Frozen Hot Chocolate

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Indulge in a frosty delight with our Frozen Hot Chocolate, a unique twist on the classic winter beverage. This recipe takes traditional hot chocolate to new heights by combining rich chocolate milk with extra chocolate flavor from hot chocolate mix. The secret? Frozen chocolate milk cubes that intensify the chilling experience. Whether you’re seeking a treat to beat the summer heat or a creative spin on a winter classic, our Frozen Hot Chocolate is the ultimate year-round beverage.

Table of Contents

What is Frozen Hot Chocolate?

Picture a blend of frothy chocolate milk with an extreme chocolatey flavor topped with whatever toppings your heart desires. Our frozen hot chocolate recipe is more than just a beverage – it’s a fun experience for kids of all ages!

As parents, we know how challenging it can be to keep our kids entertained, especially during summer or holiday breaks. This iced hot chocolate is the ideal frosty treat to keep kids busy while also sparking their imagination.

The contrast between the chilled drink and comforting chocolate flavor appeals to both kids and adults alike. Be prepared to turn a classic winter drink into a year-round indulgent concoction.

Keep reading to learn how to make frozen hot cocoa, reveal helpful tips and tricks and find more easy-to-follow drink recipes that are kid friendly!

Love hot chocolate as much as we do? Grab recipes for Pink Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Balls and Hot Cocoa Recipe with Powdered Milk.

frozen chocolate milk, whipped cream, chocolate, chocolate milk and a hot chocolate mix on a countertop

Ingredients

2 cups chocolate milk divided
1-2 packets hot chocolate mix
whipped cream optional
chocolate bar optional

Hot Chocolate Topping Ideas

Wondering what do you put on top of hot chocolate? We have you covered with this list of familiar favorites. From candies to marshmallows, you can customize your cup of hot cocoa.

Add any of these ingredients to your ingredient list:

Caramel drizzle
Chocolate sauce
Peppermint sticks or crushed peppermint
Sprinkles
Cinnamon
Mini milk or white chocolate chips
Mini marshmallows
Crushed gluten-free Oreos
Chocolate shavings
Sea salt
Toffee bits

hot chocolate mix and frozen ice cubes in a blender

top down view of frozen chocolate milk drink in a blender

How To Make Frozen Hot Chocolate

Pour chocolate milk into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight or until frozen solid.

Add 1 cup of chocolate milk to a blender. Add the hot chocolate mix to a blender. Use two hot chocolate packets if you want an extra chocolatey flavor!

Next, add 2-4 frozen chocolate milk cubes. Blend until pureed. Add more frozen chocolate milk cubes to make it more firm or more chocolate milk to make it smoother.

Serve right way topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. To make chocolate shavings carefully use a vegetable peeler to shave chocolate from a chocolate bar.

Helpful Tips

Experiment with Flavors: Add a dash of excitement by experimenting with different hot chocolate packet flavors. From salted caramel to peppermint, mint hot chocolate mix is also delicious in this iced hot chocolate. You could also opt for dark chocolate or white chocolate instead of milk chocolate as a topping.
Get Creative with Toppings: Encourage your kids to unleash their creativity by offering an array of toppings. You can allow kids to pick between a few options or create a toppings bar for older children. This is especially popular for slumber parties or birthday celebrations.
Blend Well: Achieve the perfect consistency by blending the ingredients thoroughly. Blending is a skill that kids can learn by showing them how to secure the lid to the blender, holding the top of the lid while blending and practicing safety if handling the blender blade.
Use Frozen Chocolate Milk: Making chocolate milk ice cubes may seem like an unnecessary step but it makes a world of difference. It adds that extra frosty kick within adding tons of ice crystals to the drink like ice cubes would.
Serve in Fun Glasses: Presentation matters so pouring the cold hot chocolate into colorful or themed glasses can make the beverage even more appealing to kids.
Explore Non-Dairy Options: Consider using non-dairy milks such as almond, coconut or soy milk to make a dairy free frozen hot chocolate. For the hot chocolate mix, make a batch of Dairy Free Hot Chocolate Mix to replace the packets.
Freeze Leftovers: Don’t let any leftover mixture go to waste. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for a treat on another day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hot cocoa have caffeine?

Typically, hot chocolate mix packets will contain a minimal amount of caffeine. Cocoa powder does contain a small amount of caffeine, but it is significantly lower compared to coffee or tea. For example, the caffeine in hot cocoa is usually around 2-5 milligrams per cup where a cup of coffee can range from 95-165 milligrams of caffeine. If seeking caffeine in your cup of frozen hot chocolate, freeze coffee instead of chocolate milk in the ice cube tray.

What is a frozen hot chocolate made of?

Our recipe features chocolate milk and hot chocolate mix to create frozen hot chocolate. Toppings are optional but we enjoy whipped cream and chocolate shavings for a little extra sweetness.

How long does hot chocolate last in the freezer?

Frozen chocolate milk will last up to 3 months in the freezer in the ice cube tray. If freezing leftover frozen hot chocolate, it will last up to 3 months as well.

How much hot cocoa do you use?

For approximately 3 servings of frozen hot chocolate, you will use 1 packet of hot chocolate mix. Adjust the recipe based on the number of drinks you need.

What chocolate milk is best?

Skim, 2% or whole chocolate milk all work great when making frozen hot chocolate. For a richer and creamier beverage, whole milk is best.

Can you use white milk?

Yes! If you only have white milk on hand, you can pour it into the ice cube trays to freeze. The chocolate milk does elevate the chocolatey flavor of the drink, but swapping with white milk will not impact the texture. If a stronger chocolate flavor is desired when using white milk, add 2 packets of hot chocolate mix instead of one.

hand holding glass with frozen hot chocolate topped with whipped cream

Storage Instructions

Transfer any leftover frozen hot chocolate to an airtight container or Ziploc bag. We also highly recommend considering pouring leftovers into popsicle molds if available for storage.

Label the container with the date of preparation and aim to consume all leftovers within 3 months for optimal taste and texture. Place the container in the freezer promptly for best results. To prevent freezer burn, minimize exposure to room temperature air.

When ready to enjoy, you can toss the leftovers back into the blender to puree until smooth. If you made popsicles, then enjoy as is.

When pouring the cold chocolate milk into the ice cube trays, leave a slight space at the top of the tray. This will allow room for the milk to expand as it freezes to prevent overflow.
If your ice cube tray is silicone or flimsy, consider placing on top of a freezer safe plate or small baking sheet to ease the process of transferring the tray filled with milk into the freezer.
The more chocolate milk ice cubes that you add to the blender, the creamier and thicker the cold hot chocolate will be. Consider the consistency you like the best!

More Frozen Drinks

Whether you are looking to serve as a holiday drink or on a hot summer day, these recipes are sure to impress.

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

frozen hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and grated chocolate

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