By: Jill Mills Updated: Oct 17, 2024

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Made with heavy cream, melted chocolate, and sweetened condensed milk, this Crock Pot Hot Chocolate recipe is thick, creamy, and rich. Perfect for holiday parties! Serve with whipped cream, marshmallows, and your other favorite toppings.

A big mug of hot chocolate is something special to make the winter months feel more warm and cozy. We love to make a big batch of this crockpot hot chocolate for a movie night, Christmas party or cookie making night, to warm up after playing outside in the cold weather, or any chilly afternoon after school and work.

Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Hot Chocolate Recipe

Here are a few reasons why our family is so crazy for this slow cooker hot chocolate.

Perfect for parties. I make crockpot hot chocolate frequently during the winter months, especially when we have guests over or are hosting a party. It’s so easy to ladle out of the crockpot and I often pair it with my hot chocolate charcuterie board to offer an array of toppings.
Thick and creamy. This is not your basic hot chocolate made with 2% milk or (gasp!) water and a powdered mix. Whole milk, heavy cream, and sweetened condensed milk make this hot cocoa thick and creamy.
Decadent chocolate flavor. Crockpot hot chocolate is made with unsweetened cocoa powder, like most hot cocoa mixes, but the key ingredient here is chocolate chips. They melt in the crockpot adding a rich and creamy chocolate flavor to every drop.

If you love curling up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate as much as me, be sure to also check out my peanut butter hot chocolate, peppermint hot chocolate, and homemade hot chocolate mix recipes.

Ingredients needed to make creamy crock pot hot chocolate

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a run-down of what you’ll need to make hot chocolate in the crockpot. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Heavy cream – Heavy cream makes the hot chocolate super creamy and rich.
Whole milk – Whole milk is best, but 2% or skim milk can work as well.
Sweetened condensed milk – Makes the hot chocolate extra thick and creamy.
Unsweetened cocoa powder – This may also be called “baking cocoa” and you’ll find it in the baking aisle of your grocery store. Just be sure to grab unsweetened, as the hot chocolate will already be plenty sweet.
Vanilla extract – A splash of vanilla extract helps to add some depth to the flavor of the dish.
Chocolate chips – We used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but dark chocolate or milk chocolate chips will work too.

Whisking hot chocolate ingredients in the crockpot

How to Make Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

Here’s how to make this creamy crock pot hot chocolate recipe. It’s so easy!

Combine everything. Whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Cook. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours. Be sure to stir occasionally.
Enjoy. Serve the creamy hot chocolate in mugs with your choice of toppings. (See below for lots of ideas!!)

Tips & Variations

Here are a few helpful things to keep in mind as you make this slow cooker hot chocolate.

Cocoa powder may not mix in well. When you whisk in the ingredients, the cocoa powder will likely not incorporate well and float to the top. That’s totally fine, it will dissolve and incorporate into the liquid during heating.
Use quality chocolate. The melted chocolate plays a big role in making this hot chocolate so thick and creamy and it will impact the flavor! I always love the Ghiradelli brand but feel free to use your favorite.
Remember to stir. You don’t need to stir this often but I like to give it a quick stir every 30 minutes or so, just to ensure everything is incorporated and the chocolate doesn’t stick to the sides.
Lighten it up. If you’d prefer this hot chocolate be a little less rich and creamy, you can use half-and-half in place of the heavy cream.
Add some instant espresso powder. Adding just a pinch (a teaspoon or so) of instant espresso powder will intensify the chocolate flavor without making your crockpot hot chocolate taste like coffee. (Much like adding espresso powder to chocolate baked goods makes them more chocolate-y!)

Adding whipped cream to a mug of slow cooker hot chocolate

Hot Chocolate Topping Ideas

Is it really a cup of hot chocolate if you don’t load it up with toppings?! Here are a few ideas, from classics like whipped cream to more chocolate.

Whipped cream – Use our homemade whipped cream recipe or canned whipped cream.
Chocolate sauce
Crushed peppermint candies or peppermint sticks.
Candy canes
Marshmallows – Mini marshmallows are a classic hot chocolate topping, but really wow your friends and family by making these easy homemade marshmallows.
Caramel sauce
Cinnamon sticks
Cocoa powder or cinnamon – Dusted over top of the whipped cream on hot chocolate
Chocolate mint candies
Marshmallow Snowmen – for the Kids.
Hershey’s Kisses
Chocolate shavings

Tip: For a Christmas party, make an extra large batch of Crockpot Hot Chocolate and create a hot chocolate bar with all of the toppings above. It’s a holiday gathering win every time! You can also add in some peppermint schnapps (for the adults) just like our frozen boozy peppermint hot chocolate.

Two mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and chocolate in front of the slow cooker

Proper Storage

Fridge. If you happen to have any leftover crockpot hot chocolate, you can store it in an airtight container or jar with a lid for up to 3 days.
Reheat. Reheat individual portions in microwave-safe mugs in the microwave until hot, or in a saucepan over medium heat.

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