Creamy Spanish Hot Chocolate Recipe
Indulge in the velvety, creamy richness of this comforting Spanish hot chocolate. So luxurious, it’s more like a decadent dessert than a drink.
My recipe for Spanish hot chocolate is the perfect drink to sip during those chilly winter evenings — no need to travel to Spain; just sit back and indulge!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s super easy! There is practically zero prep time, and in just a few minutes, you’ll have a delicious drink in hand.
- You’ll end up with a thick and creamy drink — an upgrade from the regular hot cocoa!
- It’s made with simple ingredients that you might already have in your pantry.
- It’s perfect for those of us with a sweet tooth — especially if you use good-quality chocolate for this recipe.
- It’s the perfect drink for dipping and dunking!
What is Spanish Hot Chocolate?
Also known as “chocolate caliente,” this drink is much beloved in Spain. What sets it apart from milk-based hot chocolate drinks in most countries is that it has a very thick consistency (almost pudding-like), thanks to the addition of thickening ingredients like cornstarch or flour.
Ingredient Notes
Milk of choice: Acts as the base liquid of our Spanish hot chocolate. It gives the drink its signature creaminess and tempers the bitter flavors of the dark chocolate. You can use dairy or dairy-free milk for this recipe.
Dark chocolate: Gives our hot choco a deep flavor and color, delicious aroma, and richness. You can add either dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate.
Cornstarch: Used to achieve the very thick consistency of Spanish hot chocolate. If you do not have cornstarch on hand, you can use tapioca or arrowroot starch for this recipe instead.
Cayenne pepper: Adds a subtle, spicy kick to the drink that complements and enhances its chocolate notes. If you are sensitive to spice, simply omit it!
Sugar: Entirely optional! You can add sugar to make the hot chocolate even sweeter. But if you are using a chocolate that is already on the rather sweet side, simply skip the sugar.
How to Make Spanish Hot Chocolate
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the milk, starch, cayenne, and sugar (if desired). Keep whisking steadily until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Reduce the heat to low, add the chocolate, and stir until fully melted and silky smooth.
- Pour into your favorite mug and savor!
What to Serve with Chocolate Caliente
- As a dip for regular or gluten-free churros.
- Paired with soft pastries or ensaimadas.
- Served with cookies for dunking.
- Served with a plate of fresh fruit, like banana, strawberry, or orange slices.
- Paired with cinnamon rolls.
- Served with nuts like almonds or hazelnuts for a crunchy pairing.
- Served with these pumpkin chocolate chip scones.
- Topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, chopped nuts, or chocolate shavings.
Expert Tips
- For this recipe, opt to use high-quality bittersweet chocolate, like those with at least 70% cocoa. This will give the drink the rich, intense flavor that makes it so enjoyable.
- Dissolve the cornstarch properly so the drink is free of lumps. If desired, dissolve the cornstarch in milk first before adding it to the mixture.
- Using chopped or chocolate chips will help them melt more evenly, resulting in a drink with a very smooth consistency.
- Whole milk is perfect for making hot chocolate, as it gives it a wonderful creaminess. However, if you’re using dairy-free alternatives, oat milk is an excellent choice due to its particularly creamy texture.
- Spanish hot chocolate isn’t overly sweet. However, if you’re adding additional sugar, start with a small amount before adding more based on your preferences.
- You can use white sugar, honey, or maple syrup for sweeteners.
- Stir the mixture constantly in the saucepan to avoid any scorching.
- In addition to cayenne pepper, you can infuse the drink with spices such as nutmeg, chili powder, or cinnamon for a warm twist.
- If preferred, you can also add espresso powder to the mixture, which adds complexity and depth to the flavors of the Spanish hot chocolate, and doesn’t make a bad way to start the day!
You Might Also Like These Delicious Hot Cocoa Recipes
Ruby Hot Chocolate
Oat Milk Hot Chocolate
Spanish Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups milk of choice dairy or dairy-free
- 4 ounces dark chocolate chips or chopped
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or tapioca starch
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
Instructions
- In a small pan on the stovetop over medium heat, whisk the milk with the starch, cayenne, and sugar (is using). Whisk constantly until the mixture has thickened slightly
- Turn the heat to low, then add the chocolate, stirring until completely melted and smoothly combined.
- Pour into a mug and enjoy!
The fat grams seem awfully high is it correct
Hi, JoAnn! Thank you for visiting! The nutritional information generated by the recipe card I use is based on averages of conventional ingredients being used. The fat content will vary greatly based on what kind of milk and what kind of chocolate is used, so this is just a rough average based on whole milk and a dark chocolate bar with cocoa butter. If you use plant-based milk and a dark chocolate without cocoa butter, for instance, the fat content would be much lower, as would be the case if you split this into two servings instead of one. I hope this helps!