Creamy Hot Chocolate
Make creamy hot chocolate on the stovetop with cornstarch and finish it with heavy cream. This easy recipe is ready in 15 minutes—perfect for chilly days.
- Total time 13 min
- Prep time 5 min
- Cooking 8 min
- Makes 2 large mugs
- Difficulty Easy
Cornstarch thickens creamy hot chocolate as the milk heats, much like it does in pudding. Dissolve the cornstarch in cold milk before heating; adding it straight to hot milk will make lumps.
Heavy cream gives the drink a velvety finish. Stir constantly, since milk thickened with cornstarch can stick to the bottom of the pan.
Ingredients
Amounts for 2 servings (2 large mugs).
Equipment
- Pot
- Whisk
Instructions
-
Step 1 Whisk everything into the cold milk
With the saucepan off the heat, whisk together the cold milk, cocoa powder, sugar, and cornstarch until no lumps remain.
- 2 cups milk
- 3 tablespoons chocolate powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
-
Step 2 Cook until thickened
Add the cinnamon stick, place over medium heat, and stir constantly. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until slightly thickened.
- 1 cinnamon stick
About 6 min
-
Step 3 Finish with heavy cream
Turn off the heat, remove the cinnamon stick, and stir in the heavy cream. Serve piping hot.
- 1/2 carton of heavy cream
Tips for success
- For a richer chocolate flavor, replace the cocoa powder with 80 g chopped dark chocolate and melt it into the milk.
- A pinch of salt brings out the chocolate flavor.
- If it gets too thick, stir in a little hot milk.
Substitutions
- Heavy cream
- You can leave it out; the hot chocolate will be less velvety.
- Milk
- Use oat or nut milk and skip the heavy cream for a dairy-free version.
How to store
Keeps in the refrigerator for 2 days; it will thicken into a pudding-like consistency as it cools. Reheat while stirring, adding a little milk.
Allergens
Contains: Dairy.
Packaged ingredients may contain traces of other allergens. Always check the labels of the brands you use.
Published October 13, 2026. US measurements: 1 cup = 240 mL, 1 tablespoon = 15 mL, 1 teaspoon = 5 mL; 1 oz = 28 g.