Creamy Italian Hot Chocolate Recipe with Whipped Cream
A thick, creamy Italian hot chocolate with a luscious whipped cream topping, perfect for cozy nights and gatherings. This recipe creates a rich, pudding-like texture that warms you from the inside out.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups whole milk (475 ml)
- 1 cup heavy cream (240 ml), chilled
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-processed)
- 4 tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 1 ounce espresso shot
- Optional: cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, sift together cocoa powder, sugar, cornstarch, and salt to prevent lumps and ensure even thickening.
- Slowly pour in whole milk while whisking continuously to blend the dry mix smoothly and avoid clumps.
- Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and stir constantly with a whisk as the mixture warms, heating slowly to develop a thick, creamy texture without scorching.
- Continue heating until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon and leaves a clear line when you run your finger through it. If too thick, add a splash more milk while stirring.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Add espresso shot now if making a mocha twist.
- While the hot chocolate cools slightly, whip the chilled heavy cream in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Optionally add a small spoonful of sugar to sweeten the whipped cream.
- Pour the hot chocolate into heatproof mugs and top generously with the freshly whipped cream. Optionally sprinkle cocoa powder or cinnamon on top for garnish.
Notes
Stir continuously while heating to avoid lumps and scorching. Chill bowl and beaters before whipping cream for best volume. Use high-quality cocoa powder for best flavor. For dairy-free version, substitute whole milk with oat or almond milk and heavy cream with coconut cream whipped with powdered sugar. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated gently.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml) hot c
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 16.5
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: Italian hot chocolate, creamy hot chocolate, whipped cream, cozy drink, winter beverage, thick hot chocolate, mocha hot chocolate