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Rich, velvety hot cocoa made with bittersweet chocolate and caramel sauce then topped off with whipped cream for a delicious winter drink.

The weather is finally getting colder. In fact it went from being 70 degrees one day to being in the 40’s the next day. To say it’s been a big shock would be an understatement. I don’t like the cold weather to begin with a the huge shift in temperatures has left me chilled most evenings.

In order to warm up I like to drink a hot beverage because I’m a firm believer in warming up from the inside out. I can put on as many layers as I want but if my core isn’t warm I’m not going to warm up either.

One of my favorite cold weather drinks is hot chocolate. There’s just something about curling up under a blanket with a rich cup of cocoa to make me feel warm and cozy.

Ingredients:

whole milk
bittersweet chocolate baking bar
caramel sauce
whipped cream

To Make the Hot Chocolate: Combine the milk, chocolate, and caramel sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is simmering. Remove from heat and divide between two mugs. Top with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

I know a lot of people just use instant hot cocoa and that’s fine in a pinch but it’s so easy to make your own hot cocoa at home. It uses minimal ingredients and you can customize it any way you want.

I decided to make homemade hot chocolate and I was pretty excited about it. It uses just 3-5 ingredients and it only takes about five minutes and then I have a delicious mug of homemade hot cocoa.

Do I have to use whole milk?

No you don’t though it will make the creamiest hot chocolate. You can use 2% or even skim milk. If you don’t use cow’s milk you can use oat milk or almond milk in the recipe but you may need to increase the amount of chocolate to thicken it up.

Can I use a different type of chocolate?

Yes! Use your favorite kind of chocolate bar. I wouldn’t use chocolate chips because they aren’t made to melt. I have used milk chocolate and dark chocolate in this hot chocolate and both have tasted great. I did like the bittersweet only because I thought it toned down the sweetness of the caramel a bit.

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

I wouldn’t recommend making it in a slow cooker but you can certainly keep it warm in a slow cooker if you are having a party. You can make 4, 5, or 6 times the recipe then put it in the slow cooker on low or keep warm for guests.

Where did you get those cool mugs?

I got my clear mugs from Amazon. I love using a clear mug whenever I have a coffee or hot chocolate drink with whipped cream or foam on top because I like being able to see the layers in the glass.

I was feeling like some really decadent and didn’t want my regular hot cocoa. I’ve been loving caramel lately so I went into the kitchen and whipped up this Caramel Hot Chocolate with just four ingredients.

It doesn’t even need any additional sugar in it because the caramel sauce has enough in it. Word to the wise, use a good quality chocolate to make your hot chocolate! Since there are only a few ingredients in this homemade hot cocoa the chocolate is really the star.

More Hot Chocolate Recipes:

The cocoa was amazing. It had a deep, rich chocolate flavor that was enhanced by the caramel. The whipped cream and caramel drizzle were just the cherry on top of this hot chocolate. I could have had several cups of this cocoa and it warmed me up just like I had hoped.

If you’ve tried my Caramel Hot Chocolate or any other recipe on Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on: