How to make abuelita hot chocolate with evaporated milk

Mexican Hot Chocolate is the perfect winter cocktail you and your family will rave about! This quick and easy hot chocolate recipe is basically everything you love about winter in a warm glass!

Mexican hot chocolate?  Two glasses for us, please!

With Christmas just weeks away, we’re ushering in the new season with one of your all-time favorite Christmas recipes – Mexican Hot Chocolate. 

This holiday recipe is so easy to make.  Made with delicious Mexican chocolate and topped with all your favorite fixins’ including whipped cream, warm chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, toffee bits, cinnamon sticks and so much more!  It’s basically candy in a coffee mug.   And, 100% comfort food!

What we love about this Mexican hot chocolate recipe is how easy and versatile it is. With just a few simple ingredients, this hot chocolate recipe comes together in under a few quick minutes.  

Below, we are sharing a number of variations you can choose to suit your taste buds! And if you love creamy Mexican hot chocolate then you’re going to love our Rumchata Hot Chocolate!

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE ESSENTIALS

WHAT IS MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE?

Creamy Mexican hot chocolate is a beverage that is popular in Mexico and throughout Central America all the way to Colombia. The Aztecs and Mayans enjoyed hot chocolate for thousands of years before it was discovered by the Old World.

Original hot chocolate recipes traditionally only contained cacao, water, and sometimes corn. Current, popular versions are made with cacao, sugar, and cinnamon but still often call for water.

Mexican hot chocolate can enjoyed every day for breakfast, brunch or as a snack.  But, it is typically consumed around religious holidays like Christmas, Three Kings Day, Cinco de Mayo and the Day of the Dead.

WHERE CAN I FIND MEXICAN CHOCOLATE?  

You can buy most Mexican chocolate (chocolate caliente) at your local grocery store or even larger chains such as Target, Walmart and more.  If needed, you can also purchase on Amazon.  

This post may contain affiliate links. Using links to these sites means I may earn a percentage of the purchase at no cost to you. As an Amazon affiliate, I may recieve a percentage of qualifying purchases.

ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS IN MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

While we chose to make this Mexican recipe with Abuelita chocolate, there are a numner of ways you can vary this recipe.   Here are just a few of the ingredients we like to add or replace:

• SPICES: If you would like to add a little ‘spice’ to this Mexican hot chocolate recipe we recommend adding just a pinch of cloves, nutmeg or allspice.  As you’ll note below, we add just a small pinch of cayenne pepper, too. 
• CHOCOLATE: If for any reason you don’t have or cannot find Mexican chocolate, you are welcome to use cocoa powder or even bittersweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate or white chocolate. 
• MILK:  We typically like to make this easy recipe with milk and water, but have also used whole milk or evaporated milk in the past.  You are welcome to use these alterntaives, if preferred.  The only note is evaporated milk could make it very thick. 
• SWEETNESS: If you want even more sweetness in this recipe, feel free to add more brown sugar, honey, vanilla extract or even almond extract for an even greater flavor profile.     

MY FAVORITE HOT COCOA TOPPINGS:

There are so many delicious hot chocolate toppings that make this the best hot chocolate recipe.  Here are just a few of our favorites:

• Whipped cream
• Marshmallows 
• Hot chocolate sauce 
• Hot caramel sauce
• Milk or white chocolate chips 
• Andies mints 
• Toffee bits 
• Cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon
• Peppermint sticks or bits 

CAN I FREEZE LEFTOVER HOT CHOCOLATE? 

You absolutely can!  I love to add my leftover hot chocolate to ice cube trays to add to coffee, smoothies, etc.

CAN I ADD ALCOHOL TO MY HOT CHOCOLATE? 

You most certaily can!  In fact, we do so often for holidays and family gatherings.  Here are just a few of our favorite additions: 

• Kahlua Coffee Liqueur 
• Baileys Irish Cream
• Baileys Strawberry Liqueur 
• Godiva Liqueur (chocolate or white chocolate would be delicious!)
• Rumchata 

CAN I MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE IN MY SLOW COOKER? 

You definitely can!  Add all of the ingredients, with the exception of the toppings, to your slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours stirring occasionally.  

If you are serving hot chocolate with alcohol such as Rumchata for a large group (think holiday party, tailgate, office potluck), making this easy recipe in the slow cooker is a great idea.  Feel free to either double or triple the recipe, if needed. 

HOW TO MAKE MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

Making this Mexican hot chocolate recipe is quick and easy.

It’s a great holiday recipe if you’re entertaining guests for Halloween, Thanksgiving, football game days, Christmas and more.  Your guests are almost guaranteed to love this traditional hot chocolate recipe! 

In a small sauce pan, add water and chocolate.  Stir regularly as chocolate begins to melt.  Once the mixture is almost to a boil (do not actually bring to a boil), add sugar and stir until well combined.  Reduce heat.  Add in milk, vanilla extract, brown sugar and cayenne pepper.  Stir together with a wire whisk until well combined. 

 If you’d like your cup of hot chocolate a tad bit thicker, feel free to add 1/2 cup of half and half, sweetened condensed milk or whole milk.   

Using a laddle, scoop the hot chocolate into a mug and add all your favorite toppings.  

If you’re interested in making this recipe into a cocktail, simply add Rumchata or other alcohol of your choice.  

Also, I recommend giving the hot chocolate recipe a taste before serving.  Want it with a little kick?  Feel free to add an bit more cayenne pepper or nutmeg.  Prefer your hot chocolate even more sweet?  Feel free to add some sugar!  Regardless, this winter cocktail will taste great! 

INGREDIENTS FOR MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE: 

• 1 cup water 
• 2 tablets (3-ounces) Mexican chocolate (if needed, you can also use 1/4 cup cocoa powder)
• 3 cups milk (you can also use condensed milk or whole milk, if preferred) 
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (feel free to also use almond extra for an even more rich flavor) 
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional.  feel free to add more, if preferred) 
• Small pinch of cayenne pepper or ground chile de arbol
• Cinnamon sticks for stirrers

LOOKING FOR OTHER POPULAR RECIPES?  HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR FAVORITES: 

• Funeral Potatoes | Easy & Delicious
• Instant Pot Meatball Stroganoff
• Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta With Shrimp
• Creamy Broccoli Mac and Cheese
• Christmas Sangria | Best Christmas Cocktail
• Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Print Recipe Pin It!

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablets (3-ounces) Mexican chocolate, cubed (if needed, you can also use 1/4 cup cocoa powder)
• 3 cups milk (you can also use condensed milk or whole milk, if preferred)
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (feel free to also use almond extra for an even more rich flavor) 
• 1 tablespoons brown sugar (optional.  feel free to add more, if preferred) 
• Small pinch of cayenne pepper or ground chile de arbol (optional)
• Cinnamon sticks for stirrers (optional)

• In a small sauce pan, add water and chocolate.  Stir regularly as chocolate begins to melt.

• Once the mixture is almost to a boil (do not actually bring to a boil), add sugar and stir until well combined.  Reduce heat.

• Add in milk, vanilla extract, brown sugar and cayenne pepper.  Stir together with a wire whisk until well combined. 

• Using a laddle, scoop the hot chocolate into a mug and add all your favorite toppings.

• If you’re interested in making this recipe into a cocktail, simply add Rumchata or other alcohol of your choice. 
• Also, I recommend giving the hot chocolate recipe a taste before serving.  Want it with a little kick?  Feel free to add an bit more cayenne pepper or nutmeg.  Prefer your hot chocolate even more sweet?  Feel free to add some sugar!  Regardless, this winter cocktail will taste great! 

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
WE'D LOVE TO SEE! TAG US @ANNABAUN

Can you put evaporated milk in hot chocolate?

Can you make Abuelita with water instead of milk?

How do you make Abuelita?

What are the ingredients in Abuelita hot chocolate?