There’s nothing quite like Italian hot chocolate — thick, silky and luxuriously creamy. If you want a chocolatey, comforting drink to enjoy while you curl up on the couch, this is the perfect treat.
Many hot chocolate mixes are powdery and dilute, but traditional Italian hot chocolate is intensely chocolatey and rich. It’s simple to make at home and comes together in about five minutes from start to finish. Once you try this, you’ll see there’s no need for instant sachets.
Hot chocolate is the ultimate cozy drink — perfect with a blanket, warm socks and a good film. I especially love it on bitterly cold days.
I first tasted this decadent version in Milan as a child. After a day of sightseeing in freezing weather, my family stopped at a café and I was served a small mug of melted, thick chocolate. It was unlike any hot chocolate I’d had before — dense, pudding-like and utterly delicious. You can recreate that same experience easily at home.
I enjoy this drink as-is, but you can top it with marshmallows, whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel, or add a splash of Irish cream liqueur for an extra indulgent dessert-style hot chocolate.
How To Make Italian Hot Chocolate
To prepare, warm milk in a saucepan and add chopped dark chocolate, cocoa powder and sugar. Heat gently, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and sugar melt completely.
Whisk the corn starch into 2 tablespoons of milk until smooth, then stir this mixture into the chocolate milk. Continue stirring over low heat until the drink thickens and becomes velvety. Finish with a small pinch of salt, ladle into mugs and serve.
More Italian chocolate treats to try
Christmas
Frangelico Hot Chocolate Affogato
Italian Desserts
Homemade Baci Chocolates (Italian Kisses)
Italian Desserts
Torta Barozzi (Rich, Flourless Chocolate Cake)
Christmas
Panpepato (Christmas Spiced Cake)
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Italian Hot Chocolate
By Emily
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz (100g) chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp caster sugar
- 2 cups (500ml) milk + 2 tbsp
- 4 tsp corn starch
- 1 small pinch smoked salt or regular
Instructions
- Add the milk to a saucepan and stir in the chopped chocolate, cocoa powder and sugar. Warm gently, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and sugar have fully melted.
- Whisk the corn starch into 2 tablespoons of milk until smooth, then add it to the chocolate milk. Stir continuously over low heat until the drink thickens and becomes smooth. Add a small pinch of salt, then pour into mugs and serve.
Helpful Info for All Recipes
- I use extra virgin olive oil in recipes unless otherwise stated.
- For canned or jarred tomatoes I recommend well-known quality brands for consistent flavour.
- Vegetables are assumed to be medium-sized unless noted.
- All recipes are tested using a fan (convection) oven unless stated otherwise.
- Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be treated as an approximation.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.