How to Make Frozen Hot Chocolate

I know that winter is the perfect time for curling up with a mug of hot cocoa. It’s just the thing to warm you up after cutting down the Christmas tree or ice skating all day. But I’ll be honest, I like my treats cold! I’m the kind of gal that orders cold brew coffee all year and will happily eat an ice cream cone even when temps are well below freezing. So how do I combine my appreciation for hot chocolate with my love of all things chilly? With a frozen hot chocolate!

You’re probably thinking can you make cold hot chocolate? I get it—it’s definitely an oxymoron, but it is possible to turn winter’s favorite drink into an icy treat worth enjoying no matter the weather. And the best part is, you can make it in minutes. Let me show you how.

Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe

• 5 ounces chocolate of your choosing, roughly chopped
• ½ cup confectioners sugar
• 1½ tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole milk
• 4 cups ice
• The garnishes of your choosing, like marshmallows, whipped cream or sprinkles

Step 1: Mixing up your chocolate base

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The foundation of a great hot chocolate—frozen or otherwise—is a great chocolately base. For this recipe, combine your chocolate, cocoa powder, confectioners sugar and one cup of milk (save the other cup for later) into a small pot. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the chocolate has melted and the mixture and nice and smooth. Keep a close eye on this one—you don’t want it to boil.

Step 2: Blending it all together

Now’s the time to break out your blender (these are our favorite brands). Pour your chocolate mixture inside along with the other cup of milk, the vanilla extract and ice. Then blend away until your mixture is nice and smooth.

If you want to make this taste a bit more like the holidays, you can substitute in a half teaspoon of peppermint extract for the vanilla. Who doesn’t love chocolate and mint together?

Step 3: Serving it up

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Serve up your frozen hot chocolate in any mug or glass you like, but be sure to give it a little garnish! I like a big dollop of homemade whipped cream and some chocolate shavings. But you can mix it up however you like with sprinkles, caramel, crushed peppermint candies or whatever toppings you love. These crazy (but oh-so-delicious) milkshakes might give you a little inspiration!

The result is an exceptionally chocolatey drink that’s as rich as it is refreshing. Sure it might be chilly, but the chocolate and cream make this one feel just like wintertime. It might just replace your favorite hot hot cocoa!

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