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Have you ever had a delicious European-style hot chocolate on your travels and thought: ‘I just have to find out how to make this’? Me too! Luckily, this thick Italian hot chocolate is super easy. Grab 4 store cupboard ingredients and in just 5 minutes you’ll have the best hot chocolate ever.
I have a little tradition here on the blog of posting naughty recipes in January when you’re all trying to diet after the holidays. There were these 5 minute chocolate pots (there’s a reason they’re one of the most popular recipes on the blog), and these strawberry and angel cake skewers with chocolate dipping sauce.
But hey, it’s Valentine’s Day soon, right, and that’s all about the chocolate. Better to be prepared well ahead of the day.
This thick Italian hot chocolate recipe is one of those recipes I’ve been wanting to master for YEARS, ever since I first dunked a churro in a cup of thick Spanish hot chocolate when I was studying in Spain.
Wait a minute – Spanish or Italian? [imagine big shoulder shrug]
You may find this going by several names: Italian hot chocolate (cioccolata calda), Spanish hot chocolate, or just simple thick hot chocolate, which is what I like to call it.
The truth is, you can find it in several European countries.
And best of all, it’s good for you!
Most importantly, I understand that some Italians (and Spaniards no doubt) see cradling one of these thick hot chocolates in your hands with a group of friends or family an important ritual that’s good for your health [imagine big thumbs up].
Whatever you want to call it and however you want to see it, one thing is clear. This cioccolata calda is rich and decadent and yet quick and easy to make with just 4 simple store cupboard ingredients:
- chocolate
- milk
- sugar
- corn starch / corn flour
You can use any kind of chocolate you like but I like to make it with a high cocoa content dark chocolate – around 70%. That makes it ‘healthy’ hot chocolate too right?
So it’s fine to make it in January after all – or any time!
How to serve thick hot chocolate
This thick hot chocolate is a delicious treat as it is or of course you can put some cream and marshmallows on the top. I’m not a big cream and marshmallows fan (crazy, right?) so I like to have a donut or some churros handy for dipping instead. Mmmm.
Delicious as this Italian hot chocolate may be, I can never finish a whole regular cup of it. I need to remember that my eyes are bigger than my tummy when it comes to this recipe and serve it in an espresso cup.
So you can do this too, or you can pop the leftovers in the fridge. They thicken up even more when refrigerated and make the most delicious chocolate pudding you can imagine.
Hot chocolate, pudding, or sauce?
In fact let’s be honest here. This makes a delicious thick hot chocolate and chocolate pudding, but it could also make a fine chocolate sauce for cake or ice cream.
Entertaining and not much time to make dessert? I’m sure no one would complain if you served them a little cup of this thick hot chocolate with a pile of fresh donuts on the side.
And just to make it all super super easy, I made a little 50-second video to show you just how simple this thick Italian hot chocolate is to make. Just scroll down to the recipe! (top of post on desktop)
P.S. I love these cute cups for serving this thick Italian hot chocolate in! (affiliate link)
Thick Italian hot chocolate
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click button below for grams & ml)
- 7 ounces chocolate good quality (I like 70% dark), plus a little extra for sprinkling (optional)
- 1 tablespoon sugar optional
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon corn starch cornflour (UK), mixed with a little milk
Instructions
- Heat the milk and sugar together in a small saucepan and whisk, then break the chocolate into it.
- Continue to heat while you whisk until all the chocolate has melted into the milk.
- Add the constarch / cornflour and cook for 2 to 4 minutes until the mixture has thickened a little (it should coat the whisk).
- Pour into cups and sprinkle with a little grated chocolate (if you like).
Notes
Nutrition
Dee says
I’ve been desparate for a decent Italian style hot choclate ever since returning from a recent trip to Europe. I wanted to like this recipe but it contains way too much chocolate… I’ve made it twice now, once with almond milk and milk chocolate, and once with regular milk and dark chocolate. It wouldn’t thicken with the almond milk and it was too sweet with milk chocolate, so I tried it again with regular milk and bittersweet chocolate. Both times, I had to throw it out because it was too rich, wasting a lot of good quality chocolate in the process. If I were to make it again, I would make it with half the quantity of chocolate, and maybe a bit more cornstarch.
Helen says
Hi Dee! Thanks so much for your honest review, even though you weren’t a fan of this particular recipe. I really hope you find a recipe you like better! This definitely is a rich very chocolaty hot chocolate, but I was trying to emulate the hot chocolates I’ve had in Europe that usually come served with churros or similar. The ones I’ve had have been equally as rich – like a dessert (for 2!). Although I have also tried hot chocolates that are slightly less rich – almost like a thin custard. Is this what you were hoping for?
I’d definitely be interested in hearing how you get on if you try making it again with half chocolate and more cornstarch, as you suggest 🙂
Elton says
Thank god for this recipe! I love thick hot chocolate and this recipe is one of the best out there. I sometimes also like adding flavours to this recipe (Peppermint flavoured hot chocolate is my favorite!)
Helen says
Thank you, Elton! I love the idea of making this a peppermint hot chocolate. Mmmm!
Tayler Ross says
Oh wow, does this look good! My mouth is watering over this chocolate!
Helen says
Good! Hope you give it a try, Tayler!
Noelle says
Thank you for sharing! Love this recipe
Helen says
Thanks, Noelle. Enjoy!
Shiho says
Wow Look how thick this hot chocolate is! We still have cooler rainy day for hot chocolate 😀
Helen says
Just a thinly veiled excuse for dessert… 😉
Oli says
My goodness 63g of sugar per cup, is this correct?
Helen says
Hi Oli! It does sound like a lot, doesn’t it? It’s the total sugar including the sugar in the chocolate i.e. yes, quite a lot! Personally I’d skip the extra tablespoon of sugar that’s marked as optional in the recipe. Really doesn’t need it.
Kelly Mahan says
Thick indeed, just looking at those photos I’m impressed! I like my chocolate a bit more liquidy, but this seems really good, I’ll give it a try!
Helen says
Hi Kelly! So glad you’re going to try this out! You can always add slightly less corn starch if you’d like it to be a bit thinner. Good luck!
Marissa says
My mouth is watering – I LOVE thick hot chocolate. I’ve ordered it in restaurants, but have never made it at home. That needs to change!
Helen says
It’s a dangerous recipe to have up your sleeve!
Janette | Culinary Ginger says
Whenever I make a recipe with melted chocolate, I always want to drink it and this is what this recipe reminds me of. I only eat dark chocolate so this is right up my alley, can’t wait to try it.
Helen says
Sorry to have introduced this to you then, Janette – dangerous!!!