Creamy Italian Hot Chocolate

Italian hot chocolate is the ultimate delicious hot chocolate and it is so easy to make. This thick and creamy version of hot chocolate is made with simple ingredients and is perfect for any skill level. It is the perfect warm drink for those cooler months.

If you are not familiar with Italian hot chocolate (also called cioccolato calda), it is a thicker version of American hot chocolate and it is made with just a few ingredients- milk, semi-sweet chocolate, and a little sugar. I like to add a touch of vanilla to my version as well.

The first time I had this was in Italy and I have to be honest, I never thought of hot chocolate this way, thick or more like drinking chocolate. It is not at all like the hot chocolate I grew up drinking but once I tried it I was hooked!

Italian hot chocolate gets its thick and rich texture from using more chocolate and less milk and then lightly simmering it for about 1 minute to thicken it up.

It is really easy to make and you can adjust it to your own taste by adding more or less sugar depending on what you like. I love to serve this on its own or alongside cantucci, chocolate Budino Cake or my no alcohol tiramisu.

Ingredients for this thick hot chocolate

You only need a few ingredients for this hot chocolate. Here is what they are (full recipe below):

• Semi-sweet chocolate. This is the traditional style of chocolate that Italians like to use but you can use milk chocolate if you prefer. Regular chocolate that is chopped up or chocolate chips, not cocoa powder. Try to use the best quality chocolate.
• Whole milk. Try to use full-fat milk since it helps with the creaminess of the hot chocolate.
• Sugar. You only need 1-2 tablespoons.
• Vanilla extract. I like adding a little vanilla at the end to balance the chocolate notes. If you prefer, you can leave this out.

No thickeners are needed for this thick hot chocolate.

How to make thick hot chocolate Italian-style

This one is so easy! It takes just minutes to make this Italian hot chocolate recipe. Here are what the steps look like:

1. Add ingredients to a medium saucepan. This is the chocolate, milk, and sugar.
2. Bring it to a simmer. Bring the milk with the chocolate in it to a light simmer stirring constantly until the chocolate melts.
3. Simmer for one minute: Once the chocolate is melted, simmer the mixture for one minute to thicken it up to an almost pudding-like consistency. This is how you thicken up the hot chocolate. I like the consistency of the hot chocolate with the one-minute simmer. If you want it even thicker, just simmer for a little longer.
4. Add vanilla (if using). I like to add the vanilla after the simmer to keep the flavors intact.

Additions and Variations

A little nutmeg or cinnamon goes really nicely if you want to try a new flavor combination.

I also love adding whipped cream or marshmallows to the top of my hot chocolate because I love them. If I am entertaining I add a few crushed hazelnuts on top as well.

Storing

Like our Italian panna cotta recipe, you can make this creamy hot chocolate ahead of time and it is so easy. I like to make a batch of this for my daughter, then pour it into a mason jar until cool. If you have leftovers, the same thing, it stores well!

Once it is cooled, just place it in an air-tight container and place the hot chocolate in the fridge. It lasts for one week. To reheat just pour it into a cup and microwave until warm or you can reheat it in a small saucepan on the stovetop.

More Italian Sweets

If you love this Italian hot chocolate, you may also like these recipes: