Spicy Chipotle Hot Chocolate

This Spicy Chipotle Hot Chocolate recipe is a grownup spin on a childhood favorite!  Frothy milk, creamy chocolate and a serious kick, yes please!

Spicy Chipotle Hot Chocolate! AKA Mexican Hot Chocolate, AKA Spicy Hot Cocoa.. by any name, it’s delicious!

By the way, what do you call it?  Are you in the hot cocoa or the hot chocolate camp? Maybe drinking chocolate? Is this a regional thing? Where are you from? I have so many questions that need answers!

Whether you call it hot chocolate, hot cocoa, or drinking chocolate, you can’t deny that it’s good. 

I’ve been a bit crazy for all things chipotle flavored lately, so it seemed only logical to pair it with a steaming hot cup of melted chocolate and warm milk.  I totally went for it and made this Spicy Chipotle Hot Chocolate, aka Mexican Hot Chocolate.

Chipotle isn’t like any other spice in your pantry. It’s a smoke-dried jalapeno pepper that, for this recipe at least, has been ground into a fine powder.

It’s potent and very flavorful, not just mega heat for heat’s sake. It has a multidimensional flavor to go along with that spicy kick.

If you’re feeling the spicy chipotle love too, you might want to check out these Chipotle Nutella Cookies.

This Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe is great for people who like sweet and spicy flavors mixed together because it does just that.

Your first taste is the sweet chocolate and then the chipotle will pop up out of nowhere and show your tongue who’s boss. It lingers on your taste buds until you take your next sip.

Throw a little dollop of real whipped cream on top and sprinkle (sparingly!) with more ground chipotle spice!

You know I’m all over that next time I make this spicy chocolate treat.

But be aware, gentle viewers, I’m currently crushing on chipotle. There may or may not be multiple upcoming chipotle posts.

This drink is rich and creamy and you probably won’t need more than a small glass to satisfy your spicy chocolate cravings.

If you aren’t a big fan of the sugar and spice thing then you may want to make this Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate instead. I’m biased, sure, but it’s absolutely delicious.

So get in the holiday spirit, grab some chocolate, milk, and spicy chipotle goodness and make this homemade hot chocolate recipe!

CAN I SUBSTITUTE A CHOCOLATE BAR OR BLOCK FOR THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS?

Yep, feel free to use semi-sweet chocolate in whatever form you can find it.  It may come in handy to know that 2/3 cups of chocolate chips is equivalent to about 4 ounces when weighed on a food scale, so measure accordingly.

WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE FOR THE GROUND CHIPOTLE?

A few chipotle substitutions you may have handy are cayenne, chili powder, or ancho chili powder. Look out for the differences between these alternatives though. Cayenne, for example, packs way more heat, while chili powder is made of a mix of other spices, so the flavor will be different.

Ancho chili powder is a milder option. Whichever you choose, I recommend starting with a small pinch and building the heat to your preference.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE COCOA POWDER FOR THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS?

Many homemade hot chocolate recipes are made with cocoa powder, but this isn’t one of those. Cocoa powder alone cannot replace the cocoa, sugar and fat content of the chocolate chips. 

CAN THIS HOMEMADE HOT CHOLATE RECIPE BE MADE WITH DAIRY FREE MILK?

Feel free to swap out the whole milk with the dairy free milk of your choosing. The thickest/creamiest option is probably canned coconut milk, but almond or soy would work as well. 

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR THIS HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE:

• Whole Milk
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• Ground Chipotle
• Ground Cinnamon

MORE CHOCOLATE RECIPES!

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
• No-Bake Chocolate & Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
• Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Gluten Free Double Chocolate Brownies