The best hot chocolate recipe - How to make at home - Knoops (2024)

The best hot chocolate recipe - How to make at home - Knoops (1)

Discover how to make the best hot chocolate at home.

Our hot chocolate recipes will give you thick, rich hot chocolates everytime, whether you make yours on the hob, in the microwave, in our shaker or one of our hot chocolate makers.

Choose your chocolate flakes %

Our hot chocolates all start with your choice of flakes. We have everything from white, to milk and dark, so whatever your taste there's one for you.

Not sure where to start? Take our quiz here.

For milk chocolate lovers, our 34% Milk chooclate flakes are one of our best sellers with a balance of rich cocoa, milk and notes of caramel. Or if you like your chocolate darker, try our smooth, mellow 54% Dark chocolate flakes.

The best hot chocolate recipe - How to make at home - Knoops (2)

The best hot chocolate recipe - How to make at home - Knoops (3)

Hot chocolate ingredients

After you've chosen your hot chocolate flakes, you'll need to choose your milk, whether that's dairy or plant based.

Top tip: We recommend whole dairy milk or Oatly barista for the best froth.

Then you will need a shaker or a saucepan if making on the hob; and lastly get the full experience by pouring your chocolate drink into our hot chocolate bowl.

On the hob

In the microwave

In a hot chocolate maker

Ingredients + equipment (makes 1 medium cup):

- Your choice of chocolate flakes
- 200ml of milk
- A saucepan
- A mini whisk (optional)
- A hot chocolate bowl or your favourite mug

Instructions:

Heat 200ml (about one large mug) of milk in a saucepan on the hob. Make sure it doesn’t boil as this will affect the taste.

Add around 8 teaspoons of your choice of hot chocolate flakes.

Gently stir until your flakes have fully melted. A mini whisk used at this stage will help to create a frothy drink.

Pour into your favourite mug and enjoy your hot chocolate.

Ingredients + equipment (makes 1 medium cup):

- Your choice of chocolate flakes
- 200ml of milk
- A mini whisk (optional)
- A hot chocolate bowl or your favourite mug

Instructions:

Heat 200ml (about one large mug) of milk in a bowl or cup in the microwave. Make sure it doesn’t boil as this will affect the taste.

Add around 8 teaspoons of your choice of hot chocolate flakes.

Gently stir until your flakes have fully melted. A mini whisk used at this stage will help to create a frothy drink.

Enjoy your frothy hot chocolate.

Ingredients + equipment (makes 1 medium cups):

- Your choice of chocolate flakes
- 200ml of milk
- A Smeg hot chocolate maker
- A hot chocolate bowl or your favourite mug

Instructions:

Pour 200ml (about one large mug) of milk into your Smeg.

Add around 8 teaspoons of your choice of hot chocolate flakes.

Close the lid, select the hot chocolate programme and press the Start/Stop button.

When the programme ends - after approximately 2-3 minutes - pour into a hot chocolate bowl or your favourite mug and enjoy your hot chocolate.

You can also make your hot chocolate in one of our otherhot chocolate makersor theHot chocolate shaker.

Knoops at home

Start experimenting with Knoopolgy at home using our real hot chocolate flakes and selection of hot chocolate makers.

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The best hot chocolate recipe - How to make at home - Knoops (2024)

FAQs

The best hot chocolate recipe - How to make at home - Knoops? ›

Heat 200ml (about one large mug) of milk in a bowl or cup in the microwave. Make sure it doesn't boil as this will affect the taste. Add around 8 teaspoons of your choice of hot chocolate flakes. Gently stir until your flakes have fully melted.

How do you make hot chocolate even better? ›

  1. Marshmallows and whipped cream are classic hot chocolate add-ins for a reason. ...
  2. Alcohol of all kinds can be added to hot cocoa to create a festive co*cktail. ...
  3. For hot chocolate that will offer an energy boost, add in some coffee or espresso. ...
  4. Nothing is more seasonal than some refreshing peppermint.
Dec 24, 2018

What makes hot chocolate taste better? ›

The 15 Best Things To Add To Hot Chocolate
  1. Add an extract. A quick and easy way to add flavor to your hot chocolate is by adding a splash of your favorite extract. ...
  2. Sprinkle in warm spices. ...
  3. Mix in Nutella. ...
  4. Swirl in caramel. ...
  5. Spike it. ...
  6. Infuse it with orange. ...
  7. Swap regular sugar for maple syrup. ...
  8. Add a shot (of coffee)
Dec 4, 2023

How to make options hot chocolate? ›

Instructions. For a perfect mug of Options, boil water and let it cool slightly. Put 3 teaspoons (11g) of Options into your favourite mug, fill with hot water and stir well. For a creamier drink try adding a dash of milk.

Is it better to make hot chocolate with milk or water? ›

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.

Why add cornstarch to hot chocolate? ›

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.

What do cafes use to make hot chocolate? ›

Most use Monin dark chocolate sauce, which we lightly dilute with hot water before topping off with steamed milk. One of our cafes uses a drinking chocolate mix from Ritual Chocolate, which is prepared into a sauce in batches and is then served the same way.

How to make hot milk for hot chocolate? ›

Heat the Milk: In a saucepan, warm the milk over a medium heat. Be sure not to boil it. If you're using a thermometer, aim for 65-70°C. Add the Chocolate: Once the milk is warm, start adding the chopped chocolate a bit at a time, stirring continuously to ensure it melts smoothly into the milk.

What do you call coffee mixed with hot chocolate? ›

Caffè mocha, in its most basic formulation, can also be referred to as hot chocolate with (e.g., a shot of) espresso added. Like cappuccino, caffè mochas typically contain the distinctive milk froth on top; as is common with hot chocolate, they are sometimes served with whipped cream instead.

What do McDonald's use for their hot chocolate? ›

Ingredients: Sugar, Allergen Ingredient: Skimmed MILK, 10% Fat Reduced Cocoa, Vegetable Oil (Palm), Whey Powder (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Salt, Stabiliser (Trisodium Citrate), Flavouring, Emulsifier (Allergen Ingredient: SOYA Lecithin).

What's the difference between hot chocolate and hot chocolate? ›

Ingredients. The source of the chocolate flavour is different. Hot Chocolate is made using solid chocolate melted in warm milk or cream. Hot Cocoa, however, is made from a powdered base of cocoa with added sugar and dissolved in hot water or hot milk.

How to make hot chocolate less watery? ›

Cornflour/Cornstarch: Mix a small amount with cold milk or water to create a smooth paste. Whisk this into your hot chocolate towards the end of the cooking process until it thickens. Double Cream: Stirring in a splash of double cream can instantly enrich and thicken your drink, giving it a velvety texture.

How do you reduce the bitterness in hot chocolate? ›

Use Milk or Cream

Adding milk or cream to dark chocolate can significantly reduce its bitterness. The fats in milk or cream soften the intense flavours of the cocoa, creating a smoother and less bitter taste. This method is especially effective when making hot chocolate or chocolate sauces.

Does adding salt to hot chocolate make it better? ›

Salt accentuates sweetness and suppresses bitterness, while also functioning as a natural enhancer to bring out the flavor in chocolate. Simply adding a touch of salt in chocolate recipes can make the chocolate taste better by balancing out flavours and bringing out many subtle nuances.

What can you do if your hot chocolate tastes very sweet? ›

If you don't want your hot chocolate to be too sweet, avoid using sweetened condensed milk or any flavored milk in the mixture. Instead, opt for plain milk with no added sugar or low-calorie coffee creamer. If you want to get a different sensation or if you want a dairy-free option, use unsweetened almond milk.

Why does hot chocolate mix better in hot water? ›

Explanation: Hot water has more energy in it than cold water does. That means that the molecules in the water move faster. The molecules attack and break down the powder faster in hot water than cold.

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