 5-10 seconds in between each cycle until the chocolate chips are melted. It may take several cycles for the chocolate chips to fully incorporate, so just keep heating it in short bursts and stirring vigorously in between each cycle, making sure the milk never comes to a boil.

Can I add milk to melting chocolate?

No, it’s better to add the chocolate chips to already warmed milk, so they melt into the milk. Adding cold milk to melted chocolate will only cause it to harden back up.

How should I store leftover hot chocolate?

Store leftover hot chocolate in an airtight container or pitcher in the fridge. Re-heat it in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove over low to medium heat (without allowing it to boil).

Fun and Flavorful Hot Chocolate Additions

There are so many ways to customize homemade hot chocolate to make it more festive, fun, and flavorful. Here are a few ideas.

Add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract to enhance the cocoa flavor.
Stir in a few drops of peppermint extract or caramel extract.
Swap half with white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, mint chocolate chips, etc.
Add cinnamon or cayenne pepper for a little kick for a spiced Mexican hot chocolate.
Add a splash of your favorite spirits if you’re into boozy drinks.
Mix in a flavored creamer like raspberry creamer, to make raspberry hot chocolate.
Make it a chocolate mocha by mixing in a little bit of coffee or espresso.
Drizzle chocolate syrup, caramel syrup or butterscotch syrup on top.
Sprinkle with a few pieces of peppermint candy, or drop in a candy cane (my middle son’s favorite). Then add your marshmallows and whipped cream.

white mug of homemade hot chocolate with chocolate chips on gray plate with spoon

More Hot Chocolate Recipes

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