31 Best Ways to Enjoy Cozy Homemade Hot Chocolate

pumpkin spice hot chocolate with whipped cream in a white mug
Photo: Buckwheat Queen

Warm up from the inside out with a delicious cup of homemade hot chocolate. It's the perfect antidote to a chilly day, and you probably already have many of the ingredients for these easy hot chocolate recipes in your pantry now. Have a spicy mugful of Authentic Mexican Hot Chocolate or sip seasonally with Candy Cane Cocoa. I've rounded up 31 of our top-rated hot chocolate recipes so you can ease into a velvety cup of comfort.

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Hot Chocolate Bombs

chocolate truffles on crystal glass plate with cup of milk
Yoly

Just drop in hot milk or pour over these truffle-like confections and you have an instant cup of rich hot chocolate! We love these cute, portable cocoa bombs that are fun to make and even more fun to drink.

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Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate

a mug of whipped cream and cinnamon-topped hot chocolate on a white plate
Buckwheat Queen

"Another 5-star drink from Yoly," says reviewer Buckwheat Queen. "Thick and creamy with that special sweetness that you can only get from white chocolate. It whips up exactly as written. Thank you for the recipe."

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Hot Chocolate

cup of christmasy hot cocoa

"Hot chocolate made from scratch in the microwave," says recipe creator Steph. "If your kids can use the microwave, they can make this recipe!"

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Quick Hot Chocolate

hot chocolate in an orange mug
Deb C

No cocoa in the house? How about unsweetened baking chocolate? Just melt it into hot milk and sugar.

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Chocolate Bar Hot Chocolate

Chocolate Bar Hot Chocolate
House of Aqua

Have a candy bar on hand? This hot chocolate comes together with just three ingredients. Recipe creator Duckball says, "I wanted to use up some full-size chocolate bars leftover from Halloween and decided to make hot chocolate out of one. The result was fabulous!"

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Secret Simple Hot Chocolate

Secret Simple Hot Chocolate
Kim's Cooking Now

Sugar, milk, and chocolate syrup are all that's required for this simple hot chocolate. Recipe creator Zoe says,"Add marshmallows, whipped cream, or Cool Whip to make even tastier."

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Authentic Mexican Hot Chocolate with Chile

hot chocolate in a mug with whipped cream
Buckwheat Queen

Recipe creator Crema says, "To make this authentic Mexican hot chocolate, you need Mexican hot chocolate tablets or squares which gives it its unique taste. Eat the chile only if you can handle it!"

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Easy Mexican Hot Chocolate

hot chocolate in a glass with whipped cream
Easy Mexican Hot Chocolate | Photo by Buckwheat Queen. Buckwheat Queen

Just add cinnamon and chili powder to instant hot chocolate mix, pour in milk and boiling water, and give it a stir.

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Heavenly Drinkable Chocolate

Heavenly Drinkable Chocolate
Buckwheat Queen

A pinch of ginger and cayenne pepper give you the hint of winter spice you're looking for. As recipe creator CoachJen puts it, "you deserve this!"

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White Hot Chocolate with Cardamom

white chocolate in a mug
Buckwheat Queen

"If you like Indian-style desserts, you'll love this white hot chocolate!" says recipe creator chefbabz. "Very rich, very yummy!"

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Champurrado

Champurrado
Yoly

This traditional Mexican hot chocolate is flavored with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, Mexican chocolate, Mexican brown sugar (piloncillo), and maize flour.

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Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

pumpkin spice hot chocolate with whipped cream in a white mug
Buckwheat Queen

Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice combine to make this hot chocolate an autumnal chocolate kiss in a cup. Reviewer Buckwheat Queen says, "This drink will turn you into the Grinch who stole the hot chocolate."

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Cioccolata Calda (Hot Chocolate Italian-Style)

rich and creamy-looking hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of spice in a white cup with a saucer
Buckwheat Queen

"Hot chocolate Italian-style is one of the most amazing treats in the world!" says nikwik. "You have to try this pudding-like chocolate decadence! Add some Irish cream, cinnamon, and whipped cream for a fun variation, or create your own!"

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Hawaiian Hot Chocolate

hot chocolate topped with toasted coconut
lutzflcat

"I created this drink from the memories of a trip to Hawaii, where I met my (now) husband," says recipe creator L Mac. "Surprisingly, it does get chilly in Hawaii, especially at night and in cold, rainy regions. This is a different take on the usual cold and frozen Hawaiian libations."

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Mexican-Style Hot Chocolate

Mexican-Style Hot Chocolate
House of Aqua

"A hot chocolate with a bit of spice. Delish! A great hot drink to serve on a cold snowy day," says reviewer Lela.

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Candy Cane Cocoa

Candy Cane Cocoa
Buckwheat Queen

A double dose of peppermint brings the cheer to this top-rated hot chocolate recipe. Crush the minty candies on top of your cocoa for a sweet Christmastime garnish.

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Snow Flake Cocoa

white hot chocolate with whipped cream
Evie stevie

Use your slow cooker to keep a batch of this white hot chocolate nice and warm for your Christmas party.

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Minty Eggnog Hot Chocolate

hot chocolate with marshmallows in a green cup
bd.weld

Whole milk and chocolate mints go into this cup of holiday cheer. A refreshing kiss of flavor with the wonderful spices of a traditional eggnog.

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Christmas Orange Hot Chocolate

Christmas Orange Hot Chocolate
Mixit

"The taste reminds me of those wonderful chocolate-orange balls sold at stores during Christmas time. This is a real gourmet delight. The orange juice gives a perfect touch of orange flavor not too strong...just right. The cinnamon adds a bit of spice for a nice little finish," says reviewer Mixit.

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Whipped Hot Chocolate

Whipped Hot Chocolate
Eat

Reviewer House of Aqua says, "This is the ultimate hot chocolate. What's better than rich hot chocolate mixed with homemade whipped cream?"

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Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate

vegan hot chocolate in a white cup
Buckwheat Queen

Rice milk, vegan chocolate chips, and a touch of vanilla extract get warmed up together to make a satisfying vegan hot chocolate.

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Delicious Vegan Hot Chocolate

vegan hot chocolate with almond milk and cocoa
Ronald Crabtree

"Whoa Nelly!" says littlechristine. "Being a self-proclaimed hot chocolate expert, I have to say that this recipe is top-notch. With or without the cayenne pepper, my roommates and I loved this. It's rich, frothy, and very decadent."

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Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate

coconut milk hot chocolate in a white cup
Buckwheat Queen

"This delicious vegan hot chocolate is made with coconut milk and dark chocolate and a pinch of curry," says recipe creator Crema. "Plus sugar of course, but you can use other sweeteners as well."

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Dairy-Free Keto Hot Cocoa

Dairy-Free Keto Hot Cocoa
Carol Castellucci Miller

Recipe creator Carole Castellucci Miller says, "This keto-friendly hot cocoa features MCT oil, egg, cacao powder, but no dairy. Stevia should be added to taste."

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Homemade Instant Hot Chocolate Mix

homemade instant hot chocolate

"Hot chocolate mix takes just seconds to make, and you may already have everything you need in the pantry," says Chef John. "Just make sure one of those things is a very high quality cocoa powder."

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Homemade White Hot Chocolate Mix

white hot chocolate mix in a jar
My Hot Southern Mess

"This homemade white hot chocolate mix is creamy, rich, and delicious," says reviewer Dana.

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Rich Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

Rich Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
Lundrigan Joshua

Cooking hot chocolate in a slow cooker is great for large crowds, since the slow cooker will keep large quantities of hot chocolate warm all night. Reviewer mac31285 says, "I made this for a big Christmas dinner today and got a lot of compliments and requests for the recipe!"

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Creamy Hot Cocoa

Creamy Hot Cocoa topped with whipped cream
Creamy Hot Cocoa. shoofrk

"It's old fashioned, it's comforting, it makes the kitchen smell wonderful and it's good for the soul," says recipe contributor Jeanie Bean. Reviewers recommend you adjust the sweetness to your taste.

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Homestyle Hot Cocoa

Homestyle hot chocolate with whipped cream
House of Aqua

"Growing up in snowy Canadian winters, my mom would always make my brothers and me hot cocoa after a night of tobogganing. When I got older - and had long since abandoned real cocoa for the instant variety - I had a craving one night for a more wholesome treat. Here's my recipe for a creamier, homestyle cup of cocoa. Perfect for those snowy winter nights!" — Katherine.Ann

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Drew's World Famous Triple Rush Hot Chocolate

mug of Drew's World Famous Triple Rush Hot Chocolate recipe topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder
Aichoco

Chocolate chips, instant coffee, and chili powder team up to make a top-rated hot chocolate that'll make you wake up and pay attention. "This hot chocolate was sooo good! Warm and rich with a little kick to it. It was just how I would imagine the hot chocolate to be in the movie 'Chocolat,'" says reviewer JESSAMYN M.

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Polar Express Hot Chocolate

cup of hot chocolate with candy canes in the background
House of Aqua

Recipe contributor Di says, "Not for the light-hearted. Great for those looking to fatten up on a cold winter night. Serve immediately or pour into a slow cooker to keep warm. Top with whipped cream, crushed candy canes, or sprinkles."

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