Mexican Hot Chocolate – Crock Pot Recipe
Mexican Hot Chocolate is one of those recipes that always brings me back to my childhood. Making Mexican hot chocolate at home was rare and I only remember having it during the holidays or special occasions. A real special treat was when my mom made a big pot of hot chocolate in our home! The aroma is heavenly and it filled our home with that chocolatey goodness taste. It was the type of drink that put us all in the mood to simply enjoy the evening.
There’s something rustic and cozy about this hot chocolate that makes you smile no matter what mood you were in.
Today I’m sharing with you our Mexican hot chocolate recipe! My mom would make enough of this Mexican hot chocolate to feed five hungry kids, but I will show you an easy way to make a big batch of rich, decadent authentic Mexican hot chocolate for a crowd! Right in the slow cooker! Authentic Mexican hot chocolate begins with true Mexican chocolate. Whereas we commonly start with unsweetened cocoa powder when making American-style hot chocolate, Mexican hot chocolate is made from a solid piece of sweetened and flavored chocolate that you could just as well nibble on (which I have hehe) and make a drink with.
Mexican chocolate is sold in round disks (called tablets), with triangular markings (like pizza slices) to show where you can break it up. It has a noticeably grainy texture because it’s processed only to the “liquor” stage before it’s poured into the disk-shaped molds to cool and harden. Classically, it’s flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. To make this drink, the chocolate disk is broken into pieces, then just melted into a pot of hot milk.
North of the border, many believe that “Mexican hot chocolate” must-have chili powder and that the drink is a bit spicy. For the record, I love this, because I love spicy stuff but that’s not how it’s traditionally served in Mexico. If you are ever fortunate to be invited to someone’s home for hot chocolate in Mexico, don’t expect anything spicy in the drink. It will more than likely be made by melting the broken pieces of Mexican chocolate into a pot of hot milk, just like this recipe.
There are three types of Mexican chocolate you can use to make this hot chocolate. We have always used Abuelita chocolate, good-quality semisweet chocolate chips, and cinnamon sticks.
Making Mexican hot chocolate is actually very simple; all the flavors are already present in the chocolate. If this is your first time using Mexican chocolate it has a grainy consistency and it’s full of flavor. I remember my mom making this hot chocolate right after everyone was done with dinner so when it was time for dessert the hot chocolate would be ready to serve! Now instead of spending extra time in the kitchen, I make it in the crockpot! I can make it while preparing dinner and then keep it warm until everyone is ready for dessert or they can simply help themself whenever they want.
Mexican Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
- 8 cups whole milk
- 1 whole Abuelita chocolate round disk (cut into pieces)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
(In this recipe I used a 6qt slow cooker)
Directions:
In a 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker, combine whole milk, Abuelita chocolate, and semisweet chocolate chips. Let it sit for 10 minutes or until milk is warm enough to melt the chocolate. Once the milk is warm, stir occasionally until all the chocolate has melted into the milk. Please note that the Abuelita chocolate has a grainy texture and it may look like it has not dissolved completely, but it completely okay to have that grainy texture.
Add cinnamon sticks and Cover. Cook on LOW, whisking every 20 minutes, for a total time of 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Reduce the heat to WARM while serving.
Garnish and serve. Divide the hot chocolate among mugs, then top with your favorite garnishes. Sigh with happiness.
This recipe brings back good memories and now I’m making new ones with my kids and husband. All through this yummy hot chocolate recipe. I hope you have the chance to make it!
Thank you to Janine and Ashley for putting together this delicious crockpot recipe hop! Don’t forget to check out more recipes below!
Xo, Norma
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Ashley Stringfellow
How yummy and delicious does this look? My kids are going to love this. And, as always, your photos are absolutely stunning! Thanks for joining us!
View Commentpaintmepink
Ashley StringfellowYou are so sweet and Thank you, Ashley! I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe!!
View CommentChiell Ordonez
MmMm.. looks delish!! I loved when my neighbors gave me some of their hot chocolate, so yumm!!
View Commentpaintmepink
Chiell OrdonezThank you! It’s definitely my favorite hot chocolate recipe of all time!
View CommentJanine Waite
Oh my goodness, your recipe and all the chocolate looks amazing! It was so cool to learn about Mexican chocolate. I’ll have to try and look for it in the stores. Thanks for sharing your family recipe!
View Commentpaintmepink
Janine WaiteAww, thanks, Janine! I’m so glad you enjoyed learning a bit Mexican chocolate and I hope you get the chance to make it!
View CommentJennifer S. Hadfield
Oh my goodness – this looks amazing and the way you shot it is incredible! I saved it to my recipe board. Can’t wait to make it!11
xoxo
View Commentpaintmepink
Jennifer S. HadfieldThat means so much to me Jenn! Thank you so much and I hope you get the chance to try out this recipe!
View CommentAnnie Diamond
Norma, this looks so beautiful! I’ve never made it before, but see it in the grocery store! I can’t wait to try this on the first cold day!
View Commentpaintmepink
Annie DiamondThank you so much, Annie! This Mexican hot chocolate has so much flavor, I hope you enjoy it!
View CommentAlyssa
My mouth is watering reading this. My Latina mom used to make it, but never taught me the recipe! We will have to make this soon!
View Commentpaintmepink
AlyssaOh my goodness, yes! You must learn how to make 🙂 It’s super easy and so delicious! Mexican hot chocolate is the best!
View Commentthehappymommie
We love hot chocolate and every Sunday evening we have it as a family drink, will be trying this one out on Sunday. Thanks for sharing
View Commentpaintmepink
thehappymommieWe love hot chocolate too! I usually make it during our weekend family movie night 🙂 Hope you get a chance to make it and enjoy!
View CommentPatricia Chamberlain
This looks so good! I want to make some!
View Commentpaintmepink
Patricia ChamberlainThank you, Patricia!
View CommentMonica Simpson
I want to dive into this right now I’m so cold! I love the combo of chocolate and cinnamon.
View Commentpaintmepink
Monica SimpsonChocolate and cinnamon is the best combo ever! Stay warm!
View CommentPuja Kumari
Wow, the recipe is awesome. It’s great learning about how people make things in different ways. All the pictures are looking so nice.
View Commentpaintmepink
Puja KumariThank you so much!
View CommentAlyssa
I LOVE hot chocolate but never tried this Mexican recipe so I’ll definitely make it this weekend. It brings back memories to me too whenever I drink hot chocolate.
View Commentpaintmepink
AlyssaThank you, Alyssa! Hot chocolate brings out all those warm and fuzzy memories in us 🙂
View Commentmelissa delgado
This is the best hot chocolate! Especially during Christmas. It’s a tradition in the hispanic culture to make hot chocolate on Christmas Day.
View Commentpaintmepink
melissa delgadoOh, I know! Hot chocolate and tamales during Christmas is the best thing ever!
View CommentKrista
Norma, this sounds incredible and your pictures are absolutely gorgeous!!
View Commentpaintmepink
KristaYou are so sweet! Thank you Krista! There is so much deliciousness in this blog hop!
View CommentShellie
Could you possibly tell us how many servings that makes and what is the serving size? I would like to make enough for 20 people.
View CommentMary
Can you make this ahead of time and reheat the next day to serve it?
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