CrockPot Hot Chocolate with Instant Mix – Better Than Starbucks!

If you like hot chocolate, then you should try this easy crockpot hot chocolate with instant mix recipe.

It’s a creamy, rich, and highly customizable hot chocolate drink. And it is perfect for cold days, movie nights and holiday gatherings.

So, in this article, I’ll show you how to make the best crockpot hot chocolate using instant mix, plus I will also give you some optional add-ins and serving suggestions to make your experience even better.

 

Why You Should Try Crockpot Hot Chocolate with Instant Mix

There are a couple of reasons why I love making crockpot hot chocolate with instant mix and why I want you to try. 

• The first reason to love crockpot hot chocolate with instant mix is its convenience. You just have to use Instant Mix and follow the simple process. You won’t have to measure cocoa powder, sugar, or other ingredients; just pour some mix, and your crockpot will do the rest of the things.
• When cooked slowly in a crockpot, hot chocolate becomes more flavorful and has a luxurious, smooth, and creamy texture, which we usually don’t get on a stovetop.
• This recipe is highly customizable, you can add different types of toppings, sweeteners or even experiment with some of your own mix-ins.
• When hosting a party or enjoying a movie night, this crockpot chocolate is still recommended because, with less effort, you can make too much while having a chat with your guests or watching a movie.

Also read: Girl Scout Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies, It is chewy, chocolatey, and a perfect sweet pairing with hot drinks like this crockpot cocoa.

Ingredients for the Best Crockpot Hot Chocolate with Instant Mix

To make the best crockpot hot chocolate with instant mix, you will need only a few ingredients — and they might already be in your kitchen.

Below, I’ve included both the Main ingredients and some of my recommended add-ins that will work well for 3-ingredient crockpot hot chocolate, or more indulgent versions.

You can also make it for a holiday potluck, Christmas morning, or just to warm up on a cold day.

Main Ingredients:

• Instant Hot Chocolate Mix (1 ½ cups) – You will need to choose a high-quality mix for the best flavor, and you can even combine different brands for a unique taste. Some of the best brands that I recommend are…Swiss Miss, Ghirardelli, Nestlé, and Land O’Lakes, etc. These brands offer some rich and creamy texture, plus balanced chocolate flavor. But for decent taste, I like Ghirardelli and Swiss Miss (You can even blend them (both) for uniqueness)
• Milk (6 cups)—You can use any milk, but I prefer whole milk because it is good for creamy, full-bodied hot chocolate. Other versions, like 2% milk for lighter versions or plant-based milk like almond milk or oat milk, are fine, too.

Optional Add-Ins for Extra Flavor and Creaminess:

If you want to take your slow-cooker hot chocolate to the next level, I recommend trying any add-ins to enhance richness and flavor. I have tried most of these things, and I loved them.

• Heavy Cream or Half-and-Half (½ cup): If you add heavy cream, it will make your chocolate more thick and indulgent. And I really like thick beverages, especially hot chocolate. So you can try that too.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk (¼ cup): This is good if you want to add some sweetness and have a silky smooth texture.
• Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon) or a Pinch of Salt: Vanilla is good if you want to enhance chocolate flavor and a pinch of salt when you want to balance sweetness.
• Espresso Powder (½ teaspoon): You can add a espresso powder, if you want to make your drink more chocolatey (without making it overly strong). So it’s a good option for coffee lovers like me.
• Coconut Cream (¼ cup): It’s a dairy-free option for vegans, and it can bring some extra richness and subtle tropical note in your hot chocolate with instant mix.
• Caramel Sauce or Dulce de Leche (1 tablespoon): You can stir one tablespoon of it for a sweet and buttery flavor.
• Peanut Butter or Nutella (1 tablespoon): These both options are good for nutty depth and creamy depth in Crockpot hot cocoa. 
• Cinnamon or Pumpkin Spice (½ teaspoon): If you want to have a little bit of a spicy flavor, you can add them, especially in fall and winter.

With these ingredients and mix-ins, your crockpot hot chocolate will be creamy, flavorful, and highly customizable for any occasion!

 

How to Make Crockpot Hot Chocolate with Instant Mix

After bringing all the ingredients and deciding what add-ins you want to include for extra flavor and creaminess, here is the step-by-step guide that you need to follow.

Step 1: Grease Your Crockpot with Butter or Spray to Prevent Sticking

Before making this delicious homemade crockpot hot chocolate, you need to prepare your slow cooker or crockpot.

You can use non-stick spray, but I like butter because I’m a bit skinny, and I want a few extra calories. 

However, using grease will prevent milk and chocolate from sticking on the crockpot bottom. And you can also clean it easier.

Step 2: Add 1½ cups of Instant Hot Chocolate Mix (like Swiss Miss or Ghirardelli)

After that you would want to pour some instant chocolate mix (1 ½ cups) into the crockpot. I recommend you to go with a high quality instant mix. Or simply use different brands for a unique flavor.

Step 3: Pour in 6 Cups of Milk

All right, so after adding instant chocolate mix, you need to add your preferred milk (6 cups of whole milk is recommended for creaminess)

Btw! You should adjust if using another type

And, if you want, add the additional ingredients as measured above (e.g., ½ cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, etc.). 

Plus, if you want to use add-ins, (Heavy Cream, Vanilla extract, etc) add them right now for extra flavor and richness.

Step 4: Whisk Well to Dissolve the Mix Completely

After doing these things like grease, adding instant mix, additional ingredients for flavor, you will want to stir all these things using a whisk until all ingredients are not completely mixed.

Plus, you want to make sure there is no clump of instant mix. You just want to focus on making it smooth.

Step 5: Set Crockpot to Low Heat for 1–2 Hours

Now, turn your crockpot to low heat and let this mixture set up slowly.

When you are cooking on low heat, it will help all the flavors to meld together, which is good for creamy texture, even without scorching the milk.

You want to keep simmering it for around 1-2 hours.

Step 6: Stir Every 30 Minutes and Adjust Thickness

As I said, you want to keep it on low heat for around 1 or 2 hours, but you want to check the hot chocolate every 30 minutes and then stir it lightly. 

And in case the texture gets a little bit thick, which you don’t want, so you can add a little milk (a splash, about 1/4 cup) in that and then again stir it.

On the other hand, if it gets too thin, which you also don’t like, then you can simmer it for a longer time or just add a little more hot chocolate mix (start with an extra 1/4 cup).

Step 7: Serve Warm with Whipped Cream, Marshmallows, or Pistachios

Once the hot chocolate has reached your desired consistency, like thick or thin, whatever you want to have. (Btw, I prefer thick).

You want to pour that into a mug and top it with a cream. 

Besides this, for toppings you can also use marshmallow, chocolate shavings, or any of your favorite things. However, being a pistachio lover, I use that.

 

Troubleshooting Tips for the Perfect Crockpot Hot Chocolate

If your slow cooker hot chocolate turns out too thick or thin, this is what you can do:

• Is hot chocolate too thick? Add a little warm milk (about 1/4 cup) and stir until you get the perfect creamy hot chocolate consistency.
• Too thin? You want to simmer hot chocolate for a longer time, or you can stir in some more instant hot chocolate mix (1/4 cup). It will also make it thick.
• Not sweet enough? Consider adding some sugar, sweetened condensed milk, or honey.
• Lumpy texture? You need to use a whisk to break up lumps or a blender for a smoother finish.
• Is milk scalding? You can reduce the heat to warm or turn off the crockpot once the hot chocolate is ready. If you keep it on high for a longer period of time, it will cause milk scorching.

 

Creative Toppings for the Best Crockpot Hot Chocolate

Making crockpot hot chocolate with instant mix is easy, but one thing that will make it even more appealing and flavorful is topping. 

I have used most of these things which I mentioned down below, and I highly recommend you must add these things too.

Classic & Creamy Toppings:

• Whipped Cream (Classic or Flavored) – You must want to have it if you want a creamy chocolate. I recommend you try the flavor of whipped cream like caramel, peppermint, or cinnamon.
• Mini Marshmallows or Marshmallow Fluff – They will give an extra smooth and frothy texture, so you can melt them into your hot chocolate.

Chocolate Lover’s Toppings:

• Chocolate Shavings or Cocoa Powder – If you add a little bit dark, milk or even white chocolate shavings, it will make every sip more decadent.
• Chocolate Syrup Drizzle – If you want to deepen your drink richness, you can use a thick swirl of chocolate syrup.

Festive & Fun Toppings:

• Crushed Peppermint or Cinnamon Sprinkles – this is good, if you want to give your drink a holiday flair and a touch of spice.
• Crushed Cookies (Oreos, Biscoff, or Graham Crackers) – They’re good if you want a crunchy contrast to the creamy drink.For inspiration, you can check out my Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers or Copycat Chocolate Covered Oreos.

Crunchy & Nutty Additions:

• Toasted Coconut Flakes – It gives your drink a subtle tropical, nutty flavor.
• Chopped Nuts (Almonds, Pecans, or Hazelnuts) – A bit of crunch makes every sip interesting (I love pistachios, so I use them in more of my recipes)

Caramel & Sweet Extras:

• Caramel Drizzle or Butterscotch Sauce – You want to add this for a buttery and rich sweetness that pairs beautifully with your Crockpot hot chocolate recipe.
• Toffee Bits or Crushed Heath Bars – They’ll crunch some crunch with a deep caramelized flavor.

 

Presentation Ideas for a Stunning Mug of Hot Chocolate

As I said in the beginning, this crockpot hot chocolate with an instant mix recipe is quite good when you want to host guests, etc. 

So here are some presentation ideas that you need to incorporate to impress your guests, partner, even for yourself.

• You want to rim your chocolate mug with some hot chocolate and crushed candy cans to add festive touch and extra flavor in every sip.
• You can also drizzle in some Low-Calorie White Chocolate Sauce for an elegant look without too many calories.
• I recommend you to use a clear glass mug to show off the white cream drizzle and toppings layers. It will give a beautiful look to your drink.

 

What to Serve with Crockpot Hot Chocolate

If you serve your crockpot hot chocolate with an instant milk recipe and some more things, 

It will give you a more full dessert-like feeling which you can serve in breakfast, in gathering, etc. So here are some options that I recommend you to use based on occasion.

Best Desserts to Serve with Hot Chocolate

• Girl Scout Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies – soft, chewy, and perfect for dunking.
• Chocolate Fudge with Marshmallow Fluff – rich and indulgent with every sip.
• Brownies or Dark Chocolate Sweet Potato Fudge – a healthier and rich twist.
• Chocolate-Dipped Biscotti

Savory Pairings for a Sweet-and-Salty Balance

• Soft Pretzels with Cheese Dip
• Popcorn with a Sweet-and-Salty Seasoning 
• Salted Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, or Pecans)
• Buttered Crostini with Brie 

Perfect Breakfast Pairings:

• Flaky Croissants or Muffins
• Pancakes or Waffles 
• French Toast Sticks 
• Bakery Style Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Granola Bars or Oatmeal Cookies

 

Ingredient Substitutes for Crockpot Hot Chocolate

This easy Crockpot Hot Chocolate with instant mix is highly customizable. Here are some substitutes to suit your dietary needs and preferences. 

• Milk: There are many options that you can use if you don’t want to have a whole milk. So for dairy free option you can go with oat, coconut, or soy milk. I prefer almond milk for mild nutty flavor and oat milk for more naturally creaminess.
• Heavy Cream: You can substitute it with half and half, evaporated milk or full fat coconut milk. If you use half and half, it will give you a balance of milk and cream. While evaporated milk will give you cream-like depth flavor.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: You can replace it with milk and sugar mix, like 1 cup of milk plus 1⁄4 cup of sugar. It’s a homemade substitute for sweetness and thickness. 
• Instant Hot Chocolate Mix: You can replace it with cocoa powder, sugar, and a pinch of salt as a DIY alternative. You’ll need 1⁄4 cup of cocoa powder, 1⁄4 cup of sugar, and a pinch of salt for a similar chocolaty test. You also need to add nonfat dairy milk powder for a creamy texture.

 

Nutritional Value

Here’s a nutritional breakdown per serving (8 oz):

• Calories: 200-250 (depending on milk and add-ins).
• Fat: 8-10g (It also vary on cream and milk type you using).
• Sugar: 20-25g (you can adjust it based on mix and toppings).
• Protein: 6-8g.

Healthier Options:

• You can use low-fat milk or unsweetened almond milk.
• Opt for a sugar-free instant mix.
• If you don’t to consume too much calories, skip heavy cream and whipped cream for a lighter version.

Remember that it’s approximate nutrition value; the actual value will depend on the quantity of our ingredients, brands, etc. 

 

Tips for Perfect Crockpot Hot Chocolate Every Time

• Use whole milk or a combination of milk and cream for a richer texture – Whole milk will give a creamy base, heavy cream or half-and-half will enhance the velvety consistency. 
• Avoid overheating to prevent a grainy texture – High heat will scorch the milk or sometimes it can cause the chocolate to separate. So keep the crockpot on low heat and stir occasionally for a smooth, creamy drink.
• Keep it warm on the “warm” setting for hours without burning – Once your hot chocolate is ready, you need to switch your crockpot to the “warm” setting. It will drink at the right temperature without overcooking. 
• Clean your crockpot immediately after use to avoid residue buildup – Leftover chocolate get stick to the sides and it becomes tough to clean. I recommend you clean it as soon as possible.

 

Conclusion

This was the easy crockpot hot chocolate with instant mix recipe, which is a perfect cozy drink that you can make on any special occasion. 

Especially when you’re hosting birthday parties, celebrating anniversary, valentine, etc. I mean it’s good for all types of gathering.

Besides this, it is highly customizable, and on top of that, you can serve too many things. 

Now, I encourage you to try this easy crockpot hot chocolate recipe and serve it with your favorite toppings and mix-ins.

Let me know in the comments how it turned out, what ingredients you used, and your favorite hot chocolate variations!

All the best!

 

FAQs About the Crockpot Hot Chocolate with Instant Mix Recipe

Here are few questions and their answers to clear all your doubts:

Can I use water instead of milk?

Yes, you can use that, but I haven’t used it because using milk gives the drink a creamy and flavorful texture, which is important for hot chocolate. 

While if you use water, just because you want to experiment with that, it will make your drink thinner and it won’t be rich too. 

However, if you still want to use water, I highly recommend that you use some heavy cream or non-dairy creamer for extra body.

How long can I keep it in the crockpot?

You want to use the warm setting in your crockpot if you do, so you can keep your hot chocolate with instant mix warm for around 4 hours.

But you need to stir it occasionally to maintain smooth consistency. 

You will especially want to use this feature when you are organizing a party or a dinner.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the hot chocolate with an instant mix around 3 days before serving it. 

But you will want to keep that in a cold place like a refrigerator and reheat it in a crock pot on low. And stir occasionally until it’s warm enough to serve.

Can I use cocoa powder instead of instant mix in crockpot hot chocolate?

Yes, you can do that; you will have to mix ¼ cup of cocoa powder, ¼ cup of sugar, and a pinch of salt as a DIY alternative to instant mix. Besides this, you should add dry milk powder for creaminess.

How to keep hot chocolate warm in crockpot for a party?

After cooking your drink, set the crockpot to “warm” and stir it occasionally. By doing so, you can keep it warm for up to 4 hours.

What’s the best way to reheat crockpot hot chocolate made ahead of time?

You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Ans, Reheat on low in the crockpot, also keep stirring it until fully warm.

What’s the best instant hot chocolate mix to use?

I like Swiss Miss, Ghirardelli, crockpot hot chocolate with instant mix.

You can also use homemade mix made from cocoa powder, sugar, and powder milk for customized flavor.