Simple Homemade Hot Cocoa for One (in Microwave!)
If you’re craving a late night hot cocoa but don’t want to turn on the stove, this recipe is for you! This single serve, homemade hot chocolate is made using the microwave. It combines 4 simple ingredients like cocoa powder, sugar, dark chocolate chips, and milk for a creamy and chocolatey hot drink. Get off the couch and grab your favorite mug, you will be back in 3 minutes or less!
Run out of hot cocoa packets but still *reealllllly* want to dive into a hot, cozy mug full of chocolate?
Don’t worry, I gotchu! And you wont have to turn on the stove either. Most hot cocoa recipes make multiple servings and have you use the stove to stir all the ingredients together (no thanks at 11pm when the kitchen is already clean).
Enter this hot cocoa recipe for one using the microwave!
Seriously this is a game changer. All you have to do is combine simple ingredients like cocoa powder, sugar, and dark chocolate chips in a mug. We’re using both cocoa powder and actual chocolate for a deep chocolate flavor.
Next, warm up some milk in the microwave in a measuring cup and pour it over the mug. Stir and you’re done!
As a professional baker I’m happy to spend time in the kitchen, but I am also not afraid to use shortcuts. It takes A LOT to get me off my couch but when it’s for something this yummy, I will do it! There’s also something so daunting about taking a pot out at night when everything is already put away.
Using the microwave makes it seem like a lot less work.
This creamy hot chocolate is my night time drink of choice. Especially during the holidays or cooler months when you just want to be cozied up in your house.
For the mornings, you’ll find me making this 5 star rated and popular instant iced coffee, or I’ll make this vanilla iced coffee, or get crazy and add some caramel for this caramel iced coffee.
From morning to night, I got you covered with all your favorite drinks! If you’re ready to make your own hot cocoa for one, grab your favorite mug and let’s get started!
Here’s what you need
For this recipe you need 4 ingredients and just a couple things from your kitchen.
Ingredients:
- Cocoa Powder- You can use natural unsweetened or dutch process, or even black cocoa powder.
- Sugar- Just a couple teaspoons is all you need.
- Chocolate chips- I use dark chocolate chips. The trader joes chocolate chips are my favorite ones.
- Milk- You can use any milk here but I prefer whole milk for the creaminess of it.
Kitchen things:
- Mug
- Measuring cup
- Spoon
- Microwave
Something I dont use in this recipe is vanilla extract. I have seen a lot of other recipes call for it, but something about drinking uncooked vanilla extract grosses me out, so it’s not here! It doesnt take away from the flavor either.
Milk versus water
Milk is what makes the hot chocolate creamy and thick. If you use hot water it wont be as rich and might taste watered down. Also the chocolate chips might seize up in water so I dont recommend it!
Best cocoa powder to use
You really can use anything you have in the house. Hershey’s works amazingly well. I do prefer the Hershey’s Dark for this recipe though, it adds a deeper flavor.
Ghirardelli’s cocoa powder is also a winner too. I have also used black cocoa powder (dutch processed) when I ran out of natural.
How to make single serve hot cocoa
Step one: Grab your favorite mug.
Step two: Add cocoa powder, sugar, and chocolate chips to the mug.
Step three: Pour 1 cup milk into a microwave safe measuring cup (pyrex works well here) and microwave for 90 -120 seconds. The milk should be scalding but not boiling.
Step four: Pour the milk over the ingredients in the mug and let it sit for 1 minute. You want to let it sit so that the hot milk melts the chocolate before you start stirring. This will make it easier to melt and blend in completely.
Step five: Stir really well making sure to scrape the bottom to mix in all the chocolate.
Step 6: Top with your favorite toppings (optional) see below.
Now, giddily walk back to your couch and cover yourself with the 6 blankets you have on it for the ultimate cozy night in.
Toppings
There are so many options for toppings! Here’s a list of things I like to add to my hot cocoa:
- Whipped cream and cocoa powder dust (use a small sieve) or shaved chocolate
- Big or mini marshmallows
- Crushed peppermint
- Stick a whole candy cane in there
- Chocolate covered caramels- to be fair, these sink, but if you scoop them up with a spoon its delicious!
Last thing to know- make sure you stir the chocolate in well. Sometimes the chocolate chips can take a few minutes to fully melt, so while you think you stirred them all in well, really they are clumped at the bottom of the mug.
Honestly though, thats not a bad thing because then you just get a chocolatey surprise treat after the last sip! Hooray! I love surprises!
Simple Homemade Hot Cocoa for One (in Microwave!)
Ingredients
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- 2 tsp white sugar
- 1 tbsp dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup whole milk, can sub for any other kind of milk
Equipment
- 1 Mug
- 1 Microwave
- 1 Measuring Cup
Instructions
- Grab your favorite mug and add 2 tsp cocoa powder, 2 tsp of white sugar and a tablespoon of chocolate chips. Set aside.
- In a microwave safe measuring cup, add 1 cup milk. Microwave for 90-120 seconds. The milk should be scalding hot but not bubbling.
- Pour the hot milk over the mixture in the mug. Let it sit for 1 minute untouched, then stir with a spoon to completely melt the chocolate.
- Top with topping of choice and enjoy!
