My Family’s Most Treasured Christmas Tradition
I’ve shared many of my family’s holiday traditions here on PWWB over the years. Cinnamon Rolls, Christmas Eve Lasagna and Individual Beef Wellington will always be high on the list, but my all-time, most favorite and treasured family tradition is Christmas Morning Cocoa.
At our house, Christmas morning starts off slow and cozy – at least until my niece and nephew wake up! As soon as we hear their excited whispers and the sound of little feet racing around the Christmas tree, it’s go-time: we exchange “Merry Christmas!” wishes, dive into the perfectly wrapped presents, and, of course, Aunt Jess heads straight to the kitchen to whip up a big pot of Christmas Morning Cocoa.
This cocoa is unapologetically decadent, ultra-chocolatey, and super rich. There’s nothing light about it and that’s one of the reasons why we love it so much. It’s a once-a-year hot cocoa and it’s seriously perfect for a special occasion like Christmas morning.
As a bonus, it’s made with just a few simple ingredients, and couldn’t be easier to throw together on the stovetop. We love topping it with freshly whipped cream, shaved chocolate, and marshmallows, but you can also dress your Christmas hot chocolate up with other flavors, spike it, or set up a Christmas hot cocoa bar. It’s the most delicious tradition, and I’m so excited to share it with you!
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How to Make Hot Cocoa (From Scratch!)
Nobody has time for complex on Christmas morning! That’s one of the reasons I love this homemade cocoa recipe so much. With just a few pantry staple ingredients, this Christmas hot chocolate couldn’t be simpler to throw together. It’s a one-pot operation, and takes about 15 minutes, start to finish.
Serving Suggestions
The best part about Christmas morning cocoa? Pouring it into a cozy mug and diving on in!
A few serving ideas:
- Keep it classic – Which is just how we like it at my house! We top our Christmas hot chocolate with freshly whipped cream and shaved chocolate. I like to keep some marshmallows on hand for the kids, too.
- or, jazz it up! Get creative and have fun with it! Add in espresso powder or coffee to make the best mocha you’ll ever have, or add a little peppermint extract (and garnish with crushed peppermint candies) for festive peppermint hot chocolate. Drizzle in some salted caramel for extra sweetness (salted caramel hot cocoa is to.die.for!) or stir in peanut butter or tahini for a nutty twist. You get the idea – have fun with it!
- Make it boozy! A little splash of Bailey’s never hurt anyone…just saying!
- Set up a Christmas hot cocoa bar – Or, make it a choose your own adventure. Set up a hot chocolate bar with plenty of toppings (whipped cream, marshmallows, shaved chocolate and more) and mix-ins (coffee, flavored syrups, nut butter, booze), and let your family + friends mix up their own creations. You seriously can’t go wrong!
Decadent, festive, creamy, dreamy, majorly chocolatey cocoa bliss! My family treasures our Christmas Hot Chocolate, and I know yours will love it too.
If you give it a try, be sure to let me know!: Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about and seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡
Print
Seriously Rich & Creamy Christmas Hot Chocolate
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: serves 8–10 1x
- Category: Beverages, Drinks & Cocktails
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Decadent, ultra-chocolatey and extra creamy Christmas Hot Chocolate! Homemade hot cocoa is made from scratch with milk, heavy cream, bittersweet chocolate, and a few other pantry staples, in 15 minutes or less.
Top your cocoa with freshly whipped cream, shaved chocolate, and marshmallows, or set up a cocoa bar with all the fixings. This hot chocolate is rich, perfect for special holiday mornings, and majorly Santa-approved!
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole milk
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- one (1) 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 12 ounces bittersweet chocolate (chips or finely chopped)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- optional: 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- for serving, as desired: freshly whipped cream, shaved chocolate, crushed peppermint candies
Instructions
- Prepare the hot chocolate: Add all listed ingredients (milk, cream, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate, vanilla, salt) to medium pot or saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a very light simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted and the hot cocoa is smooth; the cocoa will thicken some as it simmers.
- Serve immediately, topped as desired. We like our Christmas Cocoa topped with lots of freshly whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Marshmallows always encouraged. Enjoy!
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Wow! the best recipe I’ve ever made. Delicious.
Wow Karen, that’s such high praise! We’re biased but we definitely agree this cocoa is incredible! 🙂