It’s extremely hard…
To convince me to leave my cozy little house on winter evenings. Between the flickering fire, the Christmas tree lights, and my favorite Douglas Fir essential oil wafting from the diffuser, I’m pretty content to be a winter-time hermit. And when you add in a mug of homemade hot chocolate? Forget about it. You’d be hard-pressed to get me to venture out even if Joel Salatin himself was visiting our town (Okay, so I *might* leave the house for him… But I’d have to think about it.) 😉
I usually make a version of this hot chocolate recipe whenever I’m hankering for a cup– it’s ideal for when it’s just the Prairie Husband and I.
However, if you’re making hot chocolate for a crowd or need to have to ready ahead of time, this slow cooker hot chocolate recipe is perfect. You can make a large batch without compromising on taste or resorting to those not-so-lovely powdered mixes. Throw the ingredients together, set the slow cooker on low for two hours while you play in the snow or do chores, and your hot chocolate will be ready right when folks walk through the door. Bingo.
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Recipe
Yield: 4-6 servings
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (I love this one)
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons real maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
- 2 ounces of pure chocolate of your choice
- 1 cup real whipped cream
- 1/8 cup shaved chocolate for garnish
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa, salt and milk.
- Pour mixture into a slow cooker and add vanilla. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
- Add cream, cinnamon and maple syrup. Cover, and cook on low for an additional 20 minutes. Stir in 2 ounces of chocolate until melted. It’s best to break or shave chocolate into smaller pieces before adding to the slow cooker to help the melting process.
- Pour hot chocolate into mugs and top with whipped cream and a sprinkling of shaved chocolate.
- Grab a mug, get warm and enjoy the time with your family.
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Notes
- You could easily double this recipe if you’re serving a large crowd– as long as your slow cooker is big enough.
- I haven’t tried this recipe with non-dairy milks, but I’m guessing it’d probably work.
- If you want to get extra-fancy, add a peppermint stick for stirring or serve homemade marshmallows on the side.
- Looking for other cozy drink ideas? Here’s my homemade egg nog and chai tea concentrate.
Ummm…yes please! We will be trying this recipe over break (and probably doubling it lol). Merry Chirstmas 🙂
Yeah– I definitely think you’ll need to double it for your crew! 😉
Dang I totally didn’t read the instructions first ? So it’s just all in the crock pot from the very beginning
Mmmm, sounds so good. Next time my crew goes out sledding, these ingredients will go in the crockpot. Thanks so very much for sharing your recipe.
Mrs.B
Uh – Yum.
-Candi
This chocolate recipe is very yummy. All of the ingredients chocolate make its delicious. Thanks you for the list.
I’ll have to try this with coconut and/or almond milk…would be fantastic to have a hands-off way to prep hot cocoa. And it’s too funny you mention Salatin; my husband and I are currently devouring his books! I’d LOVE to hear him speak in person…(side note: we love his stuff, but our current joke is to count how many times he uses the word “biomass” in any given book, interview, etc…LOL.)
This sounds yummy! I love making my own hot chocolate. The stuff you buy in the store has so many ingredients that shouldn’t be there! I love adding doTERRA Essential Oils to the too. Peppermint and Wild Orange are my favorite!
Hi Jill! You have inspired me to use slow cooker. Is it a stove top one that you use? Could you please tell us which one / the brand etc. ? Many thanks!!
This sounds so yummy and Christmas is coming…. But I’m not having a slow cooker. Would this be possible to make in a kettle somehow?
Hey Jill, this recipe sounds yummy! Only problem is that I’m allergic to chocolate! I know… The horror, right?!? So, my question for you is this… Do you think this recipe would work well with carob powder and carob chips? And what about using honey in place of the maple syrup? I appreciate your thoughts! Thanks, ~ Sheri
Can I use unsweetened cocoa powder? Is there a difference? I didn’t read thoroughly and only have unsweetened cocoa powder!!
Yes! Unsweetened cocoa powder should be fine!
Can leftovers (if there happened to be any) be stored in the fridge & reheated??