Make perfect hot chocolate in the Instant Pot! This easy recipe creates enough rich, creamy hot cocoa for the whole family in minutes.
Everyone loves homemade hot chocolate. Learn How to Make Hot Cocoa Bombs for everyone on your holiday shopping list!
Why use the Instant Pot
Once you try homemade Instant Pot Hot Chocolate, you’ll never go back to powdered cocoa mixes.
- No microwave or stove top needed.
- Makes enough for a crowd.
- Rich chocolate-y flavor.
- Ready in no time!
This recipe uses a combination of heavy cream, milk and cocoa for hot chocolate that’s sweet, creamy and decadent. Topped with whipped cream or homemade marshmallows, it’s the perfect drink to sip by the fireplace and watch the snow fall.
Love making drinks in the Instant Pot? Try our Instant Pot Apple Cider next!
Ingredient Notes
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – The better quality the cocoa, the better your hot chocolate will taste. Make sure it’s plain cocoa powder, NOT hot cocoa mix.
- Whole milk – For creamiest cocoa, whole milk is a must. This is the time for decadence!
- Heavy cream – Adding in one part cream to four parts milk makes this cocoa even creamier and thicker.
- Cinnamon – Just a touch of this spice gives the hot cocoa an extra “wow” factor that will surprise your guests.
Easy Instructions
Prepare the ingredients:
Whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl. Get your water, cream and milk ready to go.
How to Make Instant Pot Hot Chocolate:
Combine water and the cocoa mixture in your Instant Pot. Whisk them together continuously as they heat on the SAUTE setting.
Once the mixture thickens, add milk and heavy cream. Keep whisking until the hot cocoa is warmed through.
Turn off the Instant Pot and ladle cocoa into mugs. Serve warm!
Tips and Tricks
- Do not allow the mixture to boil!
- Top mugs of hot chocolate with Homemade Whipped Cream for more decadence! Or enjoy it with peppermint marshmallows for a minty flavor!
- Use the “keep warm” feature on your Instant Pot to keep this cocoa warm for movie night!
- Enjoy a mug of hot cocoa while making our favorite hot chocolate cookies and sugar cookies this holiday season!
Recipe FAQs
Transfer any leftover homemade hot chocolate to a mason jar fitted with a lid. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat over medium heat on the stove top before serving. Stir the cocoa continuously while reheating.
We tested this recipe in a 6 quart Instant Pot.
Yes, but it won’t taste as creamy as hot chocolate made with the full fat stuff!
Yes, if you don’t have an Instant Pot you can make delicious homemade hot chocolate on the stove. Use a 6 quart sauce pan on medium heat.
More Easy Drink Recipes
- Apple Crisp Macchiato
- Homemade Eggnog
- Apple Cider Sangria
- BBC Drink
- Skinny Caramel Mocha
- Dalgona Coffee
More Holiday Drinks
See all Drinks recipes
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Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup water
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, and kosher salt.
- In your Instant Pot, add water and your cocoa powder mixture and select the Sauté feature. Keep whisking until it gets thick.
- Add in the milk and heavy cream and keep mixing until it becomes creamy and is warmed throughout. Do not allow mixture to boil.
- Hit "Cancel" and serve.
Notes
- Storage: You will want to put any leftover Hot Chocolate in an airtight jar (like a mason jar) and keep it in the fridge for 3-5 days. You can rewarm it on the stove top on medium low until warmed throughout.
- Serve with whipped cream!
- Keep pot on "warm" if planning on serving it over a period of time. Easy recipe to double and triple.
- Recipe tested in 6qt Instant Pot.
Nutrition
Instant Pot Hot Chocolate is just what you need on a cold day. Easy to make, this homemade hot chocolate recipe is full of rich cocoa flavor and winter cheer!
Can this recipe be doubled and still fit in the 6 qt instant pot?
Made this for an office potluck and it was a BIG hit! People compared it to the 200 year hot cocoa recipe from the Santa Claus movie! 10/10 would recommend.
So glad it was a hit!!