Not only is this Crockpot Hot Chocolate rich, decadent, and creamy, it’s also the best hot chocolate for a party! Make a big batch and let your guests help themselves to warm mugs filled to the brim with hot cocoa and all their favorite toppings.

The perfect hot chocolate for a party.

Piping hot, lusciously creamy, and best sipped with holiday tunes in the background (or maybe best sipped directly from the slow cooker with a straw?), this decadent crockpot hot chocolate is my cozy drink of choice this winter!

The recipe is easy as can be and the slow cooker makes it ideal for when you’re entertaining because guests can help themselves. No playing bartender! (Christmas Punch and Rum Punch also minimize your work as a host.)

This crockpot hot chocolate also tastes magnificent. It is some of the best hot chocolate I’ve ever made, ranking right up there with my French Hot Chocolate. And since it’s made without condensed milk and heavy cream, it’s creamy without being so over the top that you can only handle a tiny cup. Fill that mug high, my friend!

Key Ingredients

You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.

• Chocolate. Don’t use chocolate chips! Just like store-bought shredded cheese, chocolate chips are formulated not to melt and clump in the bag—which means they don’t melt as smoothly for recipes. Buy a bar of chocolate and chop it.
• Cocoa Powder. The other half of our chocolate flavor duo. Making this crockpot hot chocolate with cocoa powder provides intensity.
• Whole Milk + Half-and-Half. In order to achieve the most smooth and creamy texture, it’s important to make crockpot hot chocolate with milk, not water. I used whole milk. I also used half-and-half to keep things a little lighter than heavy cream while still tasting indulgent. (For extra decadence, you can swap the half-and-half for heavy whipping cream.)
• Vanilla. A can’t-miss addition that gives this drink an extra layer of coziness.
• Instant Espresso Powder. While optional, it helps intensify the chocolate flavor further (it will not make the hot chocolate taste like coffee).

Ways to Flavor Crockpot Hot Chocolate

Whether it’s my Healthy Hot Chocolate, Easy Hot Chocolate, or this crockpot version, here are some of my favorite ways to give hot chocolate a little boost:

• Alcohol. Crockpot hot chocolate with alcohol would make a scrumptious adult beverage! I’d recommend Baileys Irish cream, peppermint schnapps, Kahlua, or Frangelico hazelnut liqueur. YUM!
• Coffee. Mix hot chocolate and coffee together to create a drink called café mocha. Add a shot of espresso or a pour of strongly brewed coffee to your cup, then top with as much hot chocolate as you like. We have this every Christmas morning, and it’s divine.
• Nutella. For an out-of-this-world rich and tasty hot chocolate, stir in a spoonful of Nutella.

Crockpot Hot Chocolate Toppings

Add a flourish to your mug with one of these hot chocolate toppings:

• Marshmallows. Whether you prefer mini marshmallows, regular marshmallows, or jumbo-sized marshmallows, you can’t go wrong with this classic and beloved topping.
• Whipped Cream. For a decadent treat, top your hot chocolate with a dollop of whipped cream.
• Chocolate Chips. A handful of milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips will take the chocolate factor up another notch.
• Caramel Sauce. A drizzle of caramel sauce on top would be tasty!
• Crushed Peppermint. For a minty and festive twist, sprinkle some crushed peppermint candies or candy canes over the top.
• Cinnamon. Finish your hot chocolate batch with a sprinkle of cinnamon. You could also add some cinnamon sticks to the pot as the hot chocolate cooks to infuse it with cozy flavor.