Christmas Eve is a time for cosying up by the fireplace with loved ones, sharing stories, and sipping a warm and comforting drink. And what better way to embrace the holiday spirit than with a rich and decadent cup of creamy hot chocolate?
This Christmas Eve Creamy Hot Chocolate recipe is the perfect indulgence to make your evening memorable. Its velvety texture and luscious flavours will become a beloved tradition for years.
How To make Christmas Eve Creamy Hot Chocolate Recipe?
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serving Size: 4
Ingredients
For the Hot Chocolate:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 8 ounces high-quality dark chocolate, chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
For Toppings (Optional):
- Whipped cream
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate shavings
- Cinnamon sticks
Step by Step Directions
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
Before you start, make sure you have all the ingredients on hand. This will make the process smooth and enjoyable.
Step 2: Chop the Chocolate
Take your high-quality dark chocolate and chop it into small pieces. The finer the chocolate, the easier it will melt into your hot chocolate, giving it that luxurious texture.
Step 3: Heat the Milk and Cream
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the whole milk and heavy cream. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and warm the mixture, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Be careful not to bring it to a boil; you want it hot but not scalded.
Step 4: Add Sugar and Cocoa
Once the milk and cream are warmed, add in the granulated sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder. Continue to stir until the sugar and cocoa are fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened.
Step 5: Add the Chocolate
Now, it’s time to add in the chopped dark chocolate. Stir continuously as the chocolate melts into the milk and cream, creating a velvety mixture. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
Step 6: Season with Vanilla and Salt
Once the chocolate is completely melted, remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the pure vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. The salt will enhance the chocolate’s flavor without making it salty.
Step 7: Serve
Pour your Christmas Eve Creamy Hot Chocolate into mugs or cups. If you’d like, top it off with a dollop of whipped cream, a handful of mini marshmallows, a sprinkle of chocolate shavings, or a cinnamon stick for a festive touch.
Step 8: Enjoy!
Gather around the fireplace or Christmas tree, hand out the mugs of hot chocolate, and savor every sip. This creamy hot chocolate is sure to warm both your heart and your taste buds, making your Christmas Eve a truly special and memorable occasion.
Nutrition of Christmas Eve Creamy Hot Chocolate Recipe
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 234 |
| Sodium | 86mg |
| Fat | 16g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 61mg |
| Carbs | 16.5g |
| Protein | 5.4g |
Serving ideas for how to make Christmas Eve Creamy Hot Chocolate Recipe:
- This recipe is great with whipped cream. You can also use this recipe to make a decadent hot chocolate float!
- Top your hot chocolate with marshmallow fluff, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings.
- If you’re looking for something more fruity, try a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon on top of fresh raspberries!
- Serve this drink with friends at a holiday party or movie night!
- Serve Christmas Eve Creamy Hot Chocolate Recipe to the kids, your pets, or the cat in your life – they’ll love it.
- Make this hot chocolate for a cold winter afternoon!
- Top with Nutella or chocolate syrup for a gourmet coffee drink.
- Try Christmas Eve Creamy Hot Chocolate Recipe with a glass of champagne!
- Top with whipped cream, a little cocoa powder, and almonds.
Is it Healthy?
This is not the healthiest hot chocolate recipe, but it is better than others. It has quite a lot of sugar you need to watch out for if you are trying to lose weight.
On the other hand, it will warm you up and make you feel full, so it might be better than eating junk food. You can use skimmed or low-fat milk, low-fat chocolate, and low-fat creme fraiche to reduce the amount of fat in this supposedly healthy hot chocolate recipe.
Safe for kids?
This hot chocolate doesn’t contain caffeine, so it is safe for kids.
Freezing/Storing
This recipe should be frozen. Thaw it and add some hot cocoa mix to make a new batch whenever you want to eat it. Alternatively, you can store this in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Bottom Line
Christmas Eve Creamy Hot Chocolate Recipe is a delicious way to warm up before bed. On the other nights of December, if you’re not feeling all that cozy and in the Christmas spirit, you can still have a festive drink.
When I asked my family what they thought gave hot chocolate its creamy texture, they all agreed that adding heavy cream to the recipe makes a big difference.
You could probably experiment with other milk or add some whipped cream, but since I wanted to add a little extra decadence, I decided to use both creme fraiche and heavy cream.
I hope you enjoy it and have a great holiday!