This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
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.
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.
