White hot chocolate is a silky, delicious twist on hot chocolate! You just need four ingredients and ten minutes. Next, try my white chocolate or peppermint mocha.

This white hot chocolate recipe was inspired by a trip to Dunkin Donuts:

Let me preface what follows by mentioning that there was a huge banner next to the menu advertising the sixteen million various varieties of hot chocolate they had.

DD Guy: Hello and welcome to Dunkin’ Donuts. Is it okay if I take your order? Sure, please! Me: A medium White Hot Chocolate please. DD Guy: We’re out of White Hot Chocolate. Me: It’s on the menu. DD Guy: It was never anything we carried. Me: I’ve already ordered it. As we speak, I’m staring at the massive billboard featuring just your several hot chocolates, including White Hot Chocolate. That’s right there. DD Guy: Oh. We don’t have it right now, I meant. [sigh] Me: That’s a whole different statement. Never mind, have a great day. DD [Silence] Guy:

Needless to say, I was let down. And I’m still set on a White Hot Chocolate. So I returned home and made my own White Hot Chocolate!

How to make homemade white hot chocolate

Gather the following ingredients and a small saucepan:

• 2 ½ cups milk, or non-dairy milk of your choice
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (or omit and just use 3 cups milk)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 ounces high quality white chocolate, chopped

In your saucepan, bring everything to a simmer while stirring regularly, then pour it into your cup and drink. That’s all!

Use high quality white chocolate

I strongly advise using high-quality white chocolate, such as Ghirardelli Traditional White Chocolate Baking Bars.

How can you know whether it’s of great quality? You want to make sure that cocoa butter is one of the components since it makes a big impact. Just take my word for it.

After around 10 minutes, you’ll have a delightful White Hot Chocolate worth topping with a mountain of whipped cream and white chocolate shavings. Voila!

Flavor variations

• Peppermint: Add 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract to turn it into a peppermint white hot chocolate, and add a little candy cane for a sweet festive garnish
• Orange: Orange and white chocolate go surprisingly well together – add 1/8 teaspoon orange extract, and top with a little orange zest
• Eggnog: Swap the milk for eggnog for an extra decadent, festive drink
• Alcohol: Add a splash of Amaretto, Baileys, Kahlua, whiskey or bourbon to turn it into a more adult beverage

How to store leftover white hot chocolate

Let the white hot chocolate to cool to room temperature before transferring to a heat-proof vessel and refrigerating for up to 3 days.

To reheat, cook it in a small saucepan over low heat until well warmed.

Behind the scenes

Isn’t this exactly here? This is a cat’s expression just before he learned there was whipped cream to be had.

Before he leapt up on the prop table and catapulted white hot chocolate and sprinkles all over the walls, floor, and myself.

I would have taken photographs of the aftermath (which he was ecstatic about), but I was too preoccupied with preventing sticky white hot cocoa from becoming permanent décor.