Get cozy with a delicious and easy recipe for Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate. Perfect for cold winter nights or holiday gatherings, this creamy drink will warm you up from the inside out. Top it with homemade whipped cream and fluffy marshmallows! This is a sponsored recipe in partnership with the American Dairy Association Mideast.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Slow cooker filled with hot chocolate, topped with marshmallow cutout shapes, and a small ladle inside.

Table of contents

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

Save time by making a big batch of homemade hot chocolate for your holiday parties! Not only will your guests go back for seconds, but everyone will love a mug of the creamiest hot chocolate on a cold day. This recipe only takes 10 minutes to prepare. Set your slow cooker on low and let it do the work for you! Top the best hot chocolate with fluffy mini marshmallows and homemade whipped cream.

Ingredients Needed

A collage image labeling all the ingredients for slow cooker hot chocolate: whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, heavy whipping cream, and large snowflake marshmallows for garnish.

This hot chocolate recipe is simple with seven staple ingredients that you probably already have stocked in your pantry. It’s almost as easy as opening an envelope of hot cocoa.

  • Heavy cream
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Whole milk
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Semisweet chocolate chips
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salt

Homemade Whipped Cream

Two clear-stemmed glass mugs of rich hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a large white snowflake-shaped marshmallow.

Treat yourself this holiday season to homemade whipped cream! It takes less than five minutes to whip up a batch. Here are some tips for success:

Tips & Tricks for Homemade Whipped Cream

Keep ingredients and equipment cold- Use heavy cream straight from the refrigerator, and chill the bowl and mixer beaters for best results. The colder temperature helps the fats to trap air and create a stable foam.

Start slow- Begin mixing on low speed. As ingredients become incorporated, increase speed to medium-high. Don’t overmix; over-whipping can turn into butter! The whipping cream should start to form stiff peaks that do not drip off the mixer beaters when lifted.

Fix over-whipped cream- If you accidentally over-whip and the consistency becomes grainy, you can fold in a small amount of cold heavy cream and stir until it smooths out.

Serving Suggestions And Garnish Ideas

A tall, stemmed glass mug of creamy hot chocolate, garnished with a dusting of cocoa and standing on a wooden cutting board with a red background. Small white marshmallows and a candy cane are visible in the foreground.

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate is a great way to serve a crowd, and one benefit is that guests can customize their drink to their personal liking. Along with your delicious whipped cream, provide a small tray of toppings such as:

  • mini candy canes or peppermint sticks
  • chocolate shavings, milk, dark, or white chocolate
  • mini marshmallows and large marshmallows
  • cinnamon sticks
  • cocoa powder in a shaker
  • nutmeg
  • chocolate syrup and caramel syrup for drizzling
  • crushed peppermints
  • toffee bits
  • mini chocolate chips
  • crushed graham crackers
  • sprinkles
  • instant espresso powder

Storage And Reheating Instructions

Two mugs of creamy hot chocolate, both topped with a large, white, snowflake-shaped marshmallow. One mug is white with a snowflake pattern, and the other is dark green.

Can this recipe be made on the stovetop? Yes, the stove can be used as an alternative to a crock-pot. Heat all ingredients over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when fully warmed.

How to store and reheat hot chocolate? Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator. We suggest using a pitcher with a lid or glass mason jars. Reheat by the cupful in the microwave in 30-second increments until warm.

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Recipe

A tall, stemmed glass mug of creamy hot chocolate, garnished with a dusting of cocoa and standing on a wooden cutting board with a red background. Small white marshmallows and a candy cane are visible in the foreground.

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Get cozy with a delicious and easy recipe for Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate. Perfect for cold winter nights or holiday gatherings, this creamy drink will warm you up from the inside out. Top it with homemade whipped cream and fluffy marshmallows!
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Ingredients

For the Hot Chocolate

  • 4 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 cups whole milk, 2% can be substituted
  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped chocolate bar can be substituted
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the Whipped Cream

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

Instructions
 

For the Hot Chocolate

  • ADD 2 cups of heavy cream to the slow cooker, WHISK in the unsweetened cocoa powder until smooth. ADD the remaining 2 cups of heavy cream. 
  • ADD the remaining ingredients: milk, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, and salt. WHISK all ingredients for 1-2 minutes. 
  • Cover and COOK on Low for 5 hours or High for 3 hours, STIRRING occasionally until ready to serve.

For the Whipped Cream

  • BEAT whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until stiff peaks form, about 3-4 minutes with a hand mixer, or 5 minutes manually by hand.
  • For best results, keep ingredients and equipment cold and begin mixing on low speed. As ingredients become incorporated, increase speed.
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Author: Katrina Bahl
Keyword: hot chocolate, hot drinks

Original recipes and images © In Katrina’s Kitchen

Did you make this recipe?Tag @katrinaskitchen on Instagram with the hashtag #katrinaskitchenrecipes

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