Homemade White Hot Chocolate

Forget the powdery mix. This white hot chocolate actually tastes like white chocolate, because it is. It’s rich, creamy, and comes together with just five ingredients and one saucepan. No weird mixes, no artificial flavor. You can serve it straight or load it up with marshmallows. Either way, it hits that sweet spot without going overboard.

Email this recipe!

Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email *

Save Recipe

Here’s Why This White Hot Chocolate Recipe Works

Real white chocolate: No chips, no fake vanilla flavor. Just real white chocolate with cocoa butter for a silky, luxe drink that actually tastes like it should.

Balanced sweetness: Sweetened condensed milk brings the sweetness and body, without turning it into sugar soup.

Simple stovetop or slow cooker: One pan on the stove or hands-off in the slow cooker. Your call, your schedule.

Customizable finish: Add peppermint, spike it, or go full marshmallow bar. It’s built to handle your sweet tooth’s wild side.

Storing Leftovers

Refrigerate: Pour any leftovers into a jar or airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat: Warm gently in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often. Or microwave in 30-second bursts, whisking in between.

Creamy, Dreamy, and Not from a Packet

This white hot chocolate doesn’t do subtle. It tastes like dessert and drinks like a hug. It’s rich, creamy, and actually worth making from scratch.

Load it with toppings, go back for seconds, and leave the instant stuff on the shelf where it belongs. If you love this recipe, try our hot chocolate cupcakes.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

5 from 2 votes

Starbucks White Hot Chocolate

By Dahn Boquist

This white hot chocolate is the perfect drink for when you want something rich and decadent. It tastes just like Starbucks, but it's much cheaper to make at home.

if you want to really get into the holiday spirit, add a splash of peppermint or rum extract to your mug.

If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating and comment.

Servings: 4 servings

SaveSaved Pin Comment Print

Email me this recipe!

Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email *

Save

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 4 cups milk
• ▢ ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 4 ounces white chocolate bar, chopped
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Garnishes

• ▢ homemade whipped cream
• ▢ chocolate shavings
• ▢ mini marshmallows

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

show photoshide photos

• Add the milk, sweetened condensed milk, and salt to a large saucepan. Heat over medium-heat until steaming, but don’t let it boil. 
  
• Remove from heat and stir in the white chocolate and vanilla extract. Stir until the chocolate melts. If you need to return the pan to the heat, keep it on low (white chocolate burns). 

  Taste the white hot chocolate. If you want it to be sweeter, you can stir in more sweetened condensed milk. 
  
• Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and sprinkles or homemade marshmallow fluff.  

Slow Cooker Instructions

• Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker. Heat on low for up to six hours. Stir the mixture several times during the first hour. 

Notes

• For the best flavor, purchase high quality, white chocolate that has cocoa butter on the ingredient label. This recipe will work with vanilla almond bark or white chocolate chips (without cocoa butter) but it will have a better flavor and texture if you use real white chocolate. 
• If you want a richer, more decadent drink, replace 1 cup of the milk with heavy cream. 
• Make sure the milk mixture is not too hot when you add the white chocolate. If white chocolate gets too hot it will burn and clump up or seize, creating a grainy drink. 

Variations:

• Peppermint white hot chocolate: Add 1/4 to 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract to the milk mixture. Garnish with mint, crushed peppermint candy or candy canes. 
• Spiked white hot chocolate: Add a splash of Bailey’s Irish cream, rum, bourbon, kailua, or peppermint schnapps. Or choose your favorite liquor. Shoot for about one ounce of liquor per cup of white hot chocolate.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 420kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 40mg, Sodium: 255mg, Sugar: 52g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!