The THICKEST and CREAMIEST Hot Chocolate Recipe EVER! (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my hot chocolate thicker? ›

If the hot chocolate doesn't thicken, add a slurry of cornstarch and milk (dissolve ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch in a tablespoon of cold milk) to the hot chocolate and continue stirring over medium high heat until slightly thickened.

In mainland Europe (particularly Spain and Italy), hot chocolate is sometimes served very thick due to the use of a thickening agent such as cornstarch.

It's believed that the origins of hot chocolate, or rather its earliest version, can be traced back to around 500 BC in the regions of present-day Mexico. The ancient Mayans, a civilisation with an advanced understanding of agriculture and astronomy, were one of the first to cultivate the cacao tree.

Dairy Milk: Full cream dairy milk remains a classic choice for a rich, velvety hot chocolate. Plant-Based Milks: Soy, oat, almond, and coconut milks offer delightful plant-based alternatives, each adding a unique twist.

A simple way to make your Hot chocolate delicious is by opting for full fat milk or a higher fat milk alternatives like coconut milk or even half-and-half this will naturally increase the creaminess and thickness of your hot chocolate.

You may think something this decadent is made with heavy cream, but it's not! With real chocolate, cocoa powder, 2 percent milk, and cornstarch used to thicken it, this Cioccolato Caldo is much richer, and enjoyed in smaller quantities than American-style hot cocoa.

But not just any chocolate: A cup of thick and rich French chocolat chaud. This exquisite blend of butter, melted chocolate, and whole milk doesn't resemble anything similar to the murky, watery hot chocolate we're used to in America.

Mexican hot chocolate contains spices like cinnamon and chili and chopped bittersweet chocolate to create a very rich but less sweet flavor. Whereas traditional American hot chocolate is usually made with a combination of cocoa powder and/or chocolate and tends to be more on the sweet side.

The cornstarch version thickened quickly, making the hot chocolate very thick and creamy, and in the end we decided on a combination of cornstarch and confectioner's sugar, for the ideal texture and sweetness.

Flavorful add-ins can transform simple hot cocoa into something special. Sweet add-ins include marshmallows, whipped cream, caramel, flavored spreads, and maple syrup. To transform cocoa into a co*cktail, add flavored liqueurs or traditional spirits.

How to not get lumps in hot chocolate? ›

Make a paste with the hot cocoa mix and one or two tablespoons of the milk. Make sure all the cocoa mix is moistened, and then stir in the rest of the milk.

It Started in Mexico

As early as 500 BC, the Mayans were drinking chocolate made from ground-up cocoa seeds mixed with water, cornmeal, and chili peppers (as well as other ingredients)—a much different version from the hot chocolate we know today.

Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.

If the recipe uses cocoa powder, I'll use two teaspoons of cornstarch. Add the cornstarch directly to the small amount of liquid and stir it until dissolved. Once the pot of liquid begins to boil, stir in the cornstarch slurry. The milk will thicken slightly within 10 to 20 seconds.

Add more chocolate

Therefore, the texture becomes more runny and liquid-like. Therefore, our chefs recommend you to add chopped chocolate into the ganache to thicken it back. If you are using chocolate coins, then you don't need to chop it up.

Add thickening powder as required. Hot, milky drinks, such as Horlicks, hot chocolate or Ovaltine, thicken well. If you do not like milk, try the hot drink sachets where you just add boiling water. These also thicken well.

Want it thicker? Try adding a teaspoon for cornstarch before blending. Make it a Chocolate Milkshake by adding vanilla ice cream!