Learn how to make creamy crockpot peppermint hot chocolate with only six ingredients and just five minutes of prep! Perfect for potlucks and holiday entertaining season.
And if you enjoy this homemade peppermint hot chocolate recipe, you'll love my Gingerbread Hot Chocolate with Bourbon!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Easy - You're just three steps away from enough creamy peppermint hot cocoa for a crowd with no fuss, no fancy tools or techniques, plus easy cleanup!
Great for Gatherings - Holiday entertaining season is in full swing, which means we'll have several opportunities to gather and celebrate. Being the hostess with the mostest can get stressful, though, so any hack that saves me time in the kitchen and gets me out into the party is golden in my book. This is how you make hot cocoa for parties easily!
Holiday Flavor - This is better than Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate and tastes like a chocolate candy cane or slow cooker peppermint bark hot chocolate. A fabulous drink for all ages and check out my red wine hot chocolate if you want something for the 21+ crowd. And caramel apple cider with bourbon is festive another adult fave!
My family loves minty fresh goodies for the holidays and I think yours will, too. Check out my candy cane cookies, peppermint chocolate chip cookies, and peppermint Christmas pound cake next.
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Cocoa Powder - I prefer using unsweetened dark cocoa powder or cacao for deeper flavor and to control the amount of sugar. Alternatively, you can use baking chocolate bars, chocolate chips or even white chocolate.
Milk and Heavy Cream combine to make this peppermint hot chocolate from scratch rich, creamy, and velvet smooth without being too thick. Feel free to use the dairy or plant-based milk and cream of your choice in this crockpot cocoa recipe--I have used dairy, almond, coconut milk, and even evaporated milk, each with great results without using sweetened condensed milk.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Sweetener - I typically use granulated sugar here but you can use coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup or the sweetener of your choice.
Peppermint Flavor - You can substitute the peppermint extract with peppermint candies in a pinch or with vanilla extract for traditional hot chocolate flavor. Peppermint Schnapps is another option for adding peppermint flavor for a boozy crockpot hot chocolate.
Serving Ideas - Of course, peppermints, marshmallows, and whipped cream are on point toppings. There's so much room to get creative with topping your mug of cocoa from chocolate shavings to candy canes and you can even serve peppermint hot chocolate a la mode with ice cream!
Can I make it vegan? Yep! Just use plant-based milk, cream, and sweetener. Check out my dairy-free hot cocoa for more deliciousness.
This year, I'm excited to take part in Eat the Culture's 2023 Holiday Recipe Exchange: Party Pairings for All the Holidays! Holidays often revolve around communal moments - sharing stories, laughter, and, of course, food. This year's roundup is all about those delightful 'lite bites' and drinks that set the tone for festive gatherings.
I had the pleasure of partnering with Lenox Bakery who crafted deliciously festive M&M Cookies. This dish pairs perfectly with my minty crockpot hot chocolate. Learn more about Eat the Culture and check out the complete list of recipes from all participants.
Share these recipes with your friends and loved ones and follow each participant by using the hashtags #HolidayswithETC, #PerfectPartyPairings, and #ETCHOLIDAYS2023 on Instagram.
How to Make Hot Cocoa for a Crowd
Step One: Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker crock.
Step Two: Mix and stir until combined.
Pro Tip #1
For easier mixing, combine the dry ingredients and heavy cream first then stir in the milk.
Pro Tip #2
For obvious reasons, room temperature milk works fastest in this recipe.
Step Three: Cover and cook on high for two hours or low for about four hours.
Step Four: Reset crockpot to "Keep Warm" setting and serve peppermint hot cocoa with marshmallows, candy canes, and more.
Quick How-to Video
Despite living in a warm climate, we are big hot drink sippers around my house so I have tons of cozy recipes. If you like this one, you should definitely check out my pistachio matcha or honey pumpkin chai latte for fall mornings. And don't sleep (literally) on this golden milk and honey drink!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can prep this slow cooker cocoa up to six hours ahead of time and just change the setting to "Keep Warm" until it's time to serve. Keep in mind that the milk will form a kind of skin on top of the hot chocolate after it sits for a while. Don't worry, just give it a stir.
Absolutely. Add your favorite spirit or liqueur to make this a boozy crockpot hot chocolate recipe. Bailey's Irish Cream, raspberry liqueur like Chambord or vanilla vodka are popular options. Stir any alcohol in at the end of the cooking process.
Make sure you use a slow cooker with a locking lid. Secure the lid, unplug the crock pot and carefully transport to your party. I recommend using oven mitts and a heat safe carrier.
Allow the hot chocolate to cool then carefully transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to five days. Do not place the crockpot in the refrigerator.
📖 Recipe
Crockpot Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder or unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon peppermint extract
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ gallon milk at room temperature
Instructions
- Add heavy cream, cocoa powder, sugar, peppermint extract, and sea salt to crock of slow cooker. Mix vigorously until dry ingredients are dissolved and mixture is uniform.
- Stir in milk until uniform.
- Cover and allow to cook for about two hours on high or four hours on low.
- Stir before serving and enjoy carefully.
Kierra says
Oohhhhhhhh I am trying to do better with my health. This would be perfect instead of the processed packets I buy. Not a peppermint fan so I would make it with vanilla extract like you stated in the note. I will buy ingredients today.
Sherita Ashmon says
Thanks for sharing! I've been on the hunt for good slow cooker recipe for my Christmas brunch! I would actually like to do a hot chocolate bar!
Jazz says
You're welcome! This method makes a hot chocolate bar really easy and low maintenance.
Aline says
This is the perfect potluck recipe!! Everyone loves hot chocolate!
Kenya Rae says
Oh how i love this tome of year. Peppermint hit chocolate is so yummy!
Eden says
The perfect holiday party drink! I love the festive marshmallows, too, I need some of those.
LaKita says
This is perfect for entertaining this holiday season. Looks tasty!
Katrina says
This looks so good and perfect for season and weather!!!
SHANIKA says
I've since fallen in love with my slow cooker so this recipe looks like a perfect thing for me to try soon! Peppermint and Chocolate always go perfectly together!
Daniels says
This recipe sounds amazing! Especially with this cold weather!
Marta says
I love that I can make hot cocoa less fussy by using the slow cooker!
Renia Butler says
This looks yummy. Do you think it would translate the same with oatmilk?
Jazz says
Absolutely! Oat milk is the closest to dairy milk.