If you can't get enough eggnog during the holiday season, this Eggnog Hot Chocolate recipe is for you! The incredibly simple festive drink combines eggnog, milk, and cocoa powder for a delicious winter warmer filled with cheer.
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'Tis the season for hot chocolate! And also, 'tis the season for eggnog! So, what's a chocolate-loving eggnog-obsessed person to do? Combine the two and make eggnog hot chocolate!
If you thought hot chocolate couldn't get any more delicious, you're about to be very pleasantly surprised this holiday season!
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
You'll love this recipe because it combines eggnog and chocolate into one warm and delicious drink. And if you're an eggnog and chocolate fan, doesn't that sound like heaven?
Plus, this winter drink is so easy to make. In fact, all you're really doing is making a super simple hot chocolate with the addition of eggnog.
This recipe truly does take hot chocolate to a whole new holiday level!
🗒 Ingredients
As you can imagine, the ingredients for eggnog hot chocolate are pretty simple. In fact, you really only need 3 ingredients. Everything else on the list is an optional topping. But, in my opinion, the more toppings the better!
A couple notes on ingredients:
- I do use an eggnog and milk combination in the drink as I find an all eggnog hot chocolate to be a bit too thick and intense. But you can adjust as you desire.
- Typically when I make hot chocolate, I use a high-quality chocolate bar along with cocoa powder, but for this version, I just used cocoa powder since I wanted the eggnog flavor to shine through.
- I don't use any added sugar in this hot chocolate since the eggnog adds enough sugar to make this a deliciously sweet drink.
- I don't use white chocolate for this drink because I think it's a bit too sweet with the eggnog, but you can try it with white chocolate if you prefer. Or try my Rose White Hot Chocolate.
With all that said, here's everything you need for the drink (please see recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):
- Eggnog
- Milk: I like to use whole milk, but you can use any kind you want. Of course, you can also use a nondairy alternative.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Holiday sprinkles: for rimming glass and topping (optional)
- Whipped cream: for topping (optional)
- Mini marshmallows: for topping (optional)
- Ground nutmeg: for topping (optional)
🎉 How to rim glass in sprinkles
Of course, rimming your hot cocoa mug in Christmas sprinkles isn't totally essential. But it is highly recommended. Especially if you're making this drink for a party- you can make a big pot of it and set out the sprinkle-rimmed glasses for guests to serve themselves.
Just put some sprinkles on a small plate and brush the rim of your mug in simple syrup, honey, agave or maple syrup, or water. Place glass upside down on plate and rotate it to coat rim in sprinkles.
🍫 How to make eggnog hot chocolate
Now for the super easy-to-make eggnog hot chocolate! It's so quick and simple to prepare.
Just whisk together eggnog, milk, and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan.
Heat over medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until hot, but not boiling.
Once mixture is totally combined and nice and hot, pour it into mugs. And top it with whipped cream, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, and ground nutmeg, if desired.
I highly recommend all 4 toppings! How fun and festive is this drink?
If you love eggnog, you'll definitely want to try this! And if you have kids who always ask for hot chocolate after playing outside in the snow, make it extra special with eggnog and lots of festive toppings!
Not only does the eggnog make this cocoa extra creamy, but it adds a delicious eggnog flavor. It's not too overpowering since it's cut with chocolate and plain milk, but you can definitely taste the eggnog flavor.
Oh, and if you happen to be making homemade eggnog this year, you can certainly use it to make this eggnog hot chocolate. And give it out as a gift!
My husband is the most eggnog obsessed person I know and he went wild for this!
🥳 How to make for a crowd
This drink is easy to make for a crowd if you're having a holiday party. I recommend making it in a slow cooker, so you can keep it warm throughout the party without having it on the stovetop.
The recipe as written makes 2 servings, so you can easily triple, quadruple, etc. everything based on how many servings you want.
If you want 8 servings, use 4 cups eggnog, 4 cups milk, and one cup cocoa powder.
Whisk all of the ingredients together in the slow cooker and set on low for about 2 hours, until warm. Stir every now and then.
🤍 Can I use white chocolate?
White chocolate seems like the obvious chocolate to use when making eggnog hot chocolate, right? But I tried it and for me, it just made a way overly sweet drink.
That said, if you love super sweet, definitely try this with white chocolate! The white chocolate does let the eggnog flavor shine, but it also doesn't balance out the sweetness.
🥃 Can I spike the hot chocolate?
Sure! Just note that the more ingredients you add to the drink, the less you'll be able to taste the eggnog. You might want to use more eggnog instead of balancing with milk if you're adding alcohol. Here are some spirits that would be delicious:
- Irish whiskey or liquor
- Whipped cream or marshmallow vodka
- Spiced rum
Or you could opt to make this rumchata hot chocolate instead!
💣 How to make with hot chocolate bombs?
If you buy or make your own hot chocolate bombs, you can easily enjoy this eggnog hot chocolate!
Simply place your hot chocolate bomb in a mug and pour hot eggnog and milk over it.
You can also purchase eggnog hot chocolate bombs!
I hope this eggnog hot chocolate makes your holiday season even more delightful!
Eggnog season is so short, we should all be enjoying it as much as we can!
📖 Recipe
Eggnog Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup eggnog
- 1 cup whole milk (or dairy/nondairy alternative of your choice)
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Holiday sprinkles, for rimming glasses and topping (optional)
- Whipped cream, for topping (optional)
- Mini marshmallows, for topping (optional)
- Ground nutmeg, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Optional: rim glasses in festive sprinkles. Place sprinkles on a small plate and brush the rim of your mug in simple syrup, honey, agave or maple syrup, or water. Place glass upside down on plate and rotate it to coat rim in sprinkles.
- Whisk together eggnog, milk, and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until hot, but not boiling.
- Serve in mugs with whipped cream, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, and ground nutmeg, if desired.
Notes
- See post body above for recommendations on making for a crowd.
Sarah says
my husband is obsessed with both eggnog & hot chocolate, so i totally need to make this for him. 🙂 🙂