Name: Classic Hot Cocoa
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (100ml) whole milk; 1/2 cup (100ml) heavy cream; 2 tbsp (30g) cocoa powder; 3 tbsp (45g) cane sugar; optional: whipped cream or marshmallows

As winter approaches, you might dread the incoming cold, ice, and snow, but one thing to look forward to is a mug of classic hot cocoa, made from scratch. There is nothing like curling up on the couch on a chilly evening with a warm throw and a mug of silky smooth hot cocoa!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

5 ingredients or less
Delicious chocolate flavor
Easy to make
Vegetarian
Recipe can be doubled or quadrupled to serve more people

The difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate

Although we use the terms interchangeably, hot cocoa uses cocoa powder, while hot chocolate uses… solid chocolate! Both are incredibly delicious, but I will say that hot cocoa is definitely easier and less time consuming to prepare.

Hot cocoa made from scratch is super easy to put together. It is simply cocoa powder mixed with milk, cream, and sugar. Store bought varieties are premixed versions of this, but often with additional filler ingredients, trans fats, and preservatives. When brewed with water, they also may not be as flavorful.

Hot cocoa made at home also allows you to control the amount of chocolatey-ness, sweetness, and creaminess ideal for your perfect mug. My favorite mixture is one part milk with one part heavy cream. Depending on my mood, I will top the hot cocoa with homemade Whipped Cream or marshmallows.

MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS

Masala Chai

Bay Leaf Tea

Coconut Maziwa

Sujeonggwa (Korean Cinnamon Tea)

Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate

Banana Piña Colada Smoothie

Whipped Cream

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