Italian Hot Chocolate “cioccolata calda” is like no other hot chocolate!  It’s rich, creamy, and thick, with an almost pudding-like consistency.  It’s a perfect comfort drink to sip in front of a fire while snuggled under a cozy blanket with my dogs and cats warming my feet.  Forget about the bitter cold outside, this hot chocolate will blissfully warm your soul!

This hot chocolate differs from what is typically made in the States.

Yes, it’s certainly creamy and smooth.  But it’s unique because it’s so much thicker that can seriously be eaten with a spoon.  Do you know the difference between a regular ice cream shake and a rock-hard (concrete) malt?  That’s how you can envision the thickness of Italian Hot Chocolate.

During a visit with my family in November 2016, when the northern Italian mountain weather in the village of Montecreto was bone-cold, my cousins served me my very first cup of this heavenly dark chocolate elixir.  I had never known that Italians created and enjoyed a unique version of hot chocolate until that moment. 

They also presented a plate of homemade “biscotti” which is commonly paired with hot chocolate in Italy.  How perfect!  It could easily have been dessert for me!

TRIVIA: Montecreto and Magrignana are located on Mount Cimone, the highest mountain in the northern Apennines. So you can imagine how cold it gets where my family lives in Italy!

Dipping crispy Italian biscotti into a steaming cup of this indulgent hot chocolate on a European mountainside?  I can’t think of a more quintessential winter scenario. 

This hot chocolate is totally decadent and totally Italian.  It’s unlike any other chocolate drink . . . taking hot chocolate to the extreme!  It’s the ultimate indulgence of an explosion of deep, chocolate flavor

When you visit Italy and look for this delightful cup of mocha, don’t expect to see it anywhere until the weather is cold.  Italians are very seasonal, and that’s when this velvety hot drink is served in homes and coffee bars.  During summer, it’s time for ice-cold limoncello and the apertivo season.  But you can always make this at home with the classic recipe that I’m sharing with you below.

Italian Hot Chocolate

imported Italian chocolate: Perugina

  • Chocolate – Use high-quality dark chocolate with over 70% cocoa, which is the key to making perfectly thick Italian Hot Chocolate.  I use Perugina from Italy or Ghiradelli. For more sweetness and less richness, you can use high-quality milk chocolate instead.  A combination of both dark bittersweet chocolate and cocoa powder magnifies the chocolate flavor in this drink.
  • Cocoa Powder – Use unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, preferably the best, Guittard.  Added to get that extra chocolatey richness.  Make sure that it is unsweetened dark cocoa powder since using sweetened cocoa powder makes the sugar element in the drink too strong and overpowering.
  • Milk – Use whole milk to create an extra creamy drink as preferred in Italy.  It’s the base of hot chocolate.  If you desire less fat, feel free to use skim milk.  Using 2% will still result in a delicious drink with a good body but less fat. Other options you can try include almond, oat, or soy milk for dairy-free options.
  • Sugar – To sweeten the hot chocolate a bit, add a little bit of granulated white sugar which is the most commonly used.  Raw cane or caster sugar can be used instead.  
  • Cornstarch – This is the secret ingredient used to get the outstanding pudding-like thickness and texture that Italian Hot Chocolate is known for, add cornstarch.  If you prefer your hot chocolate to be less thick, simply adjust/reduce the amount of cornstarch added to the drink.  You won’t taste the cornstarch since it contains no flavor.  It is also gluten-free.  You can substitute cornstarch with potato starch or rice flour.  Before adding it to the hot chocolate, you simply whisk a small amount in milk and then stir into the hot chocolate to finish it off.
  • Salt – Using a pinch only, will bring out all of the delicious flavors, especially the rich chocolate notes.

How To Make Italian Hot Chocolate

This Italian hot chocolate recipe couldn’t be easier and only takes minutes to prepare with a handful of ingredients by following these simple steps.

  • In a small bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of milk with cornstarch (to make a ‘slurry’) until all of the lumps are dissolved. Set aside for a moment.
  • On a medium heat burner, in a medium-sized pan, pour in 1-½ cups of milk and heat the milk to just before it boils. At that point, reduce the heat to the lowest heat level.
  • Add the cornstarch-milk ‘slurry’ mixture that you set aside. TIP: Stir this cornstarch mixture just a little bit before adding to the pan of hot milk since the cornstarch will settle to the bottom of the small bowl of milk while waiting to be added.
  • Continue to cook this mixture at a simmer while stirring continually until it thickens nicely. You’ll see bubbles forming around the edges of the pan as it simmers. Do not boil, though.
  • Turn the heat to medium-low and add the broken-up dark chocolate pieces to the saucepan. Stir/whisk continually until the dark chocolate is melted and a creamy, thick texture develops. It only takes a few minutes.
  • When the milk has heated through, and the dark chocolate is completely melted, add the dark cocoa powder. Continue to stir/whisk together nicely.
  • Add the salt and sugar and stir/whisk to dissolve into the mixture.
  • Taste for sweetness, adjusting with more or less sugar if you prefer (and we like ours on the sweeter side)!
  • When the hot chocolate is smooth and thickened up, serve immediately in mugs along with spoons.
  • Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
  • Enjoy this luxurious Italian Hot Chocolate treat!

Please scroll down for the full free printable recipe below!

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Italian Hot Chocolate

Italian Hot Chocolate

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 13 reviews
  • Author: Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina

Description

Italian Hot Chocolate “cioccolata calda” is like no other hot chocolate!  It’s richer, creamier, and thicker, with a pudding-like consistency, and can seriously be eaten with a spoon.  Garnished with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, it’s the perfect indulgent comfort drink. 


Ingredients

  • 6 oz (179 grams) Italian dark bittersweet chocolate, Perugina (coarsely chopped)
  • 1 1/2 cups (350 ml) whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • a pinch of salt
  • Garnish: whipped cream and/or shaved chocolate

Instructions

    • In a small bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of the milk with the cornstarch (to make a ‘slurry’) until all of the lumps are dissolved. Set aside for a moment.

    • On a medium heat burner, in a medium-sized pan, pour in 1-½ cups of milk and heat to just before it boils. Reduce the heat to the lowest heat level.

    • Add the cornstarch-milk ‘slurry’ mixture that you set aside. TIP: Stir this cornstarch mixture just a little bit before adding to the pan of hot milk since the cornstarch will settle to the bottom of the small bowl of milk while waiting to be added.

    • Continue to cook this mixture at a simmer, while stirring continually until it thickens nicely. Bubbles will form around the edges of the pan as it simmers. Do not boil, though.

    • Turn the heat to medium-low and add the broken-up dark chocolate pieces to the saucepan. Stir/whisk continually until the dark chocolate is melted and a creamy, thick texture develops. It only takes a few minutes.

    • When the milk has heated through and the dark chocolate is completely melted, add the dark cocoa powder. Continue to stir/whisk together nicely.

    • Add the salt and sugar and stir/whisk to dissolve into the mixture.

    • Taste for sweetness, adjusting with more sugar if you prefer (and we do)!

    • When the hot chocolate is smooth and thickened up, serve immediately in mugs along with spoons. Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

Enjoy this luxurious Italian Hot Chocolate treat!

Buon Appetito,

Roz xo


Here’s what is included in this sweet chocolate $145 value Giveaway:

  • The Chocolate Spoon Cookbook: Italian Sweets From the Silver Spoon!
  • a chocolate shaver
  • Perugina Italian chocolate
  • a chocolate thermometer
  • a double boiler for melting chocolate
  • one pink silicone spatula
  • Franzese Italian hot cocoa mix
  • a “La Bella Vita Cucina” apron