Snuggle up on a cold day with a hot mug of pink hot chocolate made from white chocolate with a perfect pink hue and a creamy topping with crunchy candy hearts. It's the perfect hot cocoa for Valentine's Day or anytime you want to put a spin on your classic hot cocoa.
Before we had kids, I was all about getting fancy and going out to fight the crowds for a spot at the best restaurant in town on Valentine's Day. But now, all I TRULY want is to spend time with my Valentines ... all five of them...snuggled up at home.
Don't worry, my husband and I always cook a fancy late-night meal for just the two of us after the kids go to bed. But during the day, we try and celebrate the day as a family and this pink hot cocoa is a yummy treat the kids love to help make, and drink!
This drink is not only cute as can be but it's also beyond easy. Just 3 ingredients, pink coloring, whipped topping and sprinkles create the perfect kid-friendly Valentine's Day treat in five minutes flat.
What I love about this fun pink hot chocolate recipe is that while it's perfect for Valentine's Day you can also serve it up for other fun, party and holiday events where colored hot cocoa makes sense! Get creative with the color or the sprinkles to customize it to the theme of your event.
For more pink-inspired goodies for Valentine's Day or any other fun event, check out our Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies, Pink Champagne Cupcakes or Valentine's Cookies for dessert.
And if you're looking for some elegant dinner ideas check out, Champagne Chicken or this Simple Grilled Salmon recipe.
Ingredients for Pink Hot Chocolate
At first glance, you may think this hot chocolate is going to have a strawberry milk base or a fruity flavor. But, this recipe is actually a rich, smooth white hot chocolate base, and a tiny bit of food coloring to give it that gorgeous light pink hue.
To make this recipe, you will need:
- Whole Milk
- White Chocolate Chips
- Vanilla
- Pink food coloring gel
- Whipped Topping
- Valentines Sprinkles
Because of the simplicity of this recipe, it is imperative you use quality ingredients! The most important ingredient to be picky about is the chocolate. If you use cheap, or value chocolate...you are missing out!
I love Ghirardelli chips for their easy accessibility across most popular grocery store chains and also quality and price! They also have a white chocolate powder which is amazing too!
How To Make White Hot Chocolate
Start by heating the milk in a small saucepan just until the point where it starts to steam. You want to be careful not to scald the milk, but you also want it hot enough to melt the chocolate.
I recommend using low-medium heat so you really have good control over the temperature.
When the milk is hot, pour in the chocolate chips and stir constantly until the chips are fully melted and incorporated into the milk. Once you pour the chocolate in, you need to stay at the saucepan until everything melts, stirring constantly.
Once everything is well blended, remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla, and the pink coloring.
I really love this Wilton pink gel coloring. It is a perfect rosy shade of pink.
How to Serve
To get the biggest pink impact, serve this drink in clear mugs if you have them! I love Libby brand, and here is another style I love as well!
You will see me use these a lot in food photography because they have an amazing presentation and really show off what's INSIDE the mug.
Toppings for White Hot Chocolate
Once you have your pink hot cocoa in the mug, it's time to top it with whipped cream! You can buy some Reddi-whip OR make your own with the kids!
Making your own may sound super complicated, but it's very easy and on days where we do have extra time...my kids really love it! Here is a quick video on how to make your own whipped cream at home in just a few minutes!
The sprinkles I used for this hot chocolate were made by Wilton. I used these beautiful pearly pink balls perils and sometimes I like to add on these white heart sprinkles too!!
- Whipped Cream
- Sprinkles
- Mini Marshmallows
- Graham Cracker Crumbs
- Chocolate Syrup
- Marshmallow Syrup
- Strawberry Puree
How to Make a Hot Chocolate Bar for Parties
Another creative way to serve up this hot chocolate is to make a super cute bar! Simply designate a section of your counter for the "bar" and line up the toppings in cute little dishes so your Valentines can serve up their own special treat just the way they like it!
Here is a really cute video on how to make your own hot chocolate bar.
So this Valentine's Day, don't be afraid to STAY IN with your Valentines, because spending time together is always the best way to show someone your love.
Flavor Variations
If you want to jazz up your pink hot chocolate even more, here are some ideas of how to add different flavors!
Peppermint: Add in peppermint extract to white hot chocolate to your preferred taste and then top off with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy over the top.
Fruit flavor: Add raspberry or strawberry extract to the heated milk and you can even sprinkle fresh berries over the whipped cream.
How To Make Dairy-Free White Hot Chocolate
To make this recipe allergy-friendly or to make a vegan hot chocolate, you will need to swap out both the milk and the chocolate chips to acceptable brands that fit your needs.
In place of dairy milk, I would use the densest replacement you can tolerate. Vanilla Pea Milk would probably be a great choice for this recipe because it's very thick and dense but has a subtle flavor. Other alternatives would be:
- Soy Milk
- Rice Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Oat Milk
- Hemp Milk
- Almond Milk
Whichever milk you choose, make sure it has a luscious and thick consistency and that it's mild in flavor.
For the chocolate, my favorite allergy-friendly replacement brand is hands-down Pascha.
Expert Tips and FAQS
Choose quality white chocolate when making pink hot chocolate for the best results!
When heating the milk, use low heat and keep a close eye on it to avoid scalding the milk.
Stir constantly once the chocolate chips are added so they melt at an even rate.
Don't forget to serve up pink hot chocolate with fun toppings to make it even more enjoyable!
If you are making this for a BUNCH of little Valentines at home, you can keep this recipe warm in the crockpot or slow cooker.
If you are having a gathering or need to transport a large amount, you may consider getting a large thermos dispenser. It will hide the pretty color, but it is very effective at keeping hot drinks warm and also works as a self-serve station!
Yes, you can make this hot cocoa recipe using milk that is lower in fat but you will sacrifice some of the creaminess and richness of the hot chocolate.
More Delicious Beverages to Enjoy
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card right below! You can also write a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @freshcoasteats in your photos on social media, I'd love to see your results!
Pink Hot Chocolate
Equipment
- Small saucepan
Ingredients
- 5 cups whole milk
- 2 cups white chocolate chips high quality
- 1 tsp vanilla
- whipped topping
- Valentine's sprinkles
- pink food coloring
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, over low-medium heat, heat the milk until just before it starts to steam. Stir in the chocolate chips and stir constantly until fully melted.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla and pink food coloring.
- Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream and sprinkles. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
What do you like to do for Valentine's Day? Do you stay in or go out? Have you tried this recipe? Let me know!
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Anna says
This looks amazingly delicious!