This Homemade Hot Chocolate is so creamy with rich chocolate flavor. It's made with bittersweet and semisweet chocolate and no cocoa powder.

I made Fancy Hot Chocolate for a Christmas tea party years ago, which features a chocolate lace design that is placed over the cup before the hot chocolate is poured through it. It was so fun for a small tea party but not really practical for a larger gathering.
The actual hot chocolate was so good that I scaled up the recipe and started making it for winter family birthday parties, like this Starbucks Birthday and this Parisian Cafe Party.
This hot chocolate is made with real chocolate that is melted into a mixture of warm milk and half and half. Both the kids and the adults love this! Some Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows would make it even better!

This recipe could not be easier. The milk and half and half are heated in a pot on the stove until warm. Next, the chocolate, sugar and vanilla are added and stirred until all of the chocolate has melted and the hot chocolate is hot.

You can serve the hot chocolate alone or with the typical toppings like whipped cream or marshmallows.

Hot Chocolate Bar
For parties like this Starbucks Birthday, I like to keep the hot chocolate warm in a crock pot and provide a ladle for serving.

To make a Hot Chocolate Bar where guests can customize their toppings, I have done ramekins filled with mini chocolate chips, marshmallows, marshmallow bits and chocolate covered marshmallows.
I did this for a Parisian Cafe Birthday as well.

I was pressed for time with all of the other desserts for these two parties, but Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows would have been a great addition. I served them at my Holiday Open House hot cocoa bar.

I always have whipped cream and sometimes some Ghirardelli syrups like chocolate, caramel, and sea salt caramel.

Sprinkles are also a good choice.

Gluten Free Option
This recipe is naturally gluten free.
📖 Recipe

Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 4 cups milk
- 2 cup half and half
- 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli recommended)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli recommended)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the milk and half and half in a saucepan over medium-low heat.4 cups milk, 2 cup half and half
- When the milk mixture is warm, add both kinds of chocolate chips, sugar, and vanilla.1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, 2 teaspoons sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Continue to heat until melted and fully incorporated, stirring occasionally.
- Top with whipped cream, if desired.
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