Cozy Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
This rich and velvety slow cooker hot chocolate is swirled with salted caramel for the ultimate cozy winter treat. Set it and forget it for a hands-off, crowd-pleasing beverage that tastes like a hug in a mug.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups whole milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
- Whipped cream (for topping)
- Extra caramel drizzle (for topping)
- Flaky sea salt (for topping)
- Mini marshmallows (for topping)
Instructions
- Prep your slow cooker: spray the insert with non-stick cooking spray or wipe with butter.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and about ½ cup of the whole milk to form a smooth paste.
- Pour the remaining milk, heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, cocoa paste, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract into the slow cooker. Stir until combined.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours without lifting the lid. After 1 ½ hours, give it a gentle stir.
- After 2 hours, stir in the caramel sauce and flaky sea salt. Taste and adjust sweetness or saltiness as desired.
- Continue cooking on low for another 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Ladle into mugs and top with whipped cream, extra caramel drizzle, flaky sea salt, and mini marshmallows if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
For a dairy-free version, use full-fat oat milk and coconut cream. Add caramel sauce in the last 30 minutes to prevent burning. If hot chocolate is too thick, thin with warm milk; if too thin, cook uncovered for 20-30 minutes. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days and reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 8
Keywords: slow cooker hot chocolate, salted caramel hot chocolate, hot chocolate, slow cooker drink, winter beverage, cozy drink, chocolate, caramel