Homemade Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Recipe

Creamy, rich, and decadent, this slow cooker hot chocolate is made with real melted chocolate and makes enough to serve a crowd. The best part is it takes just a few minutes to prep, and then the slow cooker takes over. A mug of this easy homemade hot chocolate is sure to warm you up and chase away any winter blues—don’t forget the whipped cream or marshmallows!

Eat your chocolate and drink it, too!

I shared this recipe years ago, and it has become a cold-weather must-have that tastes especially soul-warming on chilly snow days.

Homemade Hot Chocolate: Easier Than You Think!

The process is *almost* as easy as ripping open a packet of store-bought hot cocoa mix. Toss all of the ingredients together in your slow cooker, whisk every now and then, and it’s done. The “recipe” takes just 10 minutes of prep and either 5 hours on low or 3 hours on high. Have it warming in the slow cooker for all your cookie or gift exchange parties, holiday parties, snow days, and other cold-weather gatherings.

This hot chocolate is made in the slow cooker—a versatile kitchen device that’s not just for savory meals like sweet potato turkey chili or turkey meatballs.

It’s mega creamy and so undeniably chocolate-y and rich that it should come with a warning label. It honestly tastes like pure melted chocolate with a creamy, frothy consistency. Because guess what? It’s made with pure melted chocolate!

Grab These Ingredients For Your Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through each ingredient so you understand their importance. To ensure each sip is as delicious as intended, avoid making substitutions unless otherwise noted.

Whisk all of the ingredients together in your slow cooker. If you need a recommendation, I own and love this one. Any slow cooker between 4.5 to 7 quarts is fine.. I can’t find the same exact color any longer, but here it is in a darker blue shade.

As the slow cooker does its job, be sure to whisk the mixture every 45 minutes to 1 hour. Cook it on low for 5 hours or on high for 3 hours.

Required for serving: lots of marshmallows or even homemade marshmallows. Or even a (BIG) dollop of homemade whipped cream! And if you really want to go overboard with dessert (don’t we all?), serve this hot chocolate with hot cocoa cookies.

Optional Toppings & Flavors:

• Caramel: Drizzle a little salted caramel on top of each serving.
• Peppermint: Whisk 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract into the mixture when you add the vanilla extract. As the cocoa warms, taste, and add more if desired. Garnish each mug with a candy cane.
• Espresso: Before mixing all of the ingredients together in the slow cooker, warm 1 cup of whole milk in the microwave or on the stove. Whisk 1 Tablespoon of espresso powder into it, then combine the espresso milk with the other ingredients in the slow cooker per the recipe instructions.