This thick and creamy slow cooker hot chocolate will be the hit of your Christmas parties this year.
Italian style thick hot chocolate
Have you had hot chocolate abroad that is so thick you can nearly stand your spoon up in it?
Italian style hot chocolate is made with chopped chocolate and thickened with cornflour to give a lovely thick drink which is almost like a dessert. Yum!
I’ve adapted this idea to a slow cooker so that you can make your own thick and creamy hot chocolate at home and serve this rich and indulgent treat whenever you want.
Festive favourite
It is definitely the weather now for a warming mug of hot chocolate to take the chill from your hands and warm the soul.
What better than to make a big batch of it in your slow cooker so you can ladle it out at your festive parties.
Now I’ve made slow cooker hot chocolate before (see my boozy salted caramel version here) but this is an extra thick and creamy version for pure indulgence!
The perfect warm hug on a rainy chilly day if you want to treat yourself. I love to treat myself to a hot chocolate when I have a rare quiet moment.
Curling up on the sofa with a mug of this is my idea of heaven. Lashings of whipped cream and chocolate shavings take this from an everyday hot chocolate to something else completely.
I could have drunk this all to myself but I was very generous and shared it with the kids.
It is very rich and they could only manage a small mugful, but the bonus of that is that it goes much further for me!
Warm those hands on a cold evening with a mug of this, while wrapping some presents perhaps. I’ll certainly have this on the go after a long day of Christmas shopping, when I manage to start mine that is.
Who are these organised people who have already done the shopping and the wrapping? It certainly isn’t me that’s for sure.
Ingredients
Make sure you have these ingredients to hand (quantities are in the recipe car below):
- milk
- cocoa powder
- sugar
- dark chocolate
- cornflour (corn starch)
- whipped or spray cream
Method
- Pour the milk, cocoa powder and sugar into your slow cooker pot. Whisk well.
- Heat on high for 2 hours.
- Add the chopped chocolate and stir until melted.
- Make a smooth paste using 8 teaspoons of milk and 4 teaspoons of cornflour. Pour the cornflour mixture into the hot chocolate and whisk well.
- Heat on high for 1 hour until thickened. Whisk occasionally to prevent lumps.
- Transfer to a jug and serve. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Toppings/flavours
Add marshmallows, use flavoured chocolate – I love chocolate orange, add a slug of your favourite liqueur – Baileys would be delicious, to make this slow cooker hot chocolate your own.
Why not try white hot chocolate as well?
Watch my video to see how easy it is to make this.
For loads more slow cooker recipes including many indulgent slow cooker cakes and desserts, make sure you check out my Recipe Index!
More Christmas recipes
Make sure you check out my Christmas slow cooker roundup full of edible gifts, sweet treats, Christmas dinner recipes and more, all made in your slow cooker!
Pin my slow cooker hot chocolate for later
Recipe
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 800 ml milk I used semi-skimmed
- 4 tsp cocoa powder
- 6 tsp sugar granulated or caster
- 150 g dark chocolate I used 51% cocoa
- 8 tsp milk
- 4 tsp cornflour
- whipped or squirty cream to serve
- 1 square dark chocolate chopped into shavings, to serve
Equipment
Video
Instructions
- Pour the milk, cocoa powder and sugar into your slow cooker pot. Whisk well.800 ml milk, 4 tsp cocoa powder, 6 tsp sugar
- Heat on high for 2 hours.
- Add the chopped chocolate and stir until melted.150 g dark chocolate
- Make a smooth paste using 8 teaspoons (4 dessert spoons) of milk and 4 teaspoons (2 dessert spoons) of cornflour. Pour the cornflour mixture into the hot chocolate and whisk well.8 tsp milk, 4 tsp cornflour
- Heat on high for 1 hour until thickened. Whisk occasionally to prevent lumps.
- Transfer to a jug and serve. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.whipped or squirty cream, 1 square dark chocolate
Nicole says
Hi, I have 2 questions! How big of a crockpot did you use? I need to make a bulk amount and need to figure out if I need a second. Also, when you say corn flour do you mean the yellow ground corn flour or the white finely ground cornstarch? Thank you!
bakingqueen74 says
Hi there, I made this in my 3.5 litre slow cooker. If you are in the US this is the equivalent to 3.5 quarts. Cornflour here in the UK means the white finely powdered stuff which you call cornstarch in the US, which is used as a thickener. Hope this helps
Jan Bennett says
Oh wow! You are amazing – Who knew you could make this in a slow cooker?!!
bakingqueen74 says
ah thanks Jan, yes hot chocolate is perfect in a slow cooker as you can keep it hot till you need it.
Angela says
This looks delicious and perfect for the wintery nights ahead.
Can all ingredients be added at once? Just wondering if i can all before heading out for a walk and then come home to this warm treat.
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Angela!
I haven’t tried it that way but i think it will work still. I might well try that out this evening before going to see a firework display, so will update here and in the recipe.
Sammie says
Wow! Fantastic recipe for a delicious looking hot chocolate that I know all of us, here at home would love. I’m hoping to get a new slow cooker for my birthday or Christmas and will definitely be making this. X
Choclette says
This looks divine Lucy and just what I need now. I’m shivering from the cold and this would warm me up very nicely. I’ve had a few of the Italian style hot chocolates and I do rather like the luxurious thickness of them. Thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa.
Bronya Seifert says
This really does look yummy….and with Baileys? Now that would just finish a cold evening off.
Claire Jessiman says
This would be absoluetly perfect for a Christmas soiree. Can I just put my straw straight into the slow cooker?!
bakingqueen74 says
you certainly may!
Jane says
Oh blimey, that looks SO good I might just have to get up from this warm comfy sofa and go make some!
Great recipe Lucy, and gorgeous pics too 🙂
Dannii says
It is most definitely hot chocolate weather at the moment and this looks really thick and luxurious. Definitely one to try soon.
bakingqueen74 says
It really is Dannii, this one keeps you going for a long time too!
Vikkie says
This looks incredible!! It’s so cold right now here and I’m very tempted to use up the dark chocolate I actually bought to make Christmas gifts haha x
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Vikkie! I am making more today all for me hhaha!!