This Italian hot chocolate is a thick, rich drink with a luscious, almost pudding-like texture. A blend of milk and heavy whipping cream gives it a decadently creamy body that both adults and kids will enjoy.
I first discovered this version while visiting a friend who served a surprisingly thick and creamy cup. It looked different from the classic hot chocolate I grew up with, so I tried it — and was instantly hooked. It tastes like a drinkable chocolate pudding: rich, smooth and incredibly comforting.
Two things I love about this Italian hot chocolate: it’s delicious hot, cold, or at room temperature, and it’s decadently rich. The thick-but-pourable consistency is unusual but delightful—my teen even prefers it to classic hot cocoa.
This will be your new go-to hot chocolate.
How to Make It?
- Italian hot chocolate is easy to prepare. Start by combining the cocoa, cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a small bowl and whisking until smooth.
- Warm the milk and heavy whipping cream in a medium saucepan over low heat. When the liquid is warm, add the chocolate chips and stir until fully melted.
- Next, slowly whisk in the cocoa-cornstarch mixture and add the vanilla. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil while stirring constantly; it will thicken as it heats. Serve immediately and top with whipped cream, marshmallows or shaved chocolate if you like.
Quick Tips
This recipe is simple, but the key is gentle heat. Heat the milk and cream over low heat and stir continuously to prevent scorching. If the milk seems to heat too quickly, remove the pan from the heat briefly and resume once it cools a bit. If the hot chocolate becomes too thick, thin it with a splash of milk until you reach the desired consistency.
What kind of chocolate to use?
You can use any chocolate you prefer: semisweet, dark, milk or even white chocolate. Milk chocolate contains sugar, so you may want to reduce added sugar if using it. Mixing different chocolates can also yield a personalized flavor.
I hope you enjoy making this thick and creamy Italian hot chocolate — it’s a quick, satisfying way to curb chocolate cravings.
Italian Hot Chocolate
April Boller Wright
5
7
12
Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Italian
2 people
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp cocoa I used Hershey’s chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp cornstarch plus an additional 1 tsp
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 4-5 tbsp sugar I used about 5 tbsp
Instructions
-
Combine cornstarch, sugar, cocoa and salt in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
-
Heat the milk and heavy whipping cream in a small saucepan over low heat until warm.
-
When the milk is hot, add the chocolate chips and stir until fully melted, whisking occasionally.
-
Slowly whisk in the cocoa-cornstarch mixture, add the vanilla, and continue stirring. Bring to a gentle boil and keep stirring until thickened. Pour into cups and top with whipped cream, marshmallows or shaved chocolate if desired. The hot chocolate will thicken further as it cools. Enjoy!
Notes
Quick Tips
Because this drink relies on milk and cream, heat slowly and stir constantly to avoid scorching. If it heats too fast, remove the pan from the heat briefly. To adjust thickness, add a little milk to thin or let it cool slightly to thicken.
Hot Chocolate, Hot cocoa, Italian hot chocolate, Thick hot chocolate
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