Paula Deen Hot Chocolate

Paula Deen hot chocolate is a creamy stovetop drink with whole milk, cocoa powder and sugar that comes together in 20 minutes. Save this easy homemade hot chocolate for game day, holiday table gatherings or cozy winter nights, because it's a simple one-pot recipe that feeds 6.

Keep the heat very low and let the milk warm for the full 8 to 10 minutes. Rush it on high heat and the milk can scorch or boil over, which leaves a skin on top and a burnt taste.

Paula uses whole milk instead of low-fat, and that is what gives this cup its rich, velvety body. Whisking the sugar and cocoa together before the milk goes in also keeps the cocoa from clumping, so every mug comes out smooth.

Paula Deen Hot Chocolate

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: BeverageCuisine: American, SouthernDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Calories

230

kcal

Cocoa and sugar melt into slowly warmed whole milk for a smooth, rich cup with no lumps. Piled with whipped cream and mini marshmallows, it stays creamy to the last sip.

Ingredients

• ½ cup sugar
  

• ½ cup cocoa powder
  

• 1 quart whole milk (not low-fat)
  

• one (7-ounce) can of Whipped cream
  

• Mini marshmallows, for topping
  

Directions

• Whisk the dry ingredients: Put 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup cocoa powder into a pot and whisk them together. Then pour in 1 quart whole milk and whisk again until it looks evenly combined.
• Heat the milk: Set the pot on the cooktop over very low heat and warm it for 8 to 10 minutes. Stir now and then with the whisk, so all of the cocoa mixes in and the chocolate is hot but not boiling.
• Ladle and top: Ladle the hot chocolate into mugs and add a squirt of whipped cream to each one. Then pile on a handful of mini marshmallows, or use both toppings if you like.

Tools for this recipe

• OXO 11-inch balloon whisk, Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 3-quart saucepan. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I use low-fat milk or a milk alternative?

The recipe calls for whole milk, and it matters because the fat gives the drink its creamy body. Low-fat milk works in a pinch but tastes thinner, and a plant-based milk will change the texture too.

How do I keep leftover hot chocolate?

Let it cool, then pour it into a covered container and refrigerate. Reheat it gently on low heat and whisk as it warms, since the cocoa settles to the bottom as it sits.

Can I make it ahead for a party?

Yes, make it up to the heating step and keep it on the stove on the lowest setting while guests help themselves. Whisk it every so often so the cocoa stays blended, and set out the toppings on the side.

Can I make this in a slow cooker or microwave instead?

A slow cooker on low works well for a crowd, as long as you whisk the cocoa and sugar into the milk first and stir occasionally. In a microwave, heat the mixture in short bursts and stir between each one so it doesn't boil over.

Why is my hot chocolate lumpy or gritty?

Lumps usually come from cocoa that was not whisked well with the sugar before the milk went in, or from heat that was too high. Whisk the dry ingredients first, keep the heat very low and stir while it warms.