Instant Pot Hot Chocolate

Winter is all about cozy blankets, snuggles, and a mug full of hot chocolate, isn't it?

My family loves hot chocolate (who doesn't right??), so it is almost a tradition now to start Holidays with one.

I make it quite often and after many trials, I now have the perfect recipe that is easy and turns out superb every time.

We prefer our chocolate thick, rich, and full of chocolate flavor, not the runny powder kind.

So if you have a similar preference here is a keeper recipe that is better than any cafe!

In this post, sharing how to make the best hot chocolate in an Instant pot, slow cooker, and stovetop.

This hot chocolate is

• easy and delicious
• thick, creamy, and smooth
• made with real ingredients
• no cocoa powder
• vegetarian and gluten-free
• requires no babysitting
• keeps warm until served
• cozy and comforting

Hot chocolate is a sweetened and flavored drink made of milk and melted chocolate.

It is also known as drinking chocolate and is usually served hot topped with marshmallows or whipped cream or chocolate shavings. 

Hot chocolate and hot cocoa may be used interchangeably but are not the same.

Hot cocoa is usually cocoa powder in hot milk, sweetened with sugar. It is usually sweeter and lighter.

The store-bought Instant hot chocolate mix or hot cocoa mix is definitely hot cocoa and not hot chocolate.

This recipe is a true hot chocolate made with real ingredients like milk, cream, sugar, condensed milk, chocolate chips and flavored with vanilla and no cocoa powder.

Hot chocolate in Instant Pot

To make hot chocolate in an Instant Pot, just add the 6 ingredients and cook for 2 mins followed by natural release.

Stir, strain, and serve. Add some toppings and enjoy the creamy luscious drink. Check the video for how I make it!!

I love making it in Instant pot as it comes out perfect every time and also since it allows me to multitask.

It's been my go-to method for a few years now since it's so easy and lets you be hand-free and enjoy your favorite movie or activity with family while it's being made.

Another bonus, it will stay warm when done until ready to serve. Making it perfect for gatherings and crowds too.

For those who don't use Instant Pot, sharing the stovetop and slow cooker version in the recipe card below.

Recipe Ingredients

Dairy - I prefer to use whole milk and heavy cream in a 3:1 ratio. Heavy cream can be replaced with half and half (1:1) or milk if you prefer to keep it lighter and not too thick. But the original ratio is what I recommend.

Chocolate - This is the key ingredient. I use the semi-sweet chocolate chips as I usually have those in stock.

Substitutes are bittersweet or milk chocolate chips or a chopped chocolate bar.

Sweetener - I prefer a combination of sugar and condensed milk and highly recommend it. But you can use either of these as well.

Flavor - I like to keep it simple and classic and flavor it just with vanilla extract.

Step by Step Recipe (Instant Pot)

Sanitize the instant pot steel insert, lid, and sealing ring thoroughly. Preferably use an extra sealing ring for sweet foods.

Steps 1-6 While the instant pot is switched off, add the 2 tbsp water, milk, cream, chocolate chips, sugar, vanilla, and condensed milk to the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot.

Step 7 and 8 - Give it a good mix and close the lid with vent to sealing. Cook on manual high for 2 mins. Wait for natural release.

Avoid quick-release as that will cause the milk to splatter through the vent. It's really messy.

This is the most difficult part of the recipe, to wait 🙂

Step 9 - Open the lid once the steam has settled and the vent has dropped.

Step 10 - There may be milk layer (malai) formed, mix well until well combined. You can serve it right away or if you prefer it silky smooth go ahead and strain it.

Step 11 - You can strain it using a sieve into another clean container or into the serving cup directly.

Step 12 - Delicious, decadent, thick and creamy hot chocolate is ready!! Enjoy!!

Serving Suggestions

Serve your hot chocolate warm on its own or, topped with marshmallows, whipped cream, or chocolate shavings. These are my go-to toppings.

During Holidays, to make it even more fun and festive for a movie night or when entertaining, I set up a hot chocolate bar that way each one can customize their chocolate to their choice and taste.

For the bar, I set out small bowls of a few of our favorite toppings, Marshmallows, whipped cream, cinnamon, wafer rolls, candy cane (regular and crushed), chocolate, and butterscotch chips, M&M's, sprinkles are just to name a few along with the chocolate syrup, and butterscotch syrup to drizzle on.

For more indulgence, top it with vanilla icecream!! Yum!

Recipe Tips and Notes

• Sanitize the instant pot steel insert, lid, and sealing ring thoroughly. Preferably use an extra sealing ring for sweet foods.
• Use good quality milk, cream, and chocolate. 
• The whole milk and cream combination yields the best texture.
• You can use 1% or 2% milk, but the fattier the milk the creamier your drinking chocolate will be.
• The cream can be replaced with half and half for a lighter texture.
• You can use other types of chocolate than the semi-sweet, such as milk, white chocolate, or bittersweet. Adjust the sugar based on chocolate used like bittersweet may need slightly more.
• Condensed milk acts as a sweetener and also helps make the chocolate thicker and creamier. So highly recommend adding it along with sugar.
• Increase or decrease the sweetness to your liking.
• For variation, you can swap vanilla extract with peppermint extract for a minty hot chocolate or cinnamon for a spiced version.
• This recipe can be easily doubled.
• Adding some water before adding the ingredients prevents the burn sign as some models are prone to it.
• Don't try the quick release with Instant pot, learned it the hard way. The milk will splatter all over and is a huge mess.

FAQ's

More cozy Winter recipes

• Masala Milk 
• Rajma Masala
• Tofu Noodle Soup
• Punjabi Khichdi