Ready for sipping in just 10 minutes, this quick and easy White Hot Chocolate is the most decadently delicious beverage you'll drink all fall and winter long. It's great for any occasion when the weather gets chilly and you need a warm beverage to cozy up with. Serve at Halloween, Thanksgiving, and most definitely Christmas for a crowd-pleaser guests will come back for again and again.
White hot chocolate is a vanilla lover's dream: sweet, creamy, and velvety smooth. Your secret weapon for making the best version anyone has ever tasted? Sweetened condensed milk; it adds the most delicious touch. Flavorwise, think melted vanilla ice cream, only lighter, smoother, and perfectly sippable.
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Why This Recipe Works
Every year when the weather turns cold, my girls and I immediately start craving hot chocolate. In fact, one of our favorite traditions is to kick off the season with a steaming mug in hand and invite friends over for a full-on hot chocolate party with Christmas cookies galore at the start of Christmas break. Over the last 15 years, I've raised true hot chocolate connoisseurs, and we've gotten a little picky about what we sip. We even make our own custom cocoa and give as gifts during the holiday season.
I'll admit, as an avid chocolate lover, I had my doubts about white hot chocolate. Would it be too sweet? Too heavy? Dare I say, not enough...chocolate? But all it took was one sip of this recipe to completely change my mind. After developing and testing dozens of cozy drinks and chocolate-based desserts here at The Anthony Kitchen, I know the difference between just sweet and something truly balanced and worth a repeat pour. This white hot chocolate recipe nails it.
It's rich without being heavy, sweet without being cloying, and everything you didn't know you wanted in a white hot chocolate. It's perfect to pair with a chocolate croissant on Christmas morning or even at Halloween with my Halloween brownies.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Milk | The base for your white hot chocolate. I recommend using whole milk for the creamiest, richest base. Feel free to swap 2% for a lighter drink, but just know that lowering the fat content of the milk will result in a thinner, less velvety texture.
Half + Half | Adding this to the mix will make your hot chocolate an ultra-rich and creamy beverage. We're talking instant indulgence. If you'd rather keep things lighter, skip it and stick with milk only.
Sweetened Condensed Milk | Sweet, syrupy, and slightly caramelized, this is a powerhouse ingredient for adding depth of flavor and creamy, decadent vibes to white hot chocolate. Don't skip it—it's so good!
White Chocolate | Use a good, high-quality white chocolate bar, such as Lindt or Ghirardelli. Cheaper white chocolates (like the morsels we opt for in our white chocolate chip cookies) typically contain more vegetable oil than cocoa butter. Cocoa butter melts evenly and smoothly in warm warm milk, while vegetable oil leaves an oily film on top.
Salt | I really enjoy salty-sweet treats (hello Salted Caramel Irish Coffees), so an extra little pinch takes this drink over the top for me. Keep in mind, sweetened condensed milk already has a little hint of salt, so if you prefer your hot chocolate purely sweet, leave that extra pinch out!
Flavor Variations
If you'd like to make peppermint hot chocolate, add in a ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract at the end of cooking. Or get really extra and use chopped peppermint bark instead of chopped white chocolate. If you want to keep it white, make sure you make or purchase white peppermint bark.
Ready for pumpkin season? Make pumpkin spice hot chocolate by adding in 1-2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to the initial stovetop mix. Trust me — spices and hot chocolate are a match made in heaven. This Mexican hot chocolate recipe is sippable proof!
If you're a salted caramel fan, leave out the sweetened condensed milk and stir in ¼ cup of high-quality caramel sauce. A pinch of flaky sea salt on top, and you've got the salted caramel hot chocolate dreams are made of.
For another sweet treat to pair with your white hot chocolate, iced Christmas cookies are a fun family treat to make together while sipping!
Spiked White Hot Chocolate
I've served spiked hot chocolate at countless Christmas parties over the years. Our guests are always so excited to see it, and even more excited to drink it.
To spike hot chocolate, use 1 ounce of hard liquor and 1 ounce of liqueur. Below are suggested pairings, but feel free to mix and match your favorite spirits and liqueurs as desired. However, I advise against mixing and matching peppermint flavors with anything but chocolate.
Make it Minty | Peppermint vodka with Peppermint Schnapps or Creme de Menthe are all great additions for a peppermint kiss to your white hot chocolate.
Make it Nutty | Spiced rum with amaretto, an almond-flavored liqueur, or Frangelico, a hazelnut liqueur.
Make Dessert | Vanilla vodka with Irish cream or Godiva white or dark chocolate liqueur. RumChata will turn your white hot chocolate into a cinnamon lover's delight.
How Make White Hot Chocolate
Heat the Base
Heat Ingredients | In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, combine milk, half and half, and sweetened condensed milk. Heat until steaming; do not boil.
It's essential to emphasize this point: do not boil. Make sure to heat your milk to warm, not boiling. We aren't looking for a full-on simmer here and certainly not a boil. You do not want to scald the pot. Once you see steam rising off the surface of the milk and tiny bubbles forming around the edges of the pan, it's time to add the chocolate.
Melt in the Chocolate
Stir | As soon as you see bubbles collecting along the edges of the saucepan, stir in white chocolate until fully melted and smooth.
Add Salt and Serve
Add Salt | Add the pinch of sea salt and whisk to combine. Serve immediately with toppings and enjoy!
Topping Ideas for Hot Chocolate
There are so many ways to top off your hot white chocolate. If you want to get a little extra this holiday season, I can't recommend our hot chocolate charcuterie board enough. It's full of candies, cookies, and literally everything you could possibly want to top off your cocoa. If you want to go a simpler route, just pick one or two from the list below or check out our 35 Best Christmas Snacks for more cocoa pairing inspiration.
- Whipped cream (vanilla or chocolate)
- Marshmallows (homemade or minis)
- White chocolate chips or chocolate shavings
- Crushed peppermint or candy canes
- Sprinkles (metallic or holiday-themed!)
More Cozy Beverages to Try
- Mulled Red Wine
- Hot Toddy with Rum
- World's Greatest Fall Cocktail
- Spiked Apple Cider
- Apple Pie Martini
White Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cups half and half
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 6 ounces high-quality chopped white chocolate (such as Lindt or Ghirahrdeli)
- Pinch of sea salt
- Topping ideas: whipped cream, marshmallows, shaved white chocolate, crushed peppermint, sprinkles, etc.
Instructions
- In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, combine milk, half and half, and sweetened condensed milk. Heat until steaming; do not boil.
- As soon as you see bubbles collecting along the edges of the saucepan, stir in white chocolate until fully melted and smooth.
- Add the pinch of sea salt and whisk to combine.
- Serve immediately with toppings and enjoy!
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