The Best Hot Chocolate Float Recipe — Registered Dietitian Columbia SC - Rachael Hartley Nutrition (2024)

My friend Kylie is legit famous.

Okay, so not famous as in gets stopped for autographs famous or has ever been involved in a nanny cheating scandal famous, but blog famous, which is still pretty cool.

Two years ago she posted a recipe for red wine hot chocolate, and this year, it’s gone viral. First, last month they sampled her recipe on Good Morning America and Hoda said her actual name (see, told you she was famous). Then last week, the New York Times wrote a story about red wine hot chocolate and credited her as being the creator, which is true, because she is a food genius. This prompted Food52 to interview her for an article, which was really greatbecause she also got to talk about eating disorder recovery and intuitive eating in an outlet that might not normally cover it.

Sidebar: Kylie just launched her online program “How to Eat” which I know is amazing because she is in an intuitive eating mastermind group with me and a few other dietitians, so I totally trust anything she puts out there. It’s the samephilosophy as our Joyful Eating, Nourished Life program, but most of the content is video vs. the written and audio content on ours. So if you learn better that way, check it out!

Well Kylie, I love you, but today, I’m sharing a hot chocolate recipe that I think might dethrone yours. Just wait, two years from now, Al Roker will be saying my name on air.

Get ready guys, cause here comes the hot chocolate recipe that will break the internet - the BEST hot chocolate float recipe.

(Sound of the world’s collective jaw dropping)

Hot chocolate float recipe inspiration

To be fair, I didn’t come up with the idea for this hot chocolate float. My favorite local ice cream shop, Sweet Cream, posted a picture on instagram of hot chocolate with a scoop of their handmade marshmallow ice cream floating on the top (by the way, I will eat marshmallow flavored ice cream because it's not squishy and jello-like). As soon as I saw their creation, I tried to convince my husband we should skip dinner and get hot chocolate floats instead, but apparently he's more responsible than me because he muttered something about vegetables and balance, so we stayed in and cooked a regular meal. All because of him, I had to wait a whole 24 hours before getting my hot chocolate float. Rude.

Tips for making the best hot chocolate

This recipe makes an extra chocolatey hot chocolate, almost verging on bittersweet. I like it that way because as the ice cream melts, it sweetens and mellows the flavor a bit without diluting the chocolate too much. If you were to drink the hot chocolate plain, it would be a little less sweet and a little more rich than most people would normally make hot chocolate.

To make the best hot chocolate, you’ve got to start with really good chocolate. Obviously, it’s the main flavor in the chocolate, so you want it to be good. I like using dark chocolate for flavor, but don’t go darker than 80% or it’ll be too bitter. I like to use a combination of cocoa powder and chocolate for complexity of flavor and to make it taste extra chocolatey.

I make my hot chocolate in a saucepan over medium heat while whisking it regularly to make it a little frothy. This also allows you to easily taste it and add more milk, chocolate, or sweetener as needed.

Feel free to use any dairy you like, but I prefer it with some fat content. If you’re going to use a plant based milk, I’d suggest a thicker almond milk, oat milk (which is really creamy), or coconut milk. If using cows milk, I like 2% or whole. For this recipe though, since you’re adding ice cream which will add milk fat, it doesn’t make a huge difference!

I also love to add a pinch of salt to bring out the chocolate flavor!

Best ice cream to add to this hot chocolate float

When I went to buy ice cream, not only was Talenti on sale at Earth Fare, but I also discovered they make eggnog flavor. My little heart was so happy! If you can't find marshmallow or eggnog ice cream, vanilla is always a winner, or do as my husband did and get a scoop of amaretto. I'm thinking coffee would also be quite tasty.This recipe may be the only time to pick an ice cream with no chunks.

Makes 2

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk

• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips/chunks

• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder

• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

• 2 scoops of ice cream

Instructions

1. In a small pot, whisk together milk, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt on medium heat until very hot and thoroughly combined.

2. Divide hot chocolate between two glasses and top with a scoop of ice cream.