When all you have around is chocolate milk, you can still enjoy hot chocolate for hours, thanks to the slow cooker and the following recipe.

Hot Chocolate with Chocolate Milk
More times than I want to admit, I found myself with kids running around, planning to serve hot cocoa for a crowd just to discover that I have no cocoa powder or chocolate chips in the pantry. That’s when I turn on my crockpot and make hot chocolate with chocolate milk.
I won’t deny that my slow cooker hot cocoa with cocoa powder is absolutely delish and this crockpot hot chocolate is the creamiest ever, but if all I need is a cup of tasty chocolatey goodness, I use chocolate milk and problem solved!

What Does Hot Chocolate Milk Taste Like
Hot chocolate made with chocolate milk is not as rich in flavor as classic hot cocoa using powder or melted chocolate, but this recipe is an easy fix when you want to serve delicious mugs for a crowd. This will taste just like your favorite chocolate milk (+vanilla) but heated! If you have it in your pantry, you can also make hot chocolate with Nutella!
Ingredients
To make this drink, you only need your favorite chocolate milk, vanilla extract (while it's optional, it adds a delicious flavor and aroma), and marshmallows to top your mugs.

How to Make Hot Chocolate with Chocolate Milk in the Crockpot
Check out the tips to cook, keep warm, and serve tasty cups of hot chocolate made with chocolate milk:
- Cook the chocolate milk in the slow cooker on high or low, that's up to you; just make sure you add the vanilla extract when your hot chocolate is almost done.
- Keep hot cocoa warm if not serving immediately, by changing the crockpot to the warm setting or reducing it to low, stirring occasionally to prevent burning at the bottom of the pot.
- Top with marshmallows and a dusting of cocoa powder, or add the best hot chocolate toppings to each individual cup after serving.
How Long Does It Take?
You can choose to have the chocolate milk in the crockpot for 2 to 3 hours on low or 45 minutes to 1 hour on high. Once done, you can keep it warm in the crockpot for 2 hours.

More Ways to Make Hot Chocolate
There are many ways to make hot chocolate, depending on the ingredients you have around and the flavor profile you love! From classic hot chocolate with chocolate chips to dark hot chocolate, or even hot chocolate with protein powder and hot cocoa with water on the stove!
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate (with Chocolate Milk)

Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- 1 gallon of chocolate milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, optional
- Marshmallows
Instructions
Prep:
- Pour the chocolate milk into the bowl of the slow cooker.
Cook:
- Cook on low for for 2 to 3 hours or on high for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Add the vanilla at the very end and stir.
- When it's time to serve it, reduce the heat to the warm setting. If your slow cooker doesn't have a warm setting, reduce it to low and stir occasionally to prevent burning at the bottom of the pot.
- Optional: Top the slow cooker with marshmallows and a dusting of cocoa powder.
Serve:
- Laddle out the hot chocolate into mugs and top with marshmallows and chocolate chips or cocoa powder.
Notes
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Alyssa says
All I had was chocolate milk and of course the kids wanted hot chocolate! Thrilled with how this turned out for my two little ones!
Estella says
Making this hot chocolate with chocolate milk was easy! I don’t know why I didn’t think about it before.
Megan says
You saved my day! I made this hot chocolate with chocolate milk in the slow cooker for my kids and their friends, and they loved it!
Jenna says
This hot chocolate with chocolate milk was super easy to make!
Judy says
This was sooo creamy and delish! Never would have thought to use chocolate milk to make hot chocolate but this was perfect for us.