Description
Rich and creamy Mexican hot chocolate simmers effortlessly in a crockpot, blending deep cocoa flavors with warming spices. Chocolate enthusiasts can indulge in this comforting beverage that warms hearts and delights senses.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (680 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream
- 1 (14 oz / 397 g) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- Whipped cream (optional)
- Mini marshmallows (optional)
- Chocolate syrup (optional)
- Caramel drizzle (optional)
- Crushed candy canes (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Lightly grease crockpot interior to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Liquid Foundation: Combine whole milk, heavy cream, and sweetened condensed milk, whisking to create a luxurious, velvety base for the hot chocolate.
- Chocolate Integration: Gradually add chocolate chips, stirring gently to distribute evenly and facilitate smooth melting throughout the mixture.
- Flavor Enhancement: Introduce vanilla extract and a delicate pinch of salt to elevate the chocolate’s complexity and harmonize the overall sweetness.
- Slow Infusion: Cover crockpot and set to low temperature, allowing ingredients to meld and transform over approximately two hours, stirring intermittently to promote uniform heating and prevent chocolate from settling.
- Texture Refinement: Verify the mixture’s consistency, ensuring chocolate chips have completely dissolved into a silky, homogeneous liquid with no visible solids.
- Serving Preparation: Ladle the decadent hot chocolate into warming mugs, offering optional garnishes like fluffy marshmallows, cloud-like whipped cream, or a dusting of cocoa powder.
- Temperature Maintenance: If serving extended periods, switch crockpot to warm setting and occasionally stir to preserve ideal temperature and prevent surface film formation.
Notes
- Prevent Chocolate Burning: Gently stir mixture every 30 minutes to ensure even melting and avoid chocolate scorching at the bottom of the crockpot.
- Control Chocolate Consistency: Use a combination of milk chocolate and dark chocolate chips for deeper, more complex flavor profile and smoother texture.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute whole milk and heavy cream with coconut milk or almond milk for lactose-intolerant or vegan guests, maintaining creamy richness.
- Temperature Management: Keep crockpot on low setting and switch to warm when serving to preserve silky consistency and prevent overheating or separation of ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Drinks, Desserts
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg