Instant Pot Hot Cocoa is an easy way to make the perfect cozy cup of hot cocoa. This rich and delicious hot cocoa can be made with dairy milk, oat milk, or other dairy milk alternatives. Make a big batch for parties and gatherings, and use the "keep warm" setting to have it ready to pour as needed!
"Great idea to use an instant pot to keep it warm all day. I'm going for peppermint hot chocolate, so yum!"
Table Of Contents
Before we get started on how to make Instant Pot Hot Cocoa, I'll let you know that this recipe does not use the pressure cook function. Here we are simply using the saute setting to heat the milk and cocoa, then using the keep warm setting while serving. You can make hot chocolate in the slow cooker, too.
Using a pressure cooker to make hot cocoa is a great way to make a big batch of this classic winter drink and keep it warm while enjoying at winter parties, holiday gatherings, and other winter festivities around the house.
Pair it with this cute snowman-themed hot chocolate charcuterie board, and you have the perfect holiday dessert for the kids (and adults!).
I love making a batch of Instant Pot hot cocoa on Christmas morning and enjoying it while watching the kids open presents. It never gets cold so everyone can have a mug when they're ready without needing to reheat anything. The keep warm function is perfect for this recipe!
I've written this recipe to be pretty versatile, with a few variations to fit different dietary needs and with ingredient substitutions and changes to fit your preferences for sweetness and flavor. Make it dairy-free by using a milk alternative or even flavor it differently to make a peppermint hot cocoa. It can easily be made vegan by using non-dairy milk and unrefined cane sugar.
Why Use The Instant Pot To Make Hot Cocoa?
- Make a big batch for a crowd during holiday and winter parties.
- Keep it warm for a few hours- no reheating necessary!
- Rich, chocolatey flavor that's so much better than hot cocoa packets!
You can also do the same thing in a slow cooker, like I do with creamy crockpot hot chocolate, if you'd prefer that method.
Ingredients
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: make sure not to use sweetened cocoa powder!
- Milk: whole milk or heavy cream is a popular choice. Low fat, reduced fat or fat free dairy milk work too but will be less creamy due to the lower fat content. Oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk, and almond milk are good choices for non-dairy milks. Oat milk is my favorite non-dairy milk, as it is creamier and more neutral in taste than the others.
- White sugar: although I haven't tried it, you can use a white sugar substitute, such as Swerve granulated sugar, for a hot cocoa free from refined sugar.
- Vanilla extract: adds a bit of sweetness and a boost of flavor, so don't skip it unless you have to. You can even use the Instant Pot to make homemade vanilla extract.
Instructions
- Add the unsweetened cocoa powder, white sugar, and milk to the Instant Pot. Set to saute on high for 3 minutes. Whisk frequently so the cocoa powder and sugar blend into the milk and the liquid is smooth.
- Heat through, until the milk is steaming but not boiling and continuing to stir occasionally. This should take about 3 minutes. Once heated, add a pinch of salt and turn off the saute function.
- Add the vanilla extract and stir.
- Serve with your favorite toppings, such as whipped cream, marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate shavings, and peppermint sticks. (see below for more ideas!)
- *Use the "keep warm" setting if planning to serve at parties, gatherings, or movie night.
Variations
Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa
Make it dairy-free by using a non-dairy milk, using a 1:1 substitution. All other ingredients are free of dairy. You may want to double check your unsweetened cocoa powder. While most are dairy-free, it never hurts to make sure.
Vegan Hot Cocoa
Use a non-dairy milk and unrefined cane sugar in the same quantities as the recipe calls for.
Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Melt in ½ cup of chocolate chips after step 2, before adding the vanilla extract. Whisk until they are completely melted. This makes a very rich and creamy hot chocolate.
Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Use 2 teaspoons of peppermint extract instead of 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Finish with whipped cream, a peppermint stir stick, candy cane or peppermint shavings.
Cinnamon Hot Cocoa
Add ½ - 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon or a few teaspoons of cinnamon extract to the Instant Pot with the cocoa powder, sugar, and milk. Garnish with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.
Vanilla Almond Hot Cocoa
Add 1 teaspoon of almond extract along with the vanilla extract. Garnish with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and crushed almonds. Yum!
Espresso Hot Cocoa
Stir in 1 tablespoon of instant espresso coffee with the vanilla extract. Garnish with whipped cream and chopped chocolate covered espresso beans.
Make a Hot Chocolate Bar
A fun way to serve hot cocoa is to set up a hot chocolate bar. Here are some tasty toppings to offer.
- Whipped cream
- Peppermint whipped cream
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate syrup
- Caramel syrup
- Mini chocolate chips
- Peppermint sticks
- Cinnamon sticks
- Candy canes
- Crushed peppermint
- Chocolate shavings
- Crushed almonds
- Chocolate covered espresso beans
Tips and Tricks
Chef's Tips
- Don't leave it at room temperature or on the keep warm setting for more than 6 hours. Heated milk can be kept at room temperature for 6-12 hours before spoiling. To err on the side of caution, move it to the fridge after 6 hours and reheat when ready to serve again.
- When you store hot cocoa and take it out of the fridge, give it a really good stir! The chocolate/cocoa tends to separate and sink to the bottom.
Recipe FAQs
Although we often use these terms interchangeably, there is a difference! Hot cocoa is made by mixing cocoa powder and sugar into milk or water. Hot chocolate is made by melting chocolate into it and doesn't use cocoa powder. You can, of course, use both cocoa powder and chocolate chips to make a hybrid version that I call double chocolate hot cocoa!
Keep leftover hot cocoa in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Yes! Reheat in the microwave, on the stove top or in the Instant Pot until hot.
If you're using dairy milk or a non-dairy milk, I would caution against pressure cooking this recipe. The milk will curdle at that high of a temperature, and no one likes to drink curdled hot chocolate. The exception to this is if you are using heavy cream. Heavy cream has a very high fat content and does not curdle when under pressure.
More Delicious Drink Recipes
Recipe
Instant Pot Hot Cocoa
Equipment
- pressure cooker
- whisk
Ingredients
- 6 tbsps unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup white sugar
- 4 cups milk (see notes on type)
- pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the unsweetened cocoa powder, white sugar, and milk to the Instant Pot. Set to saute on high for 3 minutes. Whisk frequently so the cocoa powder and sugar blend into the milk and the liquid is smooth.
- Heat through, until the milk is steaming but not boiling and continuing to stir occasionally. This should take about 3 minutes. Once heated, add a pinch of salt and turn off the saute function.
- Add the vanilla extract and stir. Serve with your favorite toppings, such as marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate shavings, and peppermint sticks.
- *Use the "keep warm" setting to serve warm for up to 6 hours.
Darlene B
A really good, natural sugar with a very low glycemic load (it absorbs slowly so it doesn't jack your blood sugar) is Coconut Sugar. Bonus is that it's twice as sweet as regular sugar, so you can use half the called for amount of white/brown or other powdered sugar.
I also use raw cacao powder and real cinnamon in it. With alternative milks (milk protein allergy in kids), this makes a healthy drink that tastes good but doesn't make wild men out of them.
Using the pressure cooker is an awesome idea. I'd never thought of that - or for that matter, of the suggestion to use a slow cooker.
And what a fun idea is setting up a hot chocolate bar. I can see my boys adding peanut butter to theirs. lol Bet it will taste like a peanut butter cup.
Y'all nailed it.
Kristina
These are all great suggestions! I love cooking with coconut sugar and non-dairy milks. Thank you for the insight and valuable recommendations.
-Kristina
Stine Mari
Great idea to use an instant pot to keep it warm all day. I'm going for peppermint hot chocolate, so yum!
Jerika
I love hot cocoa!:) I can't wait to try this on my Instant Pot. Thank you.:)