Frozen Hot Chocolate
Frozen hot chocolate is a quick and easy way to get your hot chocolate fix during the warm summer months! It’s an icy drink made with melted chocolate, hot chocolate mix, a little sugar, milk, and ice. The chocolate taste resembles the flavor you love from traditional hot chocolate, but the consistency is closer to that of a slushy or frappuccino. Five ingredients and 15 minutes are all you need for this wonderfully refreshing homemade drink!
If you’ve never heard of frozen hot chocolate and are wondering what it is, a brief history… It is the signature menu item at Serendipity 3 in New York City; it gained a cult following after a scene from the early 2000’s movie Serendipity showed the main characters at the restaurant sharing a huge goblet of the delicious slushy drink. Copycat recipes sprung up everywhere and while I had never been to the restaurant, being a hot chocolate addict, I made it my business to create a recipe I’d love to drink in the summer when it was just too hot for a traditional hot chocolate!
After trying a handful of replica recipes and making a few tweaks, I settled on this absolutely wonderful summertime version of my favorite winter drink. You can slurp it with a straw or enjoy it with a spoon; it is absolute perfection!
My recipe combines melted chocolate, hot chocolate mix (you can also use something like Ovaltine or Nesquik!), sugar, milk, and ice for a frothy, deliciously rich yet refreshing drink.
For the chocolate, you can use milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white – whatever you prefer!
As I mentioned above, your favorite hot chocolate mix would be my primary choice, but other mixes work, too. And you could try different flavors – a salted caramel hot chocolate mix, for example, would be AMAZING!
The beauty of this recipe is its ability to be completely customized based on your preferences.
Frozen hot chocolate vs chocolate milkshake
While the ingredient lists are very similar, frozen hot chocolate and chocolate milkshakes definitely have different tastes and consistencies.
Frozen hot chocolate tastes exactly like… hot chocolate! But with an icy, slushy consistency. The ice thickens the drink and you can make it thinner or thicker by adjusting the amount of ice.
A chocolate milkshake, meanwhile, uses ice cream to thicken it, which makes it a richer and creamier drink.
Let me show you how to make it!
- Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave until completely smooth.
- Whisk in the sugar and hot chocolate mix.
- Whisk in part of the milk.
- Cool to room temperature.
- Blend the chocolate mixture, the remainder of the milk, and the ice until smooth and frothy.
- Serve and enjoy!
Quick recipe tips
- Blender – I love my Wolf blender and also highly recommend the Breville Fresh and Furious blender.
- Servingware – To mimic the frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity, serve it in a huge goblet. Alternatively, old-fashioned milkshake glasses or pretty drinkware will work!
- Keeping it cold – For the coldest possible drink, refrigerate the chocolate milk mixture after step #1 to get it thoroughly chilled. Give it a good stir or whisk before adding it to the blender so any chocolate that has settled gets re-incorporated.
- Topping Ideas – Homemade whipped cream, mini chocolate chips, shaved chocolate, etc.
More cool drinks you’ll love!
- Simple Lemonade
- Fluffernutter Milkshake
- Bourbon Slush
- Blackberry Gin Fizz Float
- White Russian Winter Milkshake
Watch the Recipe Video Below:
If you make this frozen hot chocolate recipe and love it, I would so appreciate it if you would take a moment to leave a rating below. Thank you so much! ❤️️
Frozen Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 3 ounces (85.05 g) chocolate, milk, semisweet or dark, finely chopped
- 4½ teaspoons (4.5 teaspoons) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons hot chocolate mix
- 1½ cups (366 ml) milk, divided
- 3 cups (42 g) ice
Instructions
- Place the chocolate in a medium bowl set over a saucepan with about 1 inch of barely simmering water (keep the heat on low). Stir the chocolate occasionally, until it is completely melted and smooth. (Alternately, you can microwave the chocolate on 50% power in 30-second intervals until melted.) Add the sugar and hot chocolate mix and whisk to combine completely. Remove from the heat and slowly whisk in ½ cup of the milk until smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- In a blender, place the remaining 1 cup of milk, the chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and slushy. Pour into serving glasses and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Notes
- Chocolate – You can use milk chocolate, semisweet, dark, or white.
- Hot Chocolate Mix – Use your favorite or try different flavors! You can also use a powdered mix like Ovaltine or Nesquik.
- Milk – Whole milk will give you the richest flavor, but any variety (2%, 1% skim) will work, as will soy milk, nut milk, or oat milk.
- Blender – I love my Wolf blender and also highly recommend the Breville Fresh and Furious blender.
- Servingware – To mimic the frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity, serve it in a huge goblet. Alternatively, old-fashioned milkshake glasses or pretty drinkware will work!
- Keeping it cold – For the coldest possible drink, refrigerate the chocolate milk mixture after step #1 to get it thoroughly chilled. Give it a good stir or whisk before adding it to the blender so any chocolate that has settled gets re-incorporated.
- Topping Ideas – Homemade whipped cream, mini chocolate chips, shaved chocolate, etc.
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
[Photography by Ari of Well Seasoned]
I cannot wait to try this Sounds delicious
I think this is really a great idea. Kids would love it too. Seriously this recipe is so Sweet! Easy to make! Best…
I went to Serendipity 3 last year while in NYC. I think they must freeze heavy cream into ice cubes and use those when blending because their version is not slushy but is very creamy. I could only have a small taste because I could tell it was 100% dairy!
Sounds like a great treat for the whole family! Thank you for the nice recipe!
So yummy! Easy to make and a great texture. Not as heavy as a milkshake but beautifully thick and satisfying!
Thanks for the super quick and simple recipe. Sometimes these “few quick ingredient” recipes are fun to read and try. A quick fun “break” of sorts. Funny I dont like hot chocolate, but this frozen version looks yummy and refreshing. Bet my nieces would love it with just a little coffee added..like a frozen mocha.😊
You’re welcome, Macy! I agree, some instant coffee or a little bit brewed could make a delicious mocha frappuccino out of this!
What can I add if I don’t have any hot chocolate mix?
You can use something like Nesquik or Ovaltine, or even some cocoa powder (if you do straight cocoa powder I would probably up the sugar just a bit to compensate). Enjoy!
I’ve been getting it at dunkin donuts, so delicious! :) gonna try and make it using this.
Or if you are lazy like I am, you just buy the mix at Williams Sonoma. It’s the Serendipty mix too.
McDonalds has iced hot chocolate-but this sounds sooo much better. I do like malt flavor, too. Thanks for the recipe.
Yes Please!
Will be trying this tonight with the hub and the kids! :)
OMG! I always wondered how to make frozen hot chocolate. It looks incredible and I think there is Redi Whip in my fridge!
Looks delicious! And a little healthier than a milkshake
This looks amazing and COMPLETELY up my alley! Must try this!
I cannot wait to try this!!! This is my favorite drink, but have never been brave enough to attempt it.
I’ve always wanted to make frozen hot chocolate because I LOVE hot chocolate so much and crave it year-round. I order frozen HC any chance I get. This looks awesome!
Making this tonight and sharing on my blog at http://www.praycookblog.com ! Thanks for the great idea.
that sounds incredible! i’ll take a glass right now por favor!
This looks so good and perfect for this really hot summer!
Mmmm…frozen hot chocolate is the BEST! Looks delicious!!!
Wonderful! One of my favorite drinks made for summer!
I love this, and I love John Cusack. Thank you.
Mmm I’ve been wanting hot chocolate but the thought of it when it’s this hot outside is a little unsettling. Tis looks very refreshing and delicious!
This sounds great – I think I heard somewhere that the calorie count on the real Frozen Hot Chocolate is through the roof… I love that you can make this a little “skinnier” by using non fat milk, or dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate (dark is totally healthier, right? Antioxidants!)
Not exactly, milk chocolate is the same with except it has milk and sugar in it. If you minus the sugar and milk, it’s basically the same thing.
Having been to Serendipity a few times, I can say I’d rather have this tasty at home version than wait two hours for a table there! :) They also had some health code issues recently, eww! But their sundaes are amazing and I’ll settle for a few mice as long as they aren’t in my ice cream!
Hi Michelle – Thanks for sharing your stories and recipes … they’re great! As a Weight Watcher, I’m wondering if I could substitute Truvia or Stevia for the sugar in the Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe? Again thanks!!
Betty, I’m sorry but I couldn’t help saying that I’m a fellow weightwatcher! I’ve been on it for 3 years now, 1 year losing and 2 maintaining. I’ve lost 91lbs! (by the grace of God). Michelle: thank you SO much for this delicious recipe! I made it yesterday and added a bit of peppermint extract. So refreshing! I was so excited to see this recipe on your blog as I’ve been making my own for a long time.
Victoria – Did you use a substitute for the sugar? Wow .. losing 91 pounds .. thats inspiring!
Hi Betty, Yes, I think you could use those substitutes without a problem. Enjoy!
I remember Say Anything. I remember Serendipity and always thought that shop looked amazing. I’ll have to pin this to give it a try.
Oh this is great! I love hot chocolate. . .I need to try the frozen version!
Ooohh I am so making this!!! Great recipe!
Anything made with Ovaltine has my vote. This looks ammaazziingg!
I love hot chocolate, and I’ve never tried frozen hot chocolate. This is as good a time as any to give it a try!
YUM!!!
its freezing here in Sydney at the moment but this still looks so tempting!
This looks wonderful! Definitely a great summer drink.
I have never had Ovaltine but I just saw it at the store and debated about buying it. I could kick myself for not. I have to make your frozen treat!!
Olvatine also comes in rich choc. If you dont like the malt flavor. Also we use hot cocoa packs and they come in all types flavors,and throw in a few mini marshmallows yum
I have enjoyed the Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity and was seated at the very same table as John Cusack in the movie. It is a fun place but be prepared to wait if you go. I can’t wait to try your version.
My daughters are hot chocolate junkies!! I’m so going to surprise them with this after today’s trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo. YAY for frozen hot chocolate :-)
Aw, what a fun mom you are! Hope you had fun at the zoo; I’ve been wanting to go myself!
This looks so freaking tasty. Perfect for this scorching weather!
Oh, how right you are!
This is my fav drink ever – its totally amazing! Yours looks awesome!
I love hot chocolate too! This looks so tasty, I’ll definitely be trying this soon!!
Too funny – as soon as I saw the title of this post it made me think of Serendipity restaurant. There is a Serendipity in Miami Beach too – I went there for the first time last month and had a Oreo frozen hot chocolate – to die for!!!!
Ovaltine – love it, what memories!
I was just wondering if you could use the hot chocolate packets instead of Ovaltine?
Hi Emily, Yes, absolutely!