Creamy Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Recipe

The Absolute Best Crockpot Hot Chocolate — truly the creamiest, most chocolatey hot chocolate you’ll make in a slow cooker. Rich, smooth, and perfect for chilly evenings and holiday gatherings.

This recipe is ideal for the holidays: the air turns crisp, it’s cuddle season, and a big pot of hot chocolate brings everyone together. Even when weather is unpredictable — like here in Georgia, where a morning can feel brisk and an afternoon warms up to the 70s — a steaming mug of hot chocolate feels right at Christmastime.

This Crockpot Hot Chocolate brings back cozy memories of family nights: my mom handing out cups while we curled up in the living room to watch holiday movies. For me, The Grinch was always a favorite.

Ingredients Needed:

1 half-gallon (8 cups) milk — whole or reduced-fat, as you prefer

2 pints (4 cups) heavy whipping cream

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 tsp mint extract (optional — it adds a bright, crisp note without making the drink taste strongly minty)

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 bag milk chocolate chips

1 cup sugar

1 cup cocoa powder

Set the crockpot to low heat. Add the wet ingredients first — milk, heavy cream, and sweetened condensed milk — then stir in the vanilla and mint extracts. Once the wet ingredients are warm and combined, gradually add the sugar, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips, stirring to incorporate.

Cocoa powder can be tricky to blend because it resists mixing with liquids at first; take your time and whisk or stir vigorously until it’s fully combined and smooth.

Once everything is well combined, let the mixture cook on low for 2–3 hours. The longer it gently simmers, the thicker and creamier it becomes. Stir every so often to prevent sticking and to help the chocolate melt evenly.

This is one of my favorite crockpot recipes — I use my slow cooker several times a week, and this hot chocolate ranks at the top. After taking photos, my family dove in and devoured it quickly — which is the best compliment a recipe can get!

(I tried to show how thick and creamy it was and ended up making a little mess — but it tasted amazing.)

Yield: 12 cups

The Absolute Best Crockpot Hot Chocolate

Prep Time
15 minutes

Cook Time
2 hours

Total Time
2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

half gallon (8 cups) milk
4 cups heavy whipping cream
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp mint extract (optional)
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 bag milk chocolate chips
1 cup sugar
1 cup cocoa powder

Instructions

Set the crockpot to low heat.
Combine all wet ingredients in the crockpot, then add the dry ingredients. Stir thoroughly to dissolve the sugar and incorporate the cocoa. Cook on low for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally until the mixture is smooth and creamy.