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Polar Express Hot Chocolate. This is Christmas in a mug, complete with so much whipped cream because – ’Tis the magic of the season! Steamed milk, sweet chocolate, hazelnut, and swirls of vanilla bean. This cocoa is creamy and perfectly sweet and will bring only the best holiday memories. It is so special. Perfect for sipping while trimming the tree and decking the halls, this recipe is SIMPLE—only a few ingredients, and it can be made in minutes!
This is probably the recipe I’ve been most excited to share all week long, even though I love and adore tomorrow’s cocktail recipe too. But this cocoa! It’s my favorite to date. Both Asher and I feel it’s the most delicious. It’s definitely fitting for a night of watching the Polar Express and decorating the tree!
I hope most of you have seen The Polar Express. It’s a Christmas classic and a movie I’ve always loved. My favorite scene is the hot chocolate scene. It’s so fun. Their steaming mugs of hot chocolate always make me want my own.
This year, we’re making our own hot cocoa inspired by the movie. You all, this really is the best hot chocolate!
I’ve now made this countless times. Asher will often come to my house while we clean the kitchen, and in the winter, I always make her mugs of hot chocolate. It’s one of my favorite things to do. I wish we could do it more often!
This hot chocolate is so creamy, almost fluffy, and the flavor is just too delicious. I have a few secrets!
Let me share the details with you!
Ingredients
- half and half, or use whole milk
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- chopped dark chocolate, or for something sweeter, milk chocolate
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- hazelnut liqueur, or use hazelnut syrup, but I prefer to use liqueur
- vanilla extract
- whipped cream, my secret
Special Tools
Nothing! You can make this on the stovetop (as I did), in the microwave, or in the crockpot. Hot chocolate at home is so easy!
Steps
Step 1: mix everything
I like to make this on the stove. In a pot combine the half and half (use this for a truly luscious mug of cocoa), chocolate chips, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, hazelnut liqueur, and vanilla. Oh, and I always add a pinch of sea salt too.
The hazelnut is not to be skipped. If you prefer not to use alcohol, use a low-sugar hazelnut syrup instead of the liquor. But you need the hazelnut flavor here. It adds so much. It helps to highlight the flavors of the chocolate and vanilla while adding a subtle swirl of almond flavor. It’s my favorite ingredient this time of year. I always have a bottle of Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur on hand. Always!
Step 2: add the whipped cream
Aside from the hazelnut, this whipped cream is the other very special ingredient that makes this hot chocolate special!
The addition of the whipped cream happened by mistake. But Asher and I feel it’s what ended up making these mugs of hot chocolate so special.
After photographing the hot chocolate the first time around, I just wasn’t happy with the photographs. I thought I would try a second time, so I needed to rewarm the cocoa. In doing so, I also had to incorporate the mounds of whipped cream I had plopped on top of each mug. When we poured the hot chocolate back into the mugs for drinking, we could already see the difference. The creaminess that the extra whipped cream adds is the MOST DELICIOUS!
A mistake turned into a wonderful Christmas treat. Trust us!
Step 3: serve
I recommend serving this hot chocolate in a very good-sized latte mug, ideally one that’s cute for the season!
Pour the steaming half-and-half (or milk) into your mug. Add whipped cream on top (yes, more whipped cream), then enjoy. You can add chocolate shavings if you like. Or try some ground nutmeg, my personal favorite. It’s the yummiest!
If you need something sweet to warm things up this winter, make this hot chocolate. It’s universally loved by all, and it’s almost too easy to make. Trust me, you’ll enjoy every sip of this cocoa! Ideally, sip this cocoa while watching the Polar Express. Mmm, holiday magic!
Looking for other warming holiday drinks? Here are a few ideas:
Asher’s 5 Minute Creamy Vanilla Hot Cocoa
Lastly, if you make Polar Express Hot Chocolate, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Polar Express Hot Chocolate
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 474 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups half and half or whole milk
- 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup chopped dark or milk chocolate
- 2-3 tablespoons hazelnut liqueur
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whipped cream, and lots more for serving
- flaky salt
Instructions
Stove
- 1. Add the milk, chocolate chips, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, hazelnut, vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt to a small pot. Place over medium-low heat and stir until the milk is scalding but not boiling. Stir in the whipped cream2. Once the hot cocoa is steaming, whisk it well, then pour it into a mug and dollop with whipped cream - a lot of whipped cream. Drink and enjoy!
Microwave
- 1. In a glass measuring cup, combine the milk, chocolate chips, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, hazelnut, vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt. Microwave on high power for one minute. Whisk to combine, and add the whipped cream. Microwave one more minute, or until steaming.2. Pour into a mug and dollop with whipped cream - a lot of whipped cream. Drink and enjoy!
Crockpot
- 1. Add the milk, chocolate chips, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, hazelnut, vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt to the bowl of your crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Switch to warm until ready to serve, up to 2 more hours. Stir in the whipped cream before serving.
A fabulous and delicious hot chocolate. Was so good both with and without Liqueur. 😊xx
Hi Kelly-Jane,
Wonderful! I’m so glad this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks for making it! Merry Christmas!!🎄🎁☃️
This is the BEST hot chocolate. The whipped cream stirred in makes it so good!
Hi Kaycee,
Happy Holidays!🎄🎁☃️ Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I’m so glad to hear it turned out well! XxT
Can I sub the milk for oat milk?
Hi Tia,
Yes, that will work nicely for you. I hope you love this recipe! xx
I put the ingredients into a calorie calculator and this is over 800 calories per serving, not including the “lots more whipping cream for serving.” Your recipe lists 474 per serving. Yeah, you have the excuse of “may not be accurate” but if the actual count is nearly double what your website tool is calculating maybe it’s time to update your tool??
Pottery barn is now selling the PE hot chocolate mugs! This recipe looks devine, I cannot wait to try it!
How fun, those will be perfect!! I hope you love this recipe! Happy Holidays! xx
Made this tonight as we decorated the tree and oh my — so decadent and delicious. Just the right amount of sweetness (not too sweet) to offset the heaviness of the cream for a delightfully indulgent adult hot cocoa. Will make again!!
Hey Barbmia,
I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear it turned out well! Happy Holidays! xxT
Can the same flavor be achieved by adding cream to the hot chocolate? Or is whipping it necessary? Essentially, same question as Barbara below. Not asking for advice on topping the hot chocolate with whipped cream, that I understand.
Hi Jane,
I would recommend whipping it:) I hope you love this recipe! xx
This recipe sounds horribly decadent and delicious. But I have a question about the whipped cream that is stirred into the hot chocolate. Wouldn’t it lose its airiness and just kind of melt into the rest of the ingredients? I guess I’m wondering if it is worth the trouble to whip the cream. Wouldn’t you end up with basically the same flavor and consistency by simply stirring unbeaten cream into the mixture? Of course you need some whipped cream for the topping, but mixed in….?
Thanks! I can’t wait to try this.
Hi Barbara,
You can just top your hot chocolate with whipped cream to your liking:) I hope you love this recipe! xx
Looks decadent and oh so good!!
Thanks so much, Lisa!! Happy Holidays! xx
For the whipped cream, do you just beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff and fluffy, or do you add in sugar or other ingredients to sweeten? SO excited to make this tonight while decorating our Christmas tree!! 🙂
Hi Elizabeth,
I like my whipped cream as is, but you can totally add some sugar to your liking. I hope you love this recipe! happy holidays! xT
What can you sub the liquor out for to get the hazelnut taste?
Hi Sarah,
You can use hazelnut syrup. Please let me know if you have any other questions! happy Holidays! xx
Does the alcohol end up evaporating so this is safe for kids? Or does a switch to hazelnut syrup need to have to make this kid friendly?
You have to boil something for alcohol to evaporate, after 15min of boiling around 40% alcohol still remains. She specifically says to not boil this so the alcohol would remain. It is only 2-3 tablespoons for 4 servings so a very small amount, but none the less probably should not be served to children.
Hi Allyson,
I would go ahead and use the hazelnut syrup just to be safe:) I hope you love this recipe! xx