Few thing are better than a mug of hot cocoa on a cold day. Cozy up by the fire with this deliciously creamy homemade hot cocoa.

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Hot cocoa is one of the most nostalgic winter treats. Whether it’s a snowy weekend morning, a special Christmas tradition, or just because – homemade hot cocoa is the perfect treat for any occasion!

Craving some more homemade chocolate treats? Find more at Quail Creek Homestead:

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

Rich and creamy. The combination of whole milk and half & half make this hot cocoa rich and creamy, and so delicious.

No preservatives or fillers. What I love about this recipe is it contains only a few simple, natural ingredients. No preservatives or fillers like the store-bought kind.

So easy! This recipe is quick and simple. In fact, you can whip it up in almost the same amount of time it takes to boil the water for the powdered, store-bought hot cocoa. And, it’s so much better than store-bought!

What You’ll Need to Make Favorite Homemade Hot Cocoa

Medium saucepan – I prefer stainless steel

Whisk

Measuring cups and spoons

Your favorite mug!

Ingredients

Unsweetened cocoa powder – natural or Dutch-processed, whatever you have on hand.

Granulated sugar

Pure vanilla extract

Half & half – if you don’t have half & half, you can substitute half heavy cream/half milk preferably, or all whole milk. I prefer the creaminess of half & half or half cream.

Whole milk

How to Make Favorite Homemade Hot Cocoa

In a medium saucepan, add cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla extract. Slowly pour in half and half, whisking well. Add the milk in the same manner.

Heat over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until warmed to your liking. Serve immediately.

Store any extra hot cocoa in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To use, reheat over medium heat, whisking occasionally.