Chai hot chocolate – when two wonderful flavours come together, making the ultimate comfort drink. Sweet, spicy, rich, velvety smooth… need I go on?

overhead shot of chai hot chocolate garnished with a star ainise herb

Why I love this recipe

Absolutely delicious Probably the main reason why I love this recipe… this chai hot chocolate is absolutely delicious. Its spicy and sweet (but not overly sweet) flavour, and its rich and velvety smooth texture, it is no surprise that this chai hot chocolate is one of my favourite homemade winter drinks.

Quick and easy to make With minimal equipment and ingredients, I love that I can make a delicious chai hot chocolate so quickly and easily.

a cup of thick and rich chai hot chocolate

Budget friendly Similar to my Chai Latte recipe, I developed this chai hot chocolate recipe because I tried it at my favourite chocolate shop, loved it, and wanted to (no, needed to) learn how to make it at home. Making this drink at home is not only alot cheaper, but I am able to have it more often now.

What you will need

ingredients for homemade hot chocolate: a glass of milk, cocoa powder, dark chocolate chips

Milk
Cocoa powder
Chai spice mix
Chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate

How to make this Chai Hot Chocolate?

In a saucepan over medium heat, add in the milk, cocoa powder and chai spice mix, and warm it until steaming. Do not let this mixture come to a boil.

a teaspoon of chai spice powder on a small white plate, with a jar of chai spices in the background

Add in the chocolate. With a heat-resistant spatula or a wooden spoon, stir constantly to avoid burning the chocolate.

Cool to desired serving temperature. Serve in a mug topped with your favourite toppings.

Extra Tips

Replace 125ml of whole milk with heavy cream for an ultra-rich and creamy hot chocolate.

Some delicious topping options: whipped cream, mini marshmallows, cocoa powder or cinnamon powder (for dusting)

How many serves does this recipe make?

This recipe makes one large serve, or two small serves. I can never finish such a large serve, as this drink is very rich and filling. Instead, I’d drink a small serve immediately after making it, and store the remaining hot chocolate in a small mason jar in the fridge.

Can I make this chai hot chocolate in advance?

Another great thing about this recipe is that you can make this drink in advance. Simply make your hot chocolate according to the recipe, cool it down in an air tight container, and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you are ready for your chai and chocolate fix of the day, warm your pre-made hot chocolate in a saucepan, stirring regularly.

What is the best milk to use for this recipe?

The type of milk you use to make this chai hot chocolate will be based on your preferences. I normally use either regular whole or skim milk. However, if you have any dietary requirements or would like to make this drink vegan friendly, use your preferred plant-based milk instead.