Trust me, this Italian Hot Chocolate is unlike anything you've had before. It's thick, decadent and velvety, perfect for a winter night or a quick little treat. With every sip, you just want more!
Have you ever had an Italian hot chocolate? I'm not kidding when I say it's one of my favorite desserts to make during winter. I first tried it whilst I was traveling in Milan, and it's now become a household ritual in my family. It's called Cioccolata Calda here in Italy and it's absolutely delicious!
It has a much thicker, creamy pudding-like consistency which is rich and decadent without being too sweet either. Here I'm going to show you how easy it is to make the perfect Italian hot chocolate recipe at home. It takes less than 10 minutes with only 4 ingredients!
Some of my other favorite traditional Italian drinks I've replicated through my travels are the marocchino coffee and limoncello spritz which you must try!
Whether you’re after a festive treat to enjoy at Christmas and over the holidays, or simply just want a cozy treat curled up on the couch, this Italian hot chocolate always hits the spot!
In Italy, it's usually enjoyed on its own or alongside some Italian biscotti. You can serve with other sides such as strawberries, marshmallows or whipped cream. But really, it's just perfect as is 🙂
Table of Contents
Why you'll love this recipe
- Crazy Delicious! An absolutely delicious treat that is so velvety and creamy, all kids and adults will love it!
- Chocoholic's heaven: Rich and decadent thats a dream come true for all my fellow chocoholics
- Quick and Easy: Its simply made in less than 10 minutes without the need for fancy equipment
- Trip to Italy: Make this Italian hot chocolate and close your eyes when you drink it…. You will feel like you've been transported straight to a fireplace in Italy!
Ingredients to make Italian Hot Chocolate
- Dark Chocolate is key to making the perfect Italian thick hot chocolate, however it's super important to use good quality chocolate. Personally I find 72% cacao is the perfect sweetness but you can use a lower or higher quantity cacao percentage as per your preference. Milk chocolate can be used if you want it sweeter and not as rich
- Cocoa Powder is also added for the extra chocolatey richness. Ensure it's unsweetened cocoa powder so it's not overpowering
- Milk is the base of course. In Italy, whole milk is used which makes it extra creamy. You can experiment with your preferred milk. I usually use oat milk or almond milk as I prefer dairy free milk
- Cornstarch is the secret ingredient to getting that creamy pudding-like texture! You whisk a little on the side with extra milk, and stir it through as the final step
- A pinch of salt is optional, but recommended. It actually brings out the rich chocolate flavor. If you prefer a sweeter taste in your hot chocolate milk, you can also add some sugar. It's sometimes seen to add a little vanilla extract or cinnamon, but I don't think it needs it
How to make Italian Hot Chocolate
Make this thick and creamy Italian Hot Chocolate in minutes. Follow these simple steps below.
- In a small bowl add 2 tablespoons of milk with cornstarch. Whisk until there are no clumps. Leave aside for now
- Pour the remaining milk into a small saucepan and add dark chocolate. Keep on low heat for a few minutes whilst whisking to melt the chocolate
- Add cocoa powder and a small pinch of salt, continue to gently whisk
- Add the cornstarch mixture from step 1. Continuously whisk until there are no clumps and it's ready!
Tips and Tricks
- Make the cornstarch mixture separately and add this at the end. This way it will prevent any sticky clumps
- Use high quality chocolate. Trust me, it truly makes a big difference on the overall taste
- Whisk continuously to avoid lumps and achieve that silky velvety texture
- You can adjust sweetness by choosing different levels of dark chocolate. I prefer 72% cacao but you can use a less or higher quantity. You can also add sugar if needed, I however don’t
Storage and Reheating
- Italian hot chocolate is best served fresh, you can however store any leftovers in an airtight container or sealed mason jar for up to 3 days
- It's then best reheated over a stovetop for a few minutes until heated through, whisking continuously to avoid any clumps
FAQs
Italian hot chocolate is simply made using good quality dark chocolate, cocoa powder, milk and cornstarch
Italian hot chocolate tastes different due to its signature thick velvety texture, which is sort of pudding-like but pourable
More Italian Recipes
- No Knead Focaccia
- Tiramisu
- Limoncello Recipe
- Pasta e Fagioli
- Italian Pizza
- Pastina
- Spinach Lasagna
- Mushroom and Pea Risotto
- Broccoli Pasta
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your Italian Hot Chocolate photo on Instagram so I can share the love!
Recipe
Italian Hot Chocolate (Thick & Creamy)
Video
Ingredients
- 2.1oz / 60g good quality dark chocolate (I've used 72% cacao)
- 1 ½ cups (plus 2 tablespoons) milk of choice (I prefer dairy free and use almond milk or soy milk )
- 1 ½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 teaspoons cornstarch
- Small pinch of salt
- *Optional additional sugar if you prefer it sweeter
Instructions
- Add 2 tablespoons of milk to a small bowl with the cornstarch. Whisk together until smooth and there are no clumps. Put aside for now
- Pour the remaining milk into a small saucepan, break the dark chocolate into smaller pieces and add to the saucepan. Heat over the stovetop on the lowest heat for a few minutes, stirring with a whisk to melt the chocolate
- When the milk has heated through and the chocolate has fully melted, add the cocoa powder and a small pinch of salt. Continue to gently whiskTaste and if you are adding any sugar, add it at this time
- Add the cornstarch mixture and continuously whisk until there are no clumps. When the consistency has thickened up, serve up in your favorite cups and enjoy your decadent Italian hot chocolate!
Notes
- The nutritional information is based on almond milk being used
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