This rich Halloween hot chocolate is a spooky version of a classic hot cocoa. Perfect for a brisk trick-or-treat night or Halloween party, this version uses black cocoa powder for an ultra-dark version that tastes like Oreo cookies.
This hot chocolate is perfect for a Halloween party drink bar. Name this warm, cozy drink a hocus pocus hot cocoa or witches brew hot chocolate! Serve it alongside this Halloween cheesecake, black velvet cake, or halloween candy cookies for spooky dessert spread.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Chocolate Oreo flavor - this halloween hot chocolate tastes like Oreo hot chocolate! This recipe uses black cocoa powder, which is the same variety of cocoa used to make Oreo cookies.
Festive Halloween drink - as black as Halloween night, this spooky drink is the perfect way to set the mood for trick-or-treat or an All Hallows Eve party.
Customizable - the best part about this hot cocoa? You can make the topping additions really fun and festive. Set up an entire hot cocoa station with spooky toppings that adults and kids will both love!
Ingredients
- Whole milk. Used as the base of the hot cocoa along with water. This provides a perfectly balanced hot chocolate.
- Granulated sugar. To sweeten the hot chocolate, and dissolves into the milk and water.
- Black cocoa powder. This particular cocoa powder provides an ultra-dark color, but a mellow Oreo-cookie flavor.
- Semi-sweet chocolate. Provides extra chocolate flavor that melts into the hot chocolate.
- Black food coloring. This is optional, but can make the cocoa a deeper black, and blackens the hot fudge on the rim.
See recipe card for full ingredients list and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use any type of milk that suits your lifestyle. I love to use whole milk as it provides a richer flavor and texture.
- Substitute the semi-sweet chocolate for milk chocolate.
- Use Dutch-processed cocoa powder instead of black cocoa. The hot chocolate will be slightly more bitter and more brown in color.
- Stir ⅓ cup of Nutella into the Halloween hot chocolate for an added hazelnut flavor.
- Add your favorite liqueur, such as Kahlua, Bailey's, bourbon, or even peppermint schnapps.
How to Make This Recipe
One: Add the milk, water, sugar, and cocoa powder to a medium saucepan over low heat.
Two: Whisk occasionally until the sugar dissolves and the cocoa powder is incorporated and no longer foamy.
Three: Add the chopped chocolate and vanilla, and whisk until no chunks of chocolate remain. Continue heating until hot and steamy, whisking every few minutes.
Four: Mix hot fudge with a drop of black food coloring (optional) and pipe drips onto the edges of the mugs.
Five: Carefully ladle the hot chocolate into the cups.
Six: Top with whipped cream, marshmallow fluff, marshmallows, or any desired toppings before serving.
Halloween Party Drink Bar Setup
- Have a ladle available next to the Halloween cocoa.
- Add a large platter next to the stovetop or crock pot (wherever you're keeping the cocoa warm).
- Stack mugs, or pre-decorate the glass with hot fudge and set beside the platter.
- Add spoons in a cup or mug to the platter.
- Place bowls with spoons on the platter.
- Fill the bowls with whipped cream or marshmallow fluff, ghost Peeps, edible candy eyes, Halloween sprinkles, marshmallows with ghost faces drawn on using edible markers, plastic spider or cobweb rings, etc.
- Add spoons to each bowl for easy decorating.
- Add bottles of your favorite booze if having an adult-party.
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Expert Tips
- Heat the ingredients for the hot chocolate low and slow, and stir it frequently.
- Don't allow the hot chocolate to boil, otherwise the milk solids can burn.
- Stir or whisk the hot cocoa each time before adding it to a mug.
- Set up a hot chocolate station with toppings in small bowls next to the pot.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. To make this hot cocoa darker in color, add a drop of black food coloring at a time until the desired color is reached.
Add it to a crockpot or keep it on the stovetop over the lowest setting. Set up cups, toppings, spoons, and fixings around the area on a platter. Stir or whisk the hot cocoa each time before adding it into a mug.
Storage
Keep the hot chocolate over low heat on the stovetop or a crockpot. Serve into glasses with a ladle.
Store extra hot chocolate covered in the fridge for one week. Whisk to re-incorporate the mixture, then reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop until hot.
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📖Recipe
Halloween Hot Chocolate
Equipment
- Whisk
- Piping bag optional
- coffee mugs
Ingredients
- 2½ cups whole milk
- 2½ cups water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup black cocoa powder
- ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chopped bar or chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- black food coloring optional
- ½ cup hot fudge to drip on the rim, optional
Instructions
- Add the whole milk, water, sugar and cocoa powder to a saucepan over medium to medium low heat. Whisk occasionally until it begins to steam. Don’t let it burn on the bottom of the pan.2½ cups whole milk, 2½ cups water, ½ cup granulated sugar, ⅔ cup black cocoa powder
- Add the chocolate and whisk until melted, then add the vanilla and whisk.½ cups semi-sweet chocolate, 2 teaspoons vanilla
- If desired, add a few drops of black food coloring to deepen the color and whisk.black food coloring
- Mix the fudge with 1 drop of black food coloring (optional), then transfer to a piping bag or squeeze bottle. Drip around the edges of the glass. Alternatively, dip the rim in the fudge.½ cup hot fudge
- Fill each glass, then top with festive Halloween decorations. See notes.
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