Red Velvet Hot Chocolate

Most Southerners I know have a special place in their heart for all things Red Velvet, especially around the holidays. This week, I’m making miniature Red Velvet Cakes, last week we made Red Velvet Cookies, and today I’m sharing my recipe for Red Velvet Hot Chocolate!

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate is an old fashioned hot chocolate recipe, the kind you make on the stovetop, that will ruin you for store bought mixes. This is what I grew up with: Rich, Creamy, and Chocolate as the day is long. Add a little of that food coloring the stores sell out of this time of year and you’ve got an instant classic! Let’s get on in the kitchen…

To make the base,  you’ll need: Milk, Sugar, Cocoa Powder.

Vanilla is optional but I include it when I think about it.

How Do You Get the Hot Chocolate to Look Red?

You’ll also need two tablespoons of red food coloring. Yup, tablespoons. OR if you want to avoid the chemicals in the food coloring 2 tsps of beetroot powder gives you the same red coloring.

How to Make Red Velvet Hot Chocolate Step By Step

But enough about my side gig, now back to the hot chocolate!

In medium saucepan, stir together sugar and cocoa powder, then add ½ cup milk.

Stir constantly over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.

Did you catch that “stir constantly” part?

Add milk and food coloring or beetroot powder, reduce heat to low, continuing to stir just until the milk is good and warm; do not boil.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla if desired.

Ooooh look how pretty this Red Velvet Hot Chocolate is! And did you catch how quick it came together, even though it was made from scratch?

Serve Red Velvet Hot Chocolate hot, with marshmallows (or without, look at you being a rebel!).

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate is an old fashioned hot chocolate recipe, the kind you make on the stovetop, that will ruin you for store bought mixes.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chocolate

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 593kcal

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar could use 1/3 cup honey instead
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 + 1/2 cups whole milk* Can use almond or coconut milk if you like
• 2 Tablespoons red liquid food coloring or 2 tsps of beetroot powder
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla optional

Instructions

• In medium saucepan, stir together sugar or honey and cocoa powder, then add 1/2 cup milk. Stir CONSTANTLY over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook, continuing the constant stirring, for about two minutes. *Do not stop stirring or it will scorch.
• Add remaining milk and food coloring or beetroot powder. Reduce heat to medium low and continue the constant stirring just until milk is to desired temperature - do not boil.
• Remove from heat and add vanilla, if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

*You can use other varieties of milk such as coconut milk or almond milk.  Coconut milk has a similar richness to whole milk.

A substitute for food dye is beetroot powder.

Honey can be used as one to one substitute for the granulated sugar if you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 593kcal

Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!