Treat yourself to a mug of hot cocoa and a movie tonight using this easy hot chocolate recipe for one! Made with 5 ingredients including real cocoa and milk, it’ll have you cozying up in minutes. No sharing required!
I’ve reached the point in parenting that my kids can play outside by themselves. This is a beautiful thing in the winter because I hate being cold. I can bundle them up, send them on their way, and happily wait inside for them to come in & ask for a cup of this hot cocoa.
Or…picture this. Your kids are at a sleepover at grandma and grandpa’s, you’re snuggled up on the couch in your jammies about to watch a Christmas movie, and you decide to make yourself a cup of hot cocoa.
And guess what? You only need hot chocolate for one! No special requests, no needing to make a big batch, no worrying about who has more marshmallows in theirs. It’s all about you and your cozy cup of cocoa.
This hot chocolate recipe for one is just what you need to whip up a quick 10-minute cup just in time to get a fire going.
And, of course, when the kids find out you’ve made hot chocolate without them, you can make up for it with a big batch of slow cooker hot chocolate or slow cooker peppermint white hot chocolate just for them!
Single Serve Hot Cocoa
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s rich, creamy, and chocolaty.
- Making a cup just for you is a form of self-care!
- You can double or triple this recipe if you feel like sharing.
- It’s made with just 5 ingredients in 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Milk – I use 2% because I like the thicker consistency of it. The lower the fat content, the thinner it’ll be.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Natural or Dutch-processed cocoa powder can be used. Don’t confuse this with hot cocoa mix which already comes sweetened.
- Granulated white sugar – For sweetness. This way I can control how sweet I want it.
- Vanilla extract – For added flavor.
- Salt – Just a pinch of salt to round out the flavors.
- Optional toppings – Mini marshmallows, marshmallow bits, mini chocolate chips, or whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
How to make Hot Chocolate For One
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step One: Add milk, cocoa powder, and sugar to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk constantly until the cocoa and sugar have fully dissolved.
- Step Two: Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Add a pinch of salt.
- Step Three: Pour the hot chocolate into a mug, top with whipped cream and all the fixings!
- I know this is a single serving hot chocolate recipe, but I generally split one cup between my two kids.
- For best flavor, use a high quality cocoa powder.
- You can also stir in an ounce of chopped chocolate for an extra rich chocolate flavor.
- 1% milk will also work. Coconut milk or oat milk are great dairy free options.
Storage & Reheating
How to store leftovers
This may seem counterintuitive, but if by chance you have made yourself some hot cocoa and decided against drinking it, you can save it for tomorrow. Keep it covered in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheating Instructions
If it’s in a microwave-safe mug, go ahead and microwave it. You can also reheat it on the stove.
FAQs
Is it better to make hot chocolate with milk or water?
I always say milk. Water can be used in a pinch, but it’ll be thin, and well, watery. Milk, especially anything over 1% will create a thick, rich cup of hot chocolate.
What is the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate?
Technically, hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder and hot chocolate is made with melted chocolate bar. They’re used interchangeably so often at this point!
Need more hot chocolate recipes? Try these:
Cosmic Brownie Hot Chocolate Bombs
Click here to view my entire collection of sweet treats.
Hot Chocolate Recipe for One
Ingredients
- 1¼ cup milk I use 2%
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 Tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 1 splash vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- whipped cream, marshmallow bits, mini chocolate chips optional for topping
Instructions
- To a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the milk, cocoa powder, and sugar and whisk constantly until the cocoa and sugar have fully dissolved and the mixture is hot.1¼ cup milk, 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 Tablespoons granulated white sugar
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and pinch of salt.1 splash vanilla extract, 1 pinch salt
- Pour into a mug and top with whipped cream, marshmallow bits, and mini chocolate chips.whipped cream, marshmallow bits, mini chocolate chips
Notes
- One cup makes enough to split for two small servings.
- Use high-quality cocoa powder for best flavor.
- Stir in chopped chocolate for a richer taste.
- Works with 1% milk, or try coconut or oat milk for dairy-free.
- Store leftovers in fridge covered up to 2 days.
- Reheat in microwave (if safe) or gently on stovetop.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram @melissa_pplates so I can see!Did You Make This?
If you made this recipe, I’d love to know how it went in the comments section below.
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I made it with whole milk and it was very rich and tasted like coco powder. I would recommend only using 1 tbsp of coco and maybe adding another tbsp of sugar.
I recommended using 2% 🙂 & we don’t like it overly sweet, but more sugar is always an option.