Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate is the perfect holiday drink. It’s an easy, creamy chocolaty candy cane cocoa everyone will love!
There’s nothing better than curling up with a warm drink like Hot Chocolate or Apple Cider on a winter afternoon. This recipe for Crockpot Hot Chocolate is easy to serve as a festive Dessert with an extra holiday flavor of peppermint added.
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe
It’s hard to think of anything cozier than enjoying hot cocoa around the Christmas tree. And with its candy cane flavor, this Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate is perfect for the holiday season! Instead of making hot cocoa fresh on the stovetop, you can prep it in advance and leave it simmering in the crockpot. Put it out during a potluck, party, or Christmas Eve for everyone to enjoy throughout the evening.
Along with its convenience, my peppermint hot chocolate tastes absolutely wonderful and you’ll notice that there’s no extra sugar in the drink! The chocolate with peppermint blends into the vanilla and creamy ingredients perfectly for the ultimate holiday cocoa. It is sure to be a huge hit with kids and adults alike!
Ingredients
- 6 cups Whole Milk: This is the creamy base of the hot chocolate. You’ll want to use whole milk because of its higher fat content. You can substitute with 2% milk but the texture will not be as rich.
- 1 cup Heavy Cream: Even if you use low-fat milk, this adds the velvety creaminess to the hot chocolate.
- 2 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: These two tablespoons add dark chocolate flavor to the base of the drink mix.
- 2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: There’s no extra sugar besides what is found in the chocolate chips, and these will be melted into the milk and cream. You can substitute with semi-sweet dark chocolate chips for a more intense chocolate flavor or use milk chocolate chips for a sweeter but milder taste.
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt: This flavor enhancer helps bring out the depth of chocolate flavor.
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds a comforting warmth and it has a natural sweetness.
- ½ teaspoon Peppermint Extract: Peppermint extract gives this cocoa its festive candy cane flavor! You can also use regular mint extract.
How to Make
Time needed: 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Base
In the slow cooker combine the milk, heavy cream, and cocoa powder. Whisk these together until the mixture is nice and smooth.
- Add Chocolate and Salt
Add the chocolate chips and salt to the slow cooker and stir them into the milk mixture well.
- Cook on Low
Set your slow cooker to low and cook for 1-2 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent any melting chocolate from sticking to the bottom.
- Add Extracts
When ready to serve, stir in the vanilla extract and peppermint extract and whisk well.
- Serve Warm
Serve the hot chocolate immediately. If you’re serving it at a party, keep the slow cooker on the warm setting and keep it covered to prevent drying out. Stir before serving each time to maintain the smooth creaminess. Enjoy!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 6 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Instructions
- To your slow cooker add the milk, heavy cream, and cocoa powder, whisk very well until smooth.
- Add in the chocolate chips and salt and stir.
- Cook on low for 1-2 hours.
- Whisk well until chocolate chips are fully melted.
- Add vanilla extract and peppermint extract, whisk well and serve immediately.
- If serving during a party, keep covered and on warm, and stir before serving each time.
Nutrition
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Chef’s Note: Hot Cocoa Bar
A fun way to serve this festive treat is to have bowls of optional toppings to make your own little hot chocolate bar. This way everyone can just pick their favorites to make personalized mugs of Hot Chocolate. Mini marshmallows, candy cane bits, chocolate shavings, Chocolate Ganache, Salted Caramel Sauce, sprinkles, and Whipped Cream are some delicious options. For a holiday party, make my Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board for the perfect toppings and treats for your candy cane cocoa!
Can This Be Made Ahead?
While this is best served fresh, yes, you can make this a day or two ahead. Prepare and cook as directed, then cool and refrigerate in an airtight container. Reheat in the slow cooker and keep on the low/warm setting. Enjoy!
Nutritional Facts
How to Store
- Store: Crockpot Peppermint Hot Chocolate shouldn’t be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If you’re planning to leave it out for a party, just leave the slow cooker on low heat and stir it before each time you serve it. If you have leftover hot chocolate, let it cool down then put it in an airtight container to store in the fridge. It will stay good for 4 days.
- Reheating Tips: You can reheat individual portions in the microwave or smaller portions on the stovetop on medium heat. If reheating for a party, reheat in the slow cooker on low heat and keep covered so it doesn’t dry out.
- Freeze: You can even freeze Hot Chocolate for up to 3 months. Just let it thaw in the fridge and then reheat it on the stove or in a slow cooker. Mix it thoroughly before serving.
How to Gift Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Homemade treats are great for frugal gift ideas. While you can’t exactly deliver a mug of hot chocolate in the mail to your friends and relatives, you can make this into an adorable and thoughtful Christmas gift.
- Start by adding the cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and salt to a mason jar.
- You can add on additional toppings like candy cane bits, and mini marshmallows to fill the space on top.
- Seal the Hot Cocoa Mix and tie a ribbon or twine around the top.
- You can type up the liquid ingredients and instructions. Then print it out as a tag and tie it to the mug. That way everyone who gets the gift will be able to make their own delicious Peppermint Hot Chocolate.
Frequent Questions
Make sure you whisk the cocoa powder into the milk and cream at the beginning and before each time you serve. Using whole milk and heavy cream also helps maintain a thick and creamy consistency.
You can use dark chocolate chips for a more intense flavor or regular milk chocolate chips which will have a sweeter taste.
Variations
- Type of Milk: You can change the type of milk you use in Peppermint Hot Chocolate. Try out almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk for dairy-free options.
- Dark Chocolate: For a more bittersweet chocolate flavor, use dark chocolate instead of semisweet. You can use dark chocolate chips or cut up a bar of chocolate to put the pieces in the recipe.
- White Chocolate: Substitute half of the regular chocolate chips with white chocolate chips for an even creamier cocoa with lots of sweet vanilla flavor.
- Extra Peppermint: For a little peppermint crunch, break apart pieces of peppermint candies or use candy cane bits to sprinkle over the top. Alternatively, you could stick whole canes in as a garnish in each mug.
- Boozy Hot Chocolate: For a little kick of alcohol, mix in 1 ½ to 2 cups of Baileys Irish Cream, Peppermint Schnapps, or your favorite type of liqueur to the crockpot before serving.
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Photos used in previous versions of this post.
I may be a man, however it isn’t unusual for a man to collect recipes.
Sounds really delicious! But is it the heavy cream that makes it so high in calories?