Hot Chocolate Seven Ways

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Take your plain cup of cocoa to the next level with these slow cooker variations. You can leave your hot chocolate plain, or you can try peanut butter, pumpkin spice, mocha, and more flavors.

Hot Chocolate Seven Ways
Photo: Carson Downing
Prep Time:
15 mins
Slow Cook Time:
4 hrs
Total Time:
4 hrs 15 mins
Servings:
12
Yield:
9 1/2 cups

Ingredients

  • 6 cup half-and-half

  • 2 cup heavy cream

  • 12 ounce bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped

  • 1 tablespoon vanilla

  • Marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream (optional)

Directions

  1. In a 3 1/2- or 4-qt. slow cooker combine half-and-half, heavy cream, and chocolate. Cover and cook on low 4 hours or high 2 hours, vigorously whisking once halfway through.

  2. Whisk well. Stir in vanilla. Serve immediately or keep warm, covered, on warm or low up to 2 hours. If desired, top servings with marshmallows or whipped cream.

Raspberry Hot Chocolate

Prepare as directed in Step 1. Stir in 1/2 cup raspberry beverage flavoring syrup or 1/4 cup raspberry liqueur with the vanilla. If desired, top servings with whipped cream, raspberries, and chocolate curls.Nutrition analysis per serving: same as above except 460 calories, 30 g carbohydrate, 25 g total sugar

Spicy Hot Chocolate

Prepare as directed, except add 1 tsp. each ground ancho chile pepper and ground cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper to mixture in Step 1. If desired, top servings with whipped cream and additional ground ancho pepper and/or cinnamon. Nutrition analysis per serving: same as above except 431 calories, 23 g carbohydrate, 22% Vitamin A, 2% Vitamin C

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Prepare as directed, except add 3 Tbsp. canned pumpkin and 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice to mixture in Step 1. If desired, top servings with whipped cream and broken gingersnaps.Nutrition analysis per serving: same as above except 432 calories, 23 g carbohydrate, 32% Vitamin A, 2% Vitamin C, 86 mg sodium

Joyful Almond Hot Chocolate

Prepare as directed in Step 1, except substitute one 14-oz. can unsweetened coconut milk (not light) for 2 cups of the half-and-half. Stir in 1 to 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract with the vanilla. If desired, coat rims of mugs with toasted coconut and top servings with toasted sliced almonds.Nutrition analysis per serving: same as above except 437 calories, 5 g protein,. 21 g carbohydrate, 39 g total fat (26 g sat. fat), 74 mg cholesterol, 15 g total sugar, 18% Vitamin A, 77 mg sodium, 10% Calcium, 14% Iron

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

If desired, microwave 3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter in 10 second intervals until melted and smooth, stirring after each interval. Prepare as directed, except whisk in the melted peanut butter or 3 Tbsp. chocolate-hazelnut spread with the vanilla. If desired, top servings with whipped cream, chopped peanuts, and cut-up chocolate-covered peanut butter cups.Nutrition analysis per serving: same as above except 454 calories, 23 g carbohydrate, 40 g total fat (25 g sat. fat), 3 g fiber, 102 mg sodium

Espresso Hot Chocolate

Prepare as directed in Step 1. Stir in 1 to 2 Tbsp. instant espresso coffee powder with the vanilla. If desired, top servings with whipped cream and chopped chocolate-covered coffee beans.Nutrition analysis per serving: same as above except 431 calories, 23 g carbohydrate

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

430 Calories
38g Fat
22g Carbs
7g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 430
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 38g 49%
Saturated Fat 24g 120%
Cholesterol 88mg 29%
Sodium 85mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 1.3mg 7%
Calcium 169mg 13%
Iron 2.1mg 12%
Potassium 349mg 7%
Fatty acids, total trans 1g
Folate, total 5.2mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.3mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.1mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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