The THICKEST and CREAMIEST Hot Chocolate Recipe EVER! (2024)

FAQs

How do you make hot chocolate thicker? ›

Cornflour/Cornstarch: Mix a small amount with cold milk or water to create a smooth paste. Whisk this into your hot chocolate towards the end of the cooking process until it thickens. Double Cream: Stirring in a splash of double cream can instantly enrich and thicken your drink, giving it a velvety texture.

In mainland Europe (particularly Spain and Italy), hot chocolate is sometimes served very thick due to the use of a thickening agent such as cornstarch.

It is made with real, high-quality chocolate. European hot chocolate is typically made with dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, such as 70% or higher. This gives the hot chocolate a richer flavor and a thicker consistency.

It Started in Mexico

As early as 500 BC, the Mayans were drinking chocolate made from ground-up cocoa seeds mixed with water, cornmeal, and chili peppers (as well as other ingredients)—a much different version from the hot chocolate we know today.

For instance, when chocolate comes into contact with even the smallest amount of water, it seizes. Similarly, if chocolate is overheated, it will become thick and lumpy.

Ingredients For Thick Hot Chocolate

Whole milk: To make your hot chocolate rich and creamy, you want the fat from whole milk. Do not use skim or low fat. Chocolate: You want the best high-quality chocolate you can afford as you'll taste the difference.

If the hot chocolate doesn't thicken, add a slurry of cornstarch and milk (dissolve ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch in a tablespoon of cold milk) to the hot chocolate and continue stirring over medium high heat until slightly thickened.

Italian hot chocolate is thicker, creamier, and generally much richer than traditional American hot chocolate, which is less dense and milkier. It is made with a few key ingredients: cocoa, sugar, and milk. In some cases, a little dark chocolate and a thickening agent, such as cornstarch, are added as well.

Mexican hot chocolate includes various spices, including cinnamon, cloves, and ancho chili pepper. These ingredients give it a unique flavor that is sweet and slightly spicy.

Is hot chocolate better with water or milk? ›

Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.

Italy is another European country that loves its thick hot chocolate. Their version of hot chocolate uses heavy cream and milk like the French. But unlike the French, they go an extra step by adding cornstarch to thicken the mixture even more. The result is a pudding-like consistency that is still pourable.

Massachusetts is not alone in their number one selection, as hot cocoa was the most common favorite drink in the country, coming in first place in 17 states including New York, California, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island.

The first chocolate drink is thought to have been created around 2,000 years ago by the Mayans, and there is clear evidence of some form of cocoa beverage in Aztec culture by 1400 AD.

American-style hot chocolate is often made with water and cocoa powder. European hot chocolate, on the other hand, is made with milk, which gives it a creamier texture and a thicker mouthfeel. It is often thickened with cornstarch or otro.

Cocoa powder is also another way to thicken your hot chocolate or drinking chocolate. Any good hot chocolate mix should be a dry mixture of actual grated hot chocolate, not just cocoa powder. However, you can add some cocoa powder to it in order to add a little more thickness to your hot chocolate.

Cocoa butter is the best option as it's the natural fat present in chocolate. Alternatively, you can use a bit of vegetable oil or shortening. Start by adding just a small amount (a teaspoon for every 100 grams of chocolate should suffice), stir it in, and see if the chocolate is thin enough for your needs.

Chocolate and water don't go together. Even a small splash of water in your melting chocolate will cause it to seize, becoming stiff and grainy instead of smooth and silky.