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Is there anything better than a steaming mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter day? This decadent pumpkin hot chocolate recipe takes your typical winter drink to the next level, with the addition of rich, creamy pumpkin puree. Whether you’re curled up on the couch with a good book or braving the cold outside, this delicious drink is sure to warm you up from head to toe!
Easy pumpkin hot chocolate
Just like my mom, I like to make pumpkin hot chocolate from scratch using Cortés Chocolate bars. When I was a kid, my mom would make my sisters and me this type of hot chocolate and serve it to us with soda crackers for dunking (it’s how we do it here in PR! #dontknockittilyoutryit). Chocolate Cortés was actually founded here in Puerto Rico in 1929, by Don Pedro Cortés Forteza.
Making pumpkin hot chocolate using Cortés bars is actually quite simple. Just break off one of the portions (each bar comes with 6), and add it to small saucepan of 1 cup of warm milk. The chocolate is melted in the milk at low temperature, and once it’s fully melted and the milk is starting to bubble, remove from heat and serve. Easy, right?
What is pumpkin pie spice made of?
This pumpkin hot chocolate recipe uses pumpkin spice. So what does pumpkin pie spice contain? It’s a mix of:
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
- Allspice
- Ginger
What can I use if I don’t have pumpkin spice?
If you don’t have any pumpkin pie spice on hand, you can make your own with spices you probably already have in your kitchen. All you have to do is mix 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp allspice, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ground ginger and 1/8 tsp ground cloves. Combine well and store in an airtight container.
How to make pumpkin hot chocolate
For this healthy pumpkin spice hot chocolate recipe, I use equal parts regular milk and evaporated milk, cause that’s how my mom always makes it. However, you can use just all regular milk, or plant based alternatives (soy, almond, oat, hemp, etc).
Place the milk in a heavy bottomed saucepan, and heat over low heat. Add the bar of chocolate to the milk, and stir frequently until it melts. You can also chop the bar up so that it can melt faster.
Next, add the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla and combine well. Once the chocolate is fully melted and the milk starts bubbling, remove from heat and serve. You can also top this hot chocolate with whipped cream and a touch of ground cinnamon. Enjoy!
How to make this pumpkin hot chocolate recipe vegan
To make this pumpkin hot chocolate recipe vegan, simply swap out the milk for a plant-based milk of your choice. I prefer to use almond milk, but soy milk or coconut milk would work well, too. You’ll also need to use a vegan chocolate, such as dark chocolate or a dairy-free chocolate chip.
With these simple substitutions, you can enjoy a delicious cup of pumpkin hot chocolate that is both vegan and dairy-free.
Additional pumpkin recipes
And if you love pumpkin, or anything in the pumpkin family, here are some additional recipes you might like:
- Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Recipe
- Vegan Acorn Squash Stuffed with Wild Rice
- Butternut Squash with Classic Stuffing
Homemade Pumpkin Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk*
- 1 cup evaporated milk*
- 2 bars Cortés chocolate, or sweet baking chocolate
- 2 tbsp canned pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Add the milk to a heavy bottomed saucepan. Heat milk under low heat.
- Add whole pieces of the chocolate bar, or chopped for faster melting.
- Add pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract. Combine well.
- Once chocolate is fully melted and the milk starts bubbling, remove from heat. Serve in mugs and top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.
Notes
Conclusion
Will you try this recipe? I think it’s delicious, and we hope you do, too. If you make it, be sure to let me know how you like it by tagging me on social media. And don’t forget to Pin it for later!
Hi! I’m Melissa, Registered Dietitian and mother of two dragons. When I’m not talking nutrition you can find me rolling around the floor with my kids, sewing, crafting, cooking or missing the 90s (seriously, music just isn’t the same). Read More…
