Eggnog Hot Chocolate

Sipping chocolate in a glass mug next to hot cocoa in a glass mug

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You've never had hot chocolate as rich and decadent as this! By using eggnog instead of milk or water, you get the thickest, creamiest, most decadent hot chocolate or hot cocoa ever. And all with just 2 ingredients! Plus you can make this dairy-free/vegan.

Prep Time2

Cook Time10

Total Time12

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Servings: drinks

Calories: 428kcal

Author: Don Baiocchi

Ingredients

16 oz. eggnog

For Eggnog Hot Chocolate

8 oz. chocolate (see notes for suggestions)

For Eggnog Hot Cocoa

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

Warm the eggnog in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. You should just start to see bubbles forming along the edge.
For hot chocolate: finely chop the chocolate. Add the chocolate to the warm eggnog and stir gently and frequently with a spatula (making sure the chocolate is not sticking to the bottom of the pan) until it's melted, about 5-10 minutes.
For hot cocoa: add the cocoa powder to the warm eggnog and whisk until completely blended. Then keep whisking occasionally until the eggnog is completely warmed through, about 3-5 minutes.
Pour the eggnog hot chocolate/cocoa through a fine-mesh sieve into 4 mug to catch any lumps of chocolate or cocoa. This ensures the smoothest, creamiest drink possible.

Notes

Keep in mind the eggnog already has sugar in it, so you don't need to use a sweet chocolate bar. I use a 70-80% dark chocolate bar but if you want it sweeter, trying something around 40-50% (or look for a "semisweet" chocolate).

Each serving is 1/2 cup (4 oz.) because it's a very rich drink.

For one drink: use 4 oz. (1/2 cup) eggnog and either 1 tablespoon cocoa powder or 2 oz. chocolate.

Nutrition note: Nutrition info is for the hot chocolate version, not the hot cocoa.

Substitutions and variations

To make this dairy-free, use dairy-free eggnog and chocolate (unsweetened cocoa powder is already dairy-free).

To make this vegan, use vegan eggnog and chocolate.

Feel free to add other flavorings, like vanilla extract, a dash of cinnamon or even a pinch of cayenne if you'd like it spicy.

To make a boozy hot cocoa/chocolate, try adding whiskey, tequila, orange liqueur, coffee liqueur or a nutty liqueur like amaretto (almond) or Frangelico (hazelnut).

Make ahead

The hot cocoa and the hot chocolate can be cooled to room temperature and then chilled in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Re-warm it in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally.

(And actually, you can drink the chilled eggnog hot chocolate - it's like chocolate eggnog! And you can eat the eggnog hot chocolate straight out of the fridge - it's like an irresistible eggnog chocolate pudding!)

Nutrition