How To Make Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

This easy, creamy and indulgent hot chocolate is made in the slow cooker for the perfect winter warmer drink. An easy way to make hot chocolate for a crowd, this Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate is a must during the festive season, or to be ready when you come in from a walk on a cold day. Only 4 ingredients and 1 minute prep time.

Two festive mugs topped with whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate shavings.

This is the ultimate indulgent hot chocolate, and the best thing is that it is done in the slow cooker, making it super easy too. You will never use a powdered hot chocolate mix again.

Loaded with whipped cream and marshmallows, this is our Christmas Eve tradition that the kids LOVE. But, it doesn't just have to be for Christmas.

Looking for some other hot drinks to enjoy this festive season? Why not try our Chai Tea Latte, Cinnamon Coffee, Slow Cooker Mulled Wine, Christmas Snowman Hot Chocolate or Mulled Apple Juice.

Jump to:

Why should you try it?
What you will need
Step by step
Why cook it in the slow cooker?
Hot chocolate flavours
Hot chocolate toppings
FAQs
Extra tips
More Christmas drinks
Recipe

Why should you try it?

Just 4 ingredients - Just milk, cream and two types of chocolate go in to making this slow cooker hot chocolate.
Only 1 minute prep time - You just dump everything in to the slow cooker and leave it to cook away.
Creamy and indulgent hot chocolate - This isn't a healthy recipe at all, but it is SO good.
Different flavour options to customise it - Either keep this plain or add a flavouring to mix it up a bit.
A boozy version for adults - We have added an alcoholic version for the grown-ups too.

What you will need

Milk - We used full fat milk in this slow cooker hot chocolate, as we find that it helps to make it really thick and creamy. You could use skimmed or semi skimmed, and it would lower the calories, but it would also make it thinner.
Cream - This helps to make the hot chocolate really indulgent. You could leave it out, but it wouldn't be as thick and creamy.
Chocolate - We used a mixture of milk and dark chocolate. You could just use one, but we find this balance is just perfect. Try to use the best quality chocolate you can, as you really will taste the difference.

The ingredients needed to make this recipe on a stone surface each with a text overlay.

Step by step

One: Put all of the ingredients in the slow cooker.

A slow cooker bowl containing milk, cream and chunks of chocolate.

Two: Cook on low for 2 and a half hours. Stir twice during cooking.

A slow cooker bowl containing hot chocolate.

Why cook it in the slow cooker?

Hot chocolate is pretty quick and simple to make on the hob, so why make it in the slow cooker? Well, there are a couple of reasons. If we are having a Christmas party, then this is an easy way to make a huge batch of it. Plus, you don't have to stand over pan whilst it cooks.

Cooking it in the slow cooker also means that it can stay warm for a while. This is also good if you are serving it up at a party, as people arrive at different times. We set up a hot chocolate bar on Christmas Eve, with loads of different toppings, and let everyone create their own ultimate hot chocolate.

We like to also put it on before we go out for a walk, so we come home to warming hot chocolate ready to ladle in to a mug. This slow cooker hot chocolate is best when it is stirred twice during cooking, otherwise it does separate a little. However, you can just put it on and leave it, and then stir well before serving.

This exact recipe does work in a pan on the hob too. Just cook on a low heat, stirring often.

Whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate shavings on top of two mugs of hot chocolate as viewed from above.

Hot chocolate flavours

The great thing about this slow cooker hot chocolate, is that there are so many different ways to flavour it. You never have to have it the same way twice. Here are some of our favourite ingredients to add to it:

Orange extract
Mint extract
Vanilla
Nutella
Cinnamon
Hazelnut syrup
Rum
Baileys
Bourbon

Hot chocolate toppings

What makes this slow cooker hot chocolate really indulgent, is the toppings. You could just serve it as it is and that would lower the calories, but this is meant to be an indulgent treat. Toppings are a must if you are making a serve yourself hot chocolate bar. Here are some of our favourite topping options:

Whipped cream
Marshmallows
Chocolate shavings
Sprinkles
Chocolate chips
Caramel syrup
Chocolate syrup
Orange zest
Peanut butter
Cinnamon
Coconut shavings
Candied ginger
Your favourite chocolate bars, chopped
Candy cane stirrers
Chopped up fudge

A spoon lifting out some cream from a mug of hot chocolate.

FAQs

Is this slow cooker hot chocolate healthy?

I'm afraid not. This is a totally indulgent and amazing hot chocolate. Double cream, milk, dark and milk chocolate. Fairly high in fat and calories, so portion control is key. However, it has very few ingredients, compared to those powdered hot chocolates that are full of additives.

Can you make a dairy free slow cooker hot chocolate?

Yes, you certainly can. You can swap the whole milk for almond, cashew or oat milk and then use vegan chocolate. You can either leave the cream out or swap it for a vegan version. We usually leave it out if we are making a vegan version, as we find that the vegan alternative to cream doesn't heat very well. A dairy free version tends to be thinner than this hot chocolate.

Can you add alcohol to slow cooker hot chocolate?

Yes, you can make an amazing boozy version for adults, which a few different options. We love rum, baileys or bourbon. Just add a splash before serving. Don't cook it with all the other ingredients, as the alcohol will cook off.

Can you reheat leftovers?

Yes, if you have any leftovers, then it can be kept in the fridge until the next day. It is delicious cold, like a milkshake, or you can heat it up on the hob. Don't worry if there are some set bits of chocolate in the mix, as this will happen when it gets put in the fridge. They will melt once heated.

For best results, stir twice during cooking. This will prevent everything from separating. However, if that isn't an option, then just give it a good stir before serving.
If you don't want to make this in the slow cooker, then you can follow this exact recipe on a hob. Cook on a low heat, stirring often.
To give the hot chocolate some frothiness, then whisk really well before serving.
Make sure to use whole milk, as it's what helps to make the slow cooker hot chocolate really thick and creamy.
Use the best quality chocolate you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference.
Add a pinch of chilli powder to your hot chocolate for a little kick of heat.
Add even more of a chocolate flavour with a couple of tablespoons of cocoa powder mixed in.

More Christmas drinks

Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Cranberry Smoothie
Christmas Snowman Hot Chocolate
Mulled Apple Juice

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Recipe

▢ 500 ml whole milk
▢ 150 ml double cream (heavy cream)
▢ 100 g dark chocolate broken into pieces
▢ 60 g milk chocolate broken into pieces

Put all of the ingredients in the slow cooker.
Cook on low for 2 and a half hours. Stir twice during cooking.

For best results, stir twice during cooking. This will prevent everything from separating. However, if that isn't an option, then just give it a good stir before serving.
If you don't want to make this in the slow cooker, then you can follow this exact recipe on a hob. Cook on a low heat, stirring often.
To give the hot chocolate some frothiness, then whisk really well before serving.
Make sure to use whole milk, as it's what helps to make the slow cooker hot chocolate really thick and creamy.
Use the best quality chocolate you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference.
Add a pinch of chilli powder to your hot chocolate for a little kick of heat.
Add even more of a chocolate flavour with a couple of tablespoons of cocoa powder mixed in.

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.