Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate for Kids (5 Minutes)
This Hot Chocolate is a simple 5-ingredient recipe that makes a creamy and decadent hot cocoa for toddlers and kids! Ready to enjoy in 5 minutes, it’s a true family favorite! Plus, I have 8 fun variations and over 10 toppings for your kiddos to try!
Hot Chocolate for Kids
As soon as the temperatures start to drop ❄️, a mug of hot chocolate is never a bad idea!
While I have recipes on this blog for my favorite Chocolate Stirring Spoons and Hot Turmeric Cocoa, I don’t have a recipes for a classic hot cocoa. Well here it is!
This hot chocolate recipe is made with milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla. Easy to make and easier to enjoy!
Made with just 5 easy-to-find ingredients, and ready in 5 minutes, this is a recipe the whole family can get behind 👊!
Don’t forget those toppings!
Hot Chocolate Video
Ingredients
- Milk: you can use any milk you prefer – regular, almond, cashew, oat, soy, etc. Just make sure that if you are using plant-based milk you don’t get a sweetened flavor such as vanilla. We usually use almond milk and my kids both love it.
- Cocoa Powder: you can use regular baking cocoa, dark cocoa or cacao powder in this recipe.
- Maple Syrup: is used to sweeten this hot chocolate. You can also use honey or agave nectar if you prefer. This recipe calls for 1/4 cup of sweetener, and that feels just sweet enough for my family. You can decrease or increase as needed.
- Vanilla Extract
- Cinnamon
- Salt
Let’s Get Heating
Tips
- Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days and reheated on the stovetop.
- Don’t over boil the hot chocolate. It should just reach a boil when you take it off of the stovetop. If you boil it for too long the cocoa can lose its flavor.
- Serve it plain or with all your favorite toppings like whipped cream, candy canes, marshmallows and chocolate syrup!
Homemade Hot Chocolate Variations
There is no right or wrong way to serve hot chocolate to your kids, just go with what you are in the mood for!
- Orange Cocoa: stir in 1/2-1 tsp freshly grated orange zest to the hot chocolate before serving. This is great if you use dark cocoa powder.
- Mexican Cocoa: add in a very very small pinch of cayenne and a bigger pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon and stir into the hot chocolate before serving.
- Pumpkin Spice: add 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice to the hot chocolate before serving.
- Nutella: add in 1 tablespoon of Nutella while mixing. This one definitely needs whipped cream to make it over-the-top amazing!
- Coconut: use coconut milk while making the cocoa and add a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes on top of the whipped cream.
- Almond: add 1/4 tsp almond extract and a pinch of nutmeg to the hot chocolate while mixing.
- Peanut Butter: add in 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter while mixing, serve with pretzel rods for a fun twist.
- Mamas Cocoa: add in 1-2 ounces (depending on how your day is going) of peppermint schnapps, bourbon, or Baileys into your mug.
Fun Toppings
- Whipped Cream
- Shaved Chocolate
- Sprinkles
- Candy Canes (we love these dye-free ones)
- Mini Marshmallows (we love these vegan ones)
- Pretzel Rods
- Finely Chopped Nuts
- Toasted Coconut Flakes
- Freeze Dried Fruit – Mashed
- Carmel or Chocolate Sauce
- Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua or other favorite spirits (for the adults 😉)
Get the recipe: Hot Chocolate for Kids
This Hot Chocolate is a simple 5-ingredient recipe that makes a creamy and decadent hot cocoa for toddlers and kids! Ready to enjoy in 5 minutes, it's a true family favorite!
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk regular, almond, cashew, oat, etc.
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tbsp cocoa or cacao powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch cinnamon (optional)
- 1 pinch sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Heat: In a small saucepan, add in all of the ingredients.
- Whisk: over medium-low heat, whisk occasionally until it just starts to boil. For kids, you don't want to heat it to a full boil or it will be too hot. For younger kids, check the temperature every few minutes to make sure you get it just right.
- Serve: pour into kid-friendly mugs or cups and serve with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Age: 1 year and up
Storage: you can store any leftovers in an air-tight container the fridge for up to 5 days. You will need to reheat the hot chocolate on the stove for 2-3 minutes or until warm.
Toppings:
- Whipped Cream
- Shaved Chocolate
- Sprinkles
- Candy Canes (we love these dye-free ones)
- Mini Marshmallows (we love these vegan ones)
- Pretzel Rods
- Finely Chopped Nuts
- Toasted Coconut Flakes
- Freeze Dried Fruit – Mashed
- Carmel or Chocolate Sauce
- Orange Cocoa: stir in 1/2-1 tsp freshly grated orange zest to the hot chocolate before serving. This is great if you use dark cocoa powder.
- Mexican Cocoa: add in a very very small pinch of cayenne and a bigger pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon and stir into the hot chocolate before serving.
- Pumpkin Spice: add 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice to the hot chocolate before serving.
- Nutella: add in 1 tablespoon of Nutella while mixing. This one definitely needs whipped cream to make it over-the-top amazing!
- Coconut: use coconut milk while making the cocoa and add a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes on top of the whipped cream.
- Almond: add 1/4 tsp almond extract and a pinch of nutmeg to the hot chocolate while mixing.
- Peanut Butter: add in 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter while mixing, serve with pretzel rods for a fun twist.
- Mamas Cocoa: add in 1-2 ounces (depending on how your day is going) of peppermint schnapps, bourbon, or Baileys into your mug.
Calories: 266kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 129mg, Potassium: 451mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 37g, Vitamin A: 395IU, Calcium: 320mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @babyfoode on Instagram and hashtag it #babyfoode!
5 Comments on “Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate for Kids (5 Minutes)”
Delicious! I made this for a holiday party where kids were decorating ornaments but the parents all loved it too! I’m a choc-o-holic and honestly liked this better than store bought.
Hi Kelly! Sounds like a fantastic holiday party. Im thrilled the hot chocolate was such a hit! We make it all winter long! Happy holidays! xo, Michele
WOAH! SO GOOD! And I was super skeptical…although I had no reason to doubt because everything you do is great…but WOW! This is DELICIOUS! And I love knowing exactly what I’m giving my kids!
Hi Alexandra! It’s ok to be skeptical when it comes to our kids. I’m thrilled you love this recipe. We can’t get enough this time of year! Stay warm! xo, Michele
So yummy! The maple syrup added a nice touch instead of sugar. We added whipped cream and chocolate syrup to ours. Can’t wait to try it with marshmallows!