This decadent Crock Pot Hot Chocolate recipe is one I turn to time and time again! It’s such an easy way to make hot cocoa for a crowd.

Snowy days, Christmas, cozy nights in … there are so many reasons to enjoy hot chocolate! This Crock Pot Hot Chocolate makes whipping up a big, rich batch super easy – and it’s rich, creamy, and super chocolatey. Plus, we’re talking just a couple minutes prep time and only 5 ingredients!

A white ladle pours crock pot hot cocoa into a mug.

Table of Contents

Two mugs full of crock pot hot chocolate with whipped cream and pinecones in the background completing a wintery scene.

The Story Behind the Recipe

I wanted to create a large-batch hot chocolate recipe that was super easy to make, stayed nice and warm for whenever the crowd is ready to start sipping, and was pretty hands-off. Needless to say, the Crock Pot was the answer!

crock pot hot cocoa in a white mug with whipped cream on a wooden board. Green foliage, marshmallows, and a spoonful of whipping cream are tin the b background.

I strived to keep this Crock Pot hot chocolate recipe as simple as possible. If you’re using the Crock Pot, you’re probably already looking for hands-off and easy. I know I am! So I pared it down to what, I feel, are only the necessary ingredients yet still deliver a creamy, dreamy, chocolatey hot cocoa situation.

And you can even pare down even further, if you like, by subbing milk for the whipping cream and using a sweeter chocolate chip then skipping the sugar.

ingredients for crock pot hot chocolate

Ingredients

  • Heavy whipping cream – Rich and creamy heavy whipping cream makes a luxurious hot chocolate. If you want a simpler, lighter hot cocoa, you can sub in 2 additional cups of milk.
  • Milk – Whole milk or 2%, preferably.
  • Chocolate chips – I like to go with semi-sweet chocolate chips.
  • Sugar – Start with two tablespoons, then stir in a third if you think it needs to be a bit sweeter.
  • Salt – Optional, but a hefty pinch of salt helps to highlight the chocolate flavors while helping tame the sweetness.
  • Pure vanilla extract – Adds another note of sweet, cozy flavor.

Adaptations/Variations

  • Vegan/dairy-free hot cocoa: Substitute the whole milk and heavy whipping cream with 6 cups of full-fat unsweetened oat milk and make sure your chocolate chips and whipping cream are dairy-free. If vegan, skip the marshmallows or buy vegan marshmallows like Dandies brand. 
  • Almond hot cocoa: I once accidentally dumped almond extract into a warm batch of Crock Pot hot cocoa. Almond extract is strong – you need a lot less of almond vs. vanilla! But when I cautiously tasted it to see if I could salvage it, it was absolutely delicious! Though I recommend maybe only 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract instead of the full teaspoon if you try this.

How to Make Crock Pot Hot Cocoa

It’s super easy to make this hot chocolate recipe in the Crock Pot. Just add all of the ingredients, except the vanilla, to your Crock Pot, and turn it up to high. Stir every 30 minutes or so until steaming hot and the chocolate chips are melted. Switch the Crock Pot to the “warm” setting to keep the hot cocoa warm without it boiling.

Add the vanilla extract, taste and add more sugar if you like, and serve with copious amounts of whipped cream and/or marshmallows!

A white and wood ladle scoops hot cocoa out of a crock pot.

Tips for Success

  • This is more of a hands-on Crock Pot recipe than most. While it is super simple and easy, you’ll want to be around so that you can stir it every 30 minutes or so to help the chocolate chips melt and distribute without sticking to the bottom of the Crock Pot.
  • Make it a hot cocoa bar. Serve the warm Crock Pot of hot cocoa alongside a variety of toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, candy canes, nuts, toffee, cookies, coffee syrups, chocolate syrup, and more. You can even provide disposable travel mugs with lids and sleeves if they need to take their hot cocoa on the go!

I hope you love this Crock Pot Hot Chocolate recipe as much as we do! It’s simple and easy, the perfect way to get piping hot cocoa into the hands of a gaggle of kids or group of grown-ups.

A white mug with hot cocoa in it and marshmallows and chocolate chips scattered in the background.

More Crock Pot Drink Recipes

crock pot hot cocoa in a white mug with whipped cream on top
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Crock Pot Hot Chocolate Recipe

Author: Kare
Yield: 8
Rich, creamy, and chocolatey! A big batch of hot cocoa that stays warm for a crowd. Only 5 ingredients and almost entirely hands off!
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream (1 [16-ounce] container)
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 bag)
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients except for the vanilla extract to your Crock Pot.
  • Switch the Crock Pot to high and cook for 3-4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes or so until the chocolate chips are melted and the hot cocoa is steaming hot, at which point you should switch the Crock Pot to “warm.”
  • Stir in the vanilla and ladle into cups to serve. Top with whipped cream and/or marshmallows.

Notes

Vegan/dairy-free option:

Substitute the whole milk and heavy whipping cream with 6 cups of full-fat unsweetened oat milk and make sure your chocolate chips and whipping cream are dairy-free. If vegan, skip the marshmallows or buy vegan marshmallows like Dandies brand. 

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1mug, Calories: 555kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 43g, Saturated Fat: 26g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 67mg, Potassium: 496mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 1095IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 217mg, Iron: 3mg

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