Thick Italian Hot Chocolate
Italian Hot Chocolate is a mug full of creamy deliciously thick Hot Chocolate, made with real chocolate and milk, the ultimate Comfort Food.
When my kids were little they would ask me to make Hot Chocolate and so I would, it was easy! Little did I know that they really wanted the kind their friends’ were drinking.
When they got a little older and we would go shopping together, they would take me down the aisle where it was located or call me in the room when the commercial came on the TV.
I bought it, made it and tasted it and I thought Wow, this isn’t half bad! Thick, creamy and chocolatey.
How to Make Italian Hot Chocolate
- In a small bowl whisk until smooth, milk and cornstarch set aside.
- Sift the cocoa into a medium bowl then add the sugar and whisk together, set aside.
- In a small/medium pot heat the remaining milk until boiling reduce heat to low, start whisking and add the milk/cornstarch mixture then add the cocoa mixture slowly while continually whisking until smooth.
- Then add the chocolate pieces and whisk continuously for approximately 3 minutes. Serve immediately.
I had no idea that the Italians knew how to make a better Hot Chocolate too! Isn’t it funny when you notice something new or are told about something new, you then start to see it everywhere.
And I did, in coffee bars and of course friends started to talk about it. In fact I was at my friend’s house one day and the commercial came on TV for the exact same mix that I bought.
“I tried that stuff”, which of course she responded with, “no homemade is so much better, I have the recipe for you”!
So here I am with the cool rainy weather starting and all I can think about is making a small pot of this amazing Thick Italian Hot Chocolate to go along with some just made Shortbread Cookies.
This stuff is gold, made with real chocolate and a little cocoa, my friend said to use whole milk but I used 2% instead and it always turned out delicious.
Unfortunately this is another recipe just like Italian Pastry Cream where stirring is required. But don’t worry the outcome is well worth it.
This Italian Thick Hot Chocolate Recipe is so creamy and delicious you don’t even need to top it with any whipped cream or marshmallows. But if you do, I won’t stop you. Enjoy!
Thick Italian Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 3.5 ounces Dark Chocolate (good quality) (chopped into small pieces)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons cocoa unsweetened
- 1 cup + 1 tablespoon milk (2% or whole milk/divided)
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk until smooth, 1/4 cup milk and cornstarch set aside.
- Sift the cocoa into a medium bowl then add the sugar and whisk together, set aside.
- In a small/medium pot heat 3/4 cups + 1 tablespoon milk until boiling reduce heat to low, start whisking and add the milk/cornstarch mixture then add the cocoa mixture slowly while continually whisking until smooth add the chopped chocolate and whisk for approximately 3 minutes. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Updated from November 18, 2016
Hi Rosemary. This looks amazing. I’m looking for a hot chocolate that can save in the refrigerator and be reheated. A lot of recipes I see around say to serve immediately, including yours. Do you think that this hot chocolate could stand that?
Hi Clair, I really don’t thing that would work with this hot chocolate, although I do have a recipe for chocolate syrup that holds up well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, and you just add 2 tablespoons of it to hot milk and voila, hot chocolate. https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/homemade-chocolate-syrup/ Hope that helps.
Would it be possible to substitute dairy free milk for the regular milk? Do you think it would still taste just as good?
Hi Ashley, I have never made it with dairy free milk, if you mean lactose free milk (and not coconut or almond milk these may work also but they will give the an added coconut or almond flavour which might be a good thing if you like that) I think it would work and taste good. Let me know if you try it.
Hi Rosemary,
I made this for Christmas Eve with almond milk and it turned out amazing! I did everything that you said but I substituted almond milk for the regular milk. I am dairy free as well as other people in my family. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Hi Ashley, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Glad to know it works with almond milk also. Happy New Year.
This is one of the best hot chocolate recipes I’ve ever tried out! It’s so rich and thick and falls nothing short of amazing
Hi Shamila, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great week.
Super delicious! It was really thick, but it was very rich. I think if I made this again I would add a little bit more milk. This was my first time trying Italian hot chocolate, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I was really thick and chocolaty! Would definitely recommend to a chocolate lover! Thanks!
Hi Tom, thanks and yes very rich and chocolaty. Have a great weekend.
Is there a way to make it slightly less thick and rich, like adding more milk?
Hi Tom if you want it thinner then yes add more milk. Have a great weekend.
So delicious, thick and amazing!!!
Hi Ava, thanks so much, so glad you liked it. Have a great weekend.
Thanks for finally writing about > Thick Italian Hot
Chocolate – An Italian in my Kitchen < Liked it!
sweeet
Is the cocoa in Italian hot chocolate sweet or unsweetened?
Hi Marwa, it’s unsweetened.
I am making this! It looks like the “drinking chocolate” I’ve had, and I love them! I order them whenever I see them on the menu when I travel or here at home. I can just taste the picture! I think chocolate touches the soul, and makes it feel so much better, whether your day is going well or not. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Millican, thanks and yes it pretty much is drinking chocolate. I hope you like it. Have a wonderful Sunday.
This recipe of yours is so delicious and very easy to bake! I wanted to bake because I was craving for chocolate cake however my ingredients for a chocolate cake was not complete so I decided to try an italian hot chocolate. Voila! I felt so relaxed after drinking the hot chocolate. I used the Aalst 61% Dark chocolate bar and it turned out good! Thank you for your recipe
Hi Ruth, thanks so much, so glad my hot chocolate relaxed you. 🙂
Do you use sweetened or unsweetened dark chocolate? Wondering if regular sweetened chocolate makes it too sweet when adding the sugar? Or perhaps it’s necessary?
Hi Natalie I think the Italian dark chocolate is unsweetened (baker’s chocolate), the cocoa is also the unsweetened variety. If you find it not sweet enough you can always add some sugar. But I think it will be fine.
Hello, just discovered your blog, it’s lovely and great recipes. I am half Italian and I grew up with this Italian hot chocolate, I always enjoy that in Winter. Have a lovely December.
Hi Patrizia, thanks so much and have a wonderful December too. 🙂
How can I correct , the spell correct errors on my comment?
Hi Lois, I don’t think you can edit ones you hit enter, but don’t worry I did it for you.
Hi as a rule I do not to join blogs or leave my email anywhere. But I find yours refreshing and formative clear concise and well done not to mention delicious recipes . And not living in Italy, I find your website refreshing and authentic. Thank you so much. I think I’m already on the mailing list but I just wanted to leave this comment.
Hi Lois, thanks so much, I am really glad you enjoy it. Have a wonderful day. 🙂
Perfectly rich and decadent. This would sure warm me up on those chilly winter evenings!
Hi Olivia thanks and yes it would. Have a great day.