Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

It's pumpkin season, and this Pumpkin Hot Chocolate recipe combines the familiar warmth of your favorite hot drink with the beloved essence of fall – pumpkin! Crafted from scratch in just a few minutes with easily accessible ingredients, this silky-smooth hot chocolate is perfect for sipping by the fire, sharing with loved ones, or simply enjoying in your own cozy moment. Get ready to relish the flavors of the season with every indulgent sip of this irresistible treat.

Jump to:

• ❤️Why you will love this recipe
• 🥣Equipment
• 📝The Ingredients
• 👩🏻‍🍳How to Pumpkin Hot Chocolate
• 🍴Serving suggestions
• 🥄Storage and Make Ahead Instructions
• 💭Frequently asked questions
• More hot drink recipes to try:
• 📖 Recipe
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❤️Why you will love this recipe

• Autumn in a Cup: This hot chocolate captures the essence of fall, offering a warm and comforting beverage that's perfect for cozy evenings.
• Indulgent and Creamy: With the richness of chocolate, cream, and pumpkin puree, this hot chocolate is luxuriously creamy and indulgent.
• Customizable Delight: You have the creative freedom to tailor your hot chocolate to your taste, whether you prefer it topped with frothed milk, laced with your favorite spirit, or adorned with traditional toppings like whipped cream and marshmallows.
• Versatile and Seasonal: This recipe embraces the versatility of pumpkin, making it a wonderful addition to your autumn menu, whether for a relaxing night in or as a delightful treat for guests.
• Perfect Pairings: Enjoy it with biscuits, pastries, or pumpkin desserts to complete the autumn experience.

This recipe is based of my classic from scratch hot chocolate recipe and simply has some added pumpkin puree to give it that fall twist. If you are a lover of the pumpkin everything season than this drink is for you! When adding the optional pumpkin pie spice you basically have a pumpkin pie hot chocolate! Sounds delicious right? So, go get your ingredients and let's make this delicious treat.

If you love this pumpkin hot chocolate recipe, then you should also try my almond hot chocolate or my Baileys version.

🥣Equipment

With these essential kitchen tools and equipment, you'll be well-prepared to whip up a cozy and indulgent batch of pumpkin hot chocolate to enjoy on a chilly day.

• Small Saucepan: You'll need a small saucepan to heat and mix the ingredients.
• Whisk or Stirring Spoon: A whisk or stirring spoon is essential for stirring and combining the ingredients.
• Measuring Tools: To ensure precise measurements, have measuring cups and spoons on hand.
• Stove: You'll need a stove or cooktop to heat the mixture to a light simmer. Make sure to use a medium heat setting to avoid scorching the hot chocolate.
• Fine Meshed Sieve: A fine meshed sieve or strainer is useful for ensuring that your hot chocolate is smooth and free from any lumps or bits of chocolate.
• Cups or Mugs: Choose your favorite cups or mugs to serve the pumpkin hot chocolate. Make sure they are heat-resistant.

📝The Ingredients

Here is what you will need to make this hot chocolate recipe

• Chocolate: Opt for high-quality chocolate, either in bar form or as chips, to provide a rich and indulgent chocolatey flavor to your hot chocolate.
• Milk: Choose fresh whole dairy milk for a classic creamy base or opt for plant-based milk alternatives like almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk for a dairy-free option.
• Heavy Whipping Cream: This will make a very thick, smooth hot chocolate. If you like it less thick use half and half.
• Pumpkin Puree: Pumpkin puree serves as the key ingredient, infusing your hot chocolate with warm, comforting autumn flavors. You can use either canned pumpkin puree or make your own pumpkin puree from fresh pumpkin.
• Vanilla Extract: Use high quality vanilla extract, paste or one vanilla bean.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: This step is optional but if you are a pumpkin pie spice lover then you should definitely try this!
• Optional Toppings: See below

👩🏻‍🍳How to Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

Here is a quick overview of the recipe steps. Please read the recipe card for the full instructions.

1. Melt chocolate with milk, heavy cream, and pumpkin puree in a saucepan.
2. Stir while heating to prevent burning.
3. Remove from heat, add vanilla extract and pumpkin pie spice.
4. Strain into cups and garnish with your favorite toppings.
5. Enjoy your homemade pumpkin hot chocolate!

🍴Serving suggestions

This recipe is amazing on its own but here are some ideas on how to make it extra special:

• Whipped Cream: Top your pumpkin hot chocolate with a generous dollop of whipped cream for an extra layer of creaminess and a delightful contrast in texture.
• Frothed Milk: For an extra layer of luxury, top your pumpkin hot chocolate with frothed milk. Steam and froth milk using an espresso machine or a milk frother, then spoon it onto your hot chocolate for a creamy and velvety finish.
• Marshmallows: Add a handful of marshmallows to your hot chocolate for a sweet and gooey treat that melts as you sip.
• Grated Chocolate: Grate some additional chocolate over the hot chocolate for an elegant and decadent touch, enhancing the chocolatey flavor.
• Cinnamon Stick: Garnish with a cinnamon stick to infuse a subtle spicy aroma and enhance the overall presentation.
• Caramel Drizzle: Drizzle a bit of caramel sauce on top for a sweet and buttery flavor that complements the pumpkin spice.
• Dusting of Pumpkin Pie Spice: Sprinkle a pinch of pumpkin pie spice on the whipped cream or directly onto the hot chocolate for an extra burst of autumn flavor.
• Alcohol Infusion: Transform your pumpkin hot chocolate into a delightful adult beverage by adding a splash of your favorite spirit. Options like bourbon, rum, or Irish cream liqueur pair wonderfully with the warm, spiced flavors. Just remember to enjoy responsibly!
• Serve with Biscuits or Pastries: Accompany your pumpkin hot chocolate with biscuits, cookies, or pastries for a delightful snack that pairs perfectly with the warm beverage.
• Pair with Pumpkin Desserts: Enjoy your hot chocolate alongside pumpkin-themed desserts like pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, or pumpkin muffins for a complete autumn indulgence.

🥄Storage and Make Ahead Instructions

You can store the hot chocolate in the fridge for up to 3 days. Simply warm it back up on the stove or in the microwave. Your drink will thicken up over time due to the heavy whipping cream. If it got to thick simply add some more milk.

Hot chocolate is best consumed immediately. If you make up a big batch, make sure to cover the pot with the leftover mixture with a lid to keep it warm. Alternatively I do really recommend using a slow cooker to cook the hot chocolate and keep it war, this is the best solution when you try to serve a crowd or want to have hot chocolate ready all day. Simply cook on high until everything is melted together and then keep on warm.

💭Frequently asked questions

Q: Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

A: Hot chocolate is best consumed fresh. However, you can easily double or triple the ingredients to make a larger batch for a group. Just be sure to use a larger saucepan to accommodate the increased quantity. Reheat on the stove, in the microwave or in the slow cooker when ready to enjoy. For big batches I do recommend cooking the hot chocolate in the slow cooker and keeping it warm for hours, it is perfect for crowds.

Q: Can I make a big batch of hot chocolate?

A: You absolutely can! I actually highly recommend it. Simply use the button in the recipe card to calculate the measurements. When not consuming all the hot chocolate at once make sure to cover the pot with the leftovers with a lid.

Q: Can I make this recipe without heavy whipping cream for a lighter version?

A: Of course! You can substitute the heavy whipping cream with half and half or milk if you prefer a lighter hot chocolate.

Q: Is there a substitute for pumpkin puree if I can't find it?

A: Certainly! You can use butternut squash puree as a substitute for pumpkin puree. It will provide a similar creamy texture and a slightly different, but still delicious, flavor profile.

More hot drink recipes to try:

📖 Recipe