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Easy Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
This Easy Instant Pot Hot Chocolate recipe is rich, creamy, thick, and made from scratch using just 6 ingredients. It is the best holiday drink recipe you will ever need and is perfect for parties, holidays, and family gatherings! Serve it topped with some marshmallows or whipped cream, or create a Hot Chocolate Bar.
Equipment
Ingredients
Hot Chocolate Ingredients
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream or half and half
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk, bittersweet chocolate chips, or bar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
Optional Toppings
- Marshmallows, whipped cream, ground cinnamon, chocolate shavings, candy cane, chocolate chips, Butterscotch chips, and Chocolate Straws (optional)
Instructions
Instant Pot Method:
- Sanitize the instant pot steel insert, lid, and sealing ring thoroughly. Preferably use an extra sealing ring for sweet foods.
- While the Instant Pot is switched off, add water (2 tablespoons), milk, cream, chocolate chips, sugar, vanilla, and condensed milk to the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot.
- Mix well and close the lid with the vent in the sealing position. Cook on manual or pressure cook mode at High pressure for 2 minutes. Once the cooking completes, allow a natural pressure release. Do not do quick-release.
- Open the lid once the steam has settled and the valve has dropped.
- There may be a milk layer (cream/malai) formed on top, mix well until well combined. You can serve it right away or if you prefer it silky smooth go ahead and strain it.
- You can strain it using a sieve into another clean container or directly into the serving cups.
- Delicious, creamy and Best Instant Pot hot chocolate is ready!! Enjoy!!
Stovetop Method:
- Combine milk, cream, sugar, and condensed milk in a thick bottomed pan and bring it to a near boil (scald but don't boil it).
- Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 seconds intervals until completely melted. Do not recommend adding the chocolate chips directly to the hot milk as that results in a grainy texture.
- Stir in the melted chocolate and vanilla in the hot milk and mix until smooth and creamy.
Crockpot or slow cooker method.
- Add all the ingredients - milk, cream, chocolate chips, sugar, vanilla, and condensed milk to the crockpot. Mix well.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is hot and chocolate chips are melted.
- Once it is heated through and chocolate is melted, switch the slow cooker to the warm setting. Stir before serving.
Video
Notes
Use good-quality milk, cream, and chocolate. Higher-quality chocolate can significantly impact the flavor of your hot chocolate.
For a creamier and richer hot chocolate, use a combination of milk and heavy cream. The cream can be replaced with half and half or just whole milk for a lighter texture. You can use 1% or 2% milk, but the fattier the milk the creamier your drinking chocolate will be.
For a dairy-free version, almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk can be great alternatives.
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.
Adjust the sweetness level according to your preference. You can use more or less sugar accordingly.
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.
Nutrition
Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 69mg | Potassium: 417mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 814IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 214mg | Iron: 2mg
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