Dark Hot Cocoa

Dark hot cocoa is rich, creamy and full of robust flavor! It's the most cozy holiday drink for Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, or a frigid winter's night.

As a child, I loved drinking hot cocoa by our family's wood stove. After running around outside in the cold for hours, it felt so good to sit by a blazing fire and sip a warm drink.

Recently, my husband and I have really enjoyed having some hot cocoa at night. I'm the one who actually enjoys dark hot cocoa. One of our favorite ways to enjoy this sweet drink is while playing a game of Skip-Bo. Or, if we're in the mood, scrabble. Try it out sometime!

Homemade hot chocolate truly beats all store bought mixes. Our easy recipe only uses a few ingredients as well as minimal added sugar. Your days of spending 7 dollars for a fancy drink every other night are over!

With this dark hot cocoa recipe at your fingertips, I know you'll keep coming back to it again and again!

Dark Hot Cocoa Recipe Step-By-Step

1. combine cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and about ¼ cup of the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Give that a good stir until you have a paste like consistency and there are no big clumps of cocoa powder left. This will help the cocoa powder to not separate from the rest of the milk in the hot chocolate.
2. Second, pour the rest of the milk in the saucepan along with the vanilla and chopped dark chocolate.
3. On medium heat, allow the hot chocolate to get very hot, stirring occasionally. Just before the mixture starts to boil, remove from the heat.
4. Finally, pour the dark hot cocoa into your favorite mug. Sip it slowly and enjoy the bold, delicious flavor!

Ingredients You'll Need

Whole Milk

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

70% Dark Chocolate, chopped

Granulated Sugar

Vanilla Extract

Tools You May Need

Small Saucepan

Measuring Cups

Measuring Spoons

Spoon

Why You'll Love Dark Hot Cocoa

The flavor of this dark hot cocoa is like no other. It is both rich and creamy with the ratio of dark chocolate to sweetness being unmatched.

Dark hot cocoa is also so incredibly easy to make! You don't need lots of time or fancy ingredients.

Lastly, but certainly not least, our dark hot cocoa recipe uses quality ingredients. Now, when I say quality ingredients, I mean ingredients that don't have long lists of ingredients on their label. You know what is going into this hot cocoa and I can't say the same for store bought hot chocolate.

Best Ways to Serve Dark Hot Cocoa

• Add Homemade Whipped Cream - Like I say in almost every post, homemade whipped cream is the best addition to almost anything sweet. It will go well with the creaminess of the hot chocolate.
• "Garnish" With A Candy Cane - I am sure we all had a piece of this in our childhood. Stirring hot cocoa with a peppermint candy cane is a combo like no other and one that I think is even better with this dark hot cocoa. Better yet, crush it and sprinkle it in.
• Top With Homemade Marshmallows - Homemade marshmallows are the best! While they appear to be challenging to make, they are actually very simple. Try this healthy homemade marshmallow recipe from Farmhouse On Boone!
• Sprinkle With Chocolate Truffles - Is too much chocolate a thing? I think in this case the answer is no. Putting a chocolate truffle or chopped chocolate truffle pieces in hot chocolate can do no wrong.

Dark Hot Cocoa FAQs

Is dark hot chocolate healthy?

Yes, dark hot chocolate can be a healthier version of hot cocoa. Use minimal added sugar or choose maple syrup instead for a natural sweetener. Also, choose high quality dark chocolate.

How to make dark hot chocolate?

1. In a small saucepan over the stove, whisk together ½ tablespoon of granulated sugar, ¼ cup of milk and 1 ½ tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder.
2. Next, add ¾ cups of milk, ⅛ teaspoon of vanilla and ¼ cup of 70% chopped dark chocolate to the pan. Bring to just below a boil and whisk occasionally to make sure everything melts smoothly.
3. Pour into a mug and top with dark chocolate shavings, homemade marshmallows and a candy cane.

How darken hot chocolate?

Heat about a mug's worth of milk over medium heat on the stove. Once the milk is slightly bubbling, add in finely chopped dark chocolate. Use 60% or more dark chocolate or cocoa powder to make it extra dark. Stir with a whisk until smooth.

Why do people use dark chocolate for hot chocolate?

Dark chocolate provides a much richer flavor for hot cocoa thank milk chocolate does. It offers a very robust and bold flavor that pairs perfectly with creamy, warm milk. Also, dark hot cocoa is also a healthier version of hot chocolate because there's less added sugar. Dark chocolate also contains some caffeine and fiber to aid in digestion.

Dark Hot Cocoa Topping Ideas

Homemade marshmallows

Dark chocolate shavings

Homemade whipped cream- Sally's Baking Addiction is a site we love!

Crushed peppermint

Reese's peanut butter cups