Crock Pot Hot Chocolate: Rich and Creamy with Hints of Cinnamon

 Normally when I make hot chocolate, I make the instant kind. You know, add some hot water here, some mix there, and top it all off with marshmallows. But when you choose the easy option, you usually have to add more than one packet of mix to get full flavor or instead of adding hot water, add warm milk. Changing to the alternative of crock pot hot chocolate though, allows you to add a rich, deep chocolate complex flavor that the dry mix can never achieve.

I have to admit when I heard about crock pot hot chocolate, I was a little skeptical. It seemed to me that I could just get some hot water, cocoa, and a few other minor ingredients and get a great cup of joy. Why would I need a crock pot’s help? It was when I started perusing different recipes that I realized I needed the crock pot to melt all the ingredients at the right temperature and to get the richness that only homemade hot chocolate can have.

Melting the sweetened condensed milk into the ingredients is key. That’s how you get just the right thickness of crock pot hot chocolate. The instant mix is more of the consistency of water or tea or coffee. This recipe is thick and creamy and decadent. I could only have one cup because it was so filling and rich! I even used 2% milk instead of whole milk to take away some of the heaviness; something I recommend others do as well.

Many of the recipes I found had whole milk in the ingredients list. But with heavy creamy, sweetened condensed milk, and regular milk, I didn’t think extra milk fat was necessary. I wouldn’t say it compromised the flavor at all to change the milk since the heavier ingredients are still included. In fact, to me it seems like barely anyone would be able to handle the richness of the crock pot hot chocolate if whole milk was used.

Besides just the diary product conundrum, the taste of this recipe is excellent for cold winter nights or shivering you-forgot-your-coat-and-it’s-windy-during-summer weather. It’ll make you feel full and cozy all at the same time. I wanted to take a nap right after I finished my cup. It was soothing and the hint of cinnamon was unique and made me feel like it was fall. If you can’t fall asleep and you have some of this recipe left over, I suggest heating it up and after a few sips, you’ll be asleep in the mug.

Another secret along with the 2% milk and the addition of cinnamon is melting the marshmallows into the crock pot hot chocolate. I’ve been doing this with hot chocolate since I was a kid. I’m not sure why this hasn’t become a national trend, but it should.

When you melt the marshmallows into the crock pot hot chocolate you get this amazing creaminess and touch of extra sugar that regular hot chocolate just doesn’t have. It adds a special foam to the top that makes every sip sparkle in your mouth. Plus, if you melt marshmallows into the hot chocolate while it’s cooking, you get the chance to add more marshmallows on top when it has finished cooking! Double the mallows! If you leave with anything today it should be this: always double down your mallows and melt the first batch in your crock pot or in your mug, stir, then add more mallows. Also, I’ve noticed that if you enjoy this recipe in your own personal owl mug, it tastes even better.

I hate coffee so when I’m looking for a wonderfully warm winter pick-me-up or a hot drink to get me going in the morning, I get hot chocolate. This recipe for crock pot hot chocolate saves me a bunch of money and time when it comes to going through drive-thrus in the morning and it’s far better tasting than the watered down, lightly chocolate, only whipped cream and never marshmallow-ed versions you get at fast food restaurants. If you want a crowd pleaser for kids, an easy recipe your family can make together, or a great recipe for homemade hot chocolate, this recipe will deliver ten-fold.

If you haven’t gotten your chocolate fix yet, try the No-bake Oreo and Nutella Mini Cheesecakes Ultimate Recipe to put you in a chocolate coma. 

Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

2014-04-28 02:29:49

Serves 12

Rich and Creamy Hot Chocolate Recipe

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Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

2 hr

Total Time

2 hr 5 min

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

2 hr

Total Time

2 hr 5 min

Ingredients

1. • 2/3 cup hot water
2. • 1/2 cup of cocoa unsweetened
3. • 2 TS (Teaspoon) cinnamon
4. • 1 ½ cups of heavy cream
5. • 6 cups 2% milk
6. • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
7. • ¼ cup of sugar
8. • 2 TS vanilla extract
9. • 1 cup mini-Marshmallows plus more for topping

For the hot chocolate

1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the cocoa, hot water, and cinnamon until they are fully combined.
2. Turn on the slow cooker to low.
3. Add the cocoa mixture plus heavy cream, milk (I prefer 2% milk because the hot chocolate is already extremely rich but if you want a creamier taste and a drink that sits a little more heavy in your stomach, use whole milk.), sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and vanilla extract ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
4. Add the 1 cup of mini-marshmallows to the slow cooker and stir occasionally until they are melted into the crock pot hot chocolate (It takes about an hour or so for all the marshmallows to melt since the slow cooker is heating up. Stir occasionally until all the marshmallows are semi-melted. Continue to check on the mixture and stir the marshmallows until they have fully melted into the crock pot hot chocolate. Adding marshmallows to the hot chocolate while it’s cooking gives the cocoa a great creamy flavor and a little extra sugar. )
5. Cook in the crock pot for 2 hours (Make sure you check on this mixture as it needs to be stirred throughout the cooking process.)
6. After the hot chocolate is finished cooking, it will have a film over the top that needs to be stirred back into the rest of the mixture. Stir well until it’s all incorporated.
7. When the mixture has been stirred, ladle into mugs and top with remaining marshmallows.
8. Use this treat on a rainy spring day or a goosebump winter morning to warm you up and savor its decadent flavors!

By Mandy Ellis

So Good Blog http://www.sogoodblog.com/

Recipe cuisine: American beverage

Summary

Recipe Name

Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

Published On

2014-05-21

Preparation Time

5M

Cook Time

2H

Total Time

2H 5M

Average Rating

5 Based on 2 Review(s)