Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

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This peanut butter hot chocolate recipe is rich & chocolate with tons of peanut butter! Homemade peanut butter hot cocoa is easy to make with 6 ingredients in 10 minutes and tastes like you’re drinking a warm, liquid peanut butter cup!

a glass mug filled with Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of peanut butter


What’s better than a warm mug full of rich, creamy homemade hot chocolate topped with homemade whipped cream?

Answer: A warm mug full of rich, creamy homemade peanut butter hot chocolate.

Because I mean really, why wouldn’t you want to cozy up with a sweet treat that tastes just like a warm, liquid peanut butter cup?! This peanut butter hot chocolate recipe is seriously delicious, and is made with 6 ingredients in less than 10 minutes

front view of a mug of peanut butter hot chocolate with whipped cream and peanut butter drizzle

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Ingredients

  • Whole Milk. 2% milk, heavy cream, half and half or a combination of these can be used instead of solely using whole milk. For an extra-creamy version use 1 cup whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream. Coconut milk is the best choice for a dairy-free hot cocoa.
  • Semisweet Chocolate.  Use your favorite chocolate, dark, milk, even white. You can also use dairy-free chocolate. Or, use unsweetened chocolate and increase the sugar to suit your tastes.
  • Peanut Butter. I recommend using your favorite creamy peanut butter.
  • Sugar. use white sugar or organic cane sugar. To make a refined-sugar free version you can use coconut sugar or even honey.
  • Sea Salt. I only recommend adding a touch of sea salt if the peanut butter you use does not contain any salt.
peanut butter hot chocolate in a glass mug topped with whipped cream & peanut butter drizzle

How to Make Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

We’ll walk through this recipe step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Cook over Medium-low heat

Cooking this peanut butter hot chocolate recipe in a saucepan over low heat is the best way to ensure that the chocolate melts evenly and the ingredients do not burn.

Begin by adding the milk chocolate, peanut butter and sugar to a small saucepan.

two overhead photos showing How to make Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Then, cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

It’s important to whisk this peanut butter hot chocolate recipe consistently to avoid lumps, and to prevent the ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Then, add the cocoa powder, vanilla and salt (if desired) and whisk until completely combined and warm. 

Next, cover and remove from heat and let cocoa sit (covered) for 5 minutes before serving if you would like a thick hot cocoa, or serve immediately.

two overhead photos showing How to make Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Serve

Then, pour the peanut butter hot chocolate into 2-4 mugs (depending on the amount you’d like to enjoy) and serve.

I recommend serving it with a dollop of homemade whipped cream and a drizzle of extra peanut butter.

peanut butter hot chocolate being poured into a glass mug
a glass mug filled with Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Optional Toppings

If desired, you can serve the peanut butter hot chocolate with some delicious toppings. Here are some suggestions:

overhead view of Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate in a glass mug with whipped cream and a drizzle of peanut butter on top

Store

If you have leftovers, store them in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Please note: due to the melted chocolate in this recipe, it will very likely become solid in the refrigerator. All you need to do is re-warm it over low heat on the stovetop to return it to a drinkable consistency.

You can also thin it out with a little extra milk if necessary.

hands holding a mug of Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Recipe FAQs

Does peanut butter melt in milk?

Yes, as the milk and peanut butter mixture warms, the peanut butter will melt.

How can I make this without refined sugar?

To make this Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa with no refined sugar there are two simple substitutions you need to make:
1. Use unsweetened chocolate in place of the bittersweet or semisweet chocolate.
2. Replace granulated sugar with coconut sugar.
Also, be mindful of the peanut butter you choose! Make sure to choose a variety that does not have any added sugars.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, this recipe is easy to double (or triple) to feed a crowd.

a glass mug filled with Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of peanut butter

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Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Laura
This peanut butter hot chocolate recipe is rich & chocolate with tons of peanut butter! Homemade peanut butter hot cocoa is easy to make with 6 ingredients in 10 minutes and tastes like you're drinking a warm, liquid peanut butter cup!
5 from 12 votes
Course Dessert, Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 323
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time10 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Add milk chocolate, peanut butter and sugar to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.
  • Whisk constantly until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
  • Add, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt (if desired) and whisk until completely combined and warm. 
  • Cover and remove from heat and let cocoa sit (covered) for 5 minutes before serving if you would like a very thick hot cocoa, or serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions
  • Whole Milk. 2% milk, heavy cream, half and half or a combination of these can be used instead of solely using whole milk. For an extra-creamy version use 1 cup whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream. Coconut milk is the best choice for a dairy-free hot cocoa.
  • Semisweet Chocolate.  Use your favorite chocolate, dark, milk, even white. You can also use dairy-free chocolate. Or, use unsweetened chocolate and increase the sugar to suit your tastes.
  • Peanut Butter. I recommend using your favorite creamy peanut butter.
  • Sugar. use white sugar or organic cane sugar. To make a refined-sugar free version you can use coconut sugar or even honey.
  • Sea Salt. I only recommend adding a touch of sea salt if the peanut butter you use does not contain any salt.
Store
Store leftovers in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Please note: due to the melted chocolate in this recipe, it will very likely become solid in the refrigerator. All you need to do is re-warm it over low heat on the stovetop to return it to a drinkable consistency.
You can also thin it out with extra milk if necessary.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 31.5g | Protein: 5.7g | Fat: 21.2g | Saturated Fat: 9.8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6.3g | Sodium: 13.3mg | Potassium: 109.7mg | Fiber: 3.3g | Sugar: 26.4g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 0.9mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Recipe Rating




18 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is sooooo rich! Delicious. Once I tasted it, I added some more milk to it to help “dilute” it a little because it was just so concentrated. Next time, I’ll add another 1/4-1/2 cup of milk from the beginning. Thank you for the recipe 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    Very good! Smells like a Reese’s Cup and tastes really good. Very thick and creamy and tastes delicious.