Frozen Hot Chocolate: A 10-Minute Summer Treat Better Than Specialty Shops

The summer afternoon was sweltering, and I found myself craving the rich flavor of hot chocolate despite the heat. Standing in front of my open freezer for relief, inspiration struck. Twenty minutes later, I was sipping a frosty, chocolatey creation that transported me back to my first visit to Dairy Queen in New York City. My friends couldn’t believe this decadent treat came from simple pantry ingredients, not a specialty coffee shop.

Frozen hot chocolate is the perfect solution for chocolate lovers during the hot summer months when drinking traditional hot chocolate would be insane. This refreshing treat delivers all the rich, chocolatey goodness of your favorite winter beverage in a cool, frosty form that satisfies sweet cravings without warming you up. It’s also versatile enough to serve year-round during the holidays and special occasions, making it the perfect dessert beverage for any season.

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Hot Chocolate Perfect for Summer

Do you have a favorite hot chocolate recipe? Do you wish you could enjoy delicious hot cocoa on a hot summer day? You can find frozen hot chocolate at famous restaurants like Tim Horton’s and your local Dairy Queen. When you make this at home, you can get creative and enjoy it with different flavors of hot chocolate.

Why This Recipe is One of the Best Ways to Enjoy a Frozen Treat during the Summer

This recipe is super easy! It has very few ingredients. You might swear this recipe is like a coffee shop drink everyone loves, but you can make my new favorite summer drink that is packed full of chocolatey flavor in no time at all. I bet you have everything you need to make this tasty drink.

What is Frozen Hot Chocolate?

Everyone has heard of hot chocolate before, but frozen hot chocolate is just as delicious. It’s an icy, chocolatey treat that’s thicker than a milkshake and not as creamy. It is very easy to make with Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa.

Frozen hot chocolate is just as delicious as hot cocoa. The ice-cold variety is a lot of fun to make and serve.

What does frozen hot chocolate taste like?

Frozen hot chocolate tastes like a lighter chocolate milkshake. In fact, if you have a hankering for a creamy chocolate milkshake, you could swap the whole milk for lighter milk, or even plant-based milk and enjoy this treat. Just grab your favorite hot chocolate mix and try this recipe.

Easy Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe

This frozen hot chocolate recipe is simple to make. This is a dump-and-blend recipe which means a homemade frozen hot chocolate can be yours in less than ten minutes.

This fabulous homemade frozen hot chocolate will amaze your sweet-toothed family. What’s more, the time saved in the kitchen can be spent with them!

Recipe Ingredients

What’s great is you only need a few simple ingredients:

• Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate – Provides the authentic hot chocolate flavor base
• Whole milk – I love the creaminess of whole milk, you could swap this for 2%, skim, or fat-free milk.
• Chocolate syrup – Adds extra chocolate intensity and decorative element
• Whipped cream – you can use canned whipped cream, or you can whip up some homemade whipped cream
• Chocolate curls – Provides visual appeal and texture contrast
• Ice cubes – Creates the frozen texture without diluting flavor

How to Make Frozen Hot Chocolate

Recipe Variations

There are so many ways you can change up a frozen hot chocolate! Here are some ideas:

• Switch things up by trying different cocoa flavors such as raspberry cocoa and mint hot chocolate (or just add some mint extract).
• Add in some strawberries or raspberries for a fruity twist.
• Replace 1 cup of the ice with a frozen banana for a banana frozen hot chocolate.
• Add one or two heaping tablespoons of peanut butter for peanut butter frozen hot chocolate.
• Instead of the ice, use coffee ice cubes for coffee frozen hot chocolate.
• Add a spoonful of espresso powder for a bit of kick!
• Make a frozen white hot chocolate by using white hot chocolate mix.
• Try different toppings such as chocolate chips, sprinkles, caramel, melted Nutella, or peanut butter sauce. Line the glasses with any of those toppings too.
• You can easily make this recipe dairy-free (or lower in dairy) by using dark chocolate or dairy-free chocolate along with coconut or almond milk.
• If you like your frozen drinks really sweet, add sugar.
• During the holidays you could add some crushed candy canes on top.

Frozen Hot Chocolate with Alcohol

If you want to make this frozen hot chocolate recipe into an adult beverage, you could add:

• A shot of Amaretto or other almond-flavored liqueur
• A shot of chocolate vodka or liqueur
• A shot of Kahlua coffee liqueur
• A shot of Cointreau orange liqueur
• 1/4 to 3/4 cup of Baileys Irish Cream (you may need to add more ice)

Can I make frozen hot chocolate ahead of time?

Not really. While you can store leftovers in your refrigerator, the pulverized ice will begin to melt. The frozen drink will harden and become difficult to eat with a spoon.

Can I make frozen hot chocolate without a blender?

Sorry, no. This drink has to be thoroughly blended with ice.

I hope you try this great drink! I bet you have some hot cocoa mix in your pantry right now that is crying out to be used. Next time you get a hankering for hot chocolate during the time, why not give this recipe a try for the first time? You can enjoy frozen hot chocolate past Labor Day!

Favorite Frozen Drinks

• Caramel Frappuccino Starbucks
• Chick Fil A Frozen Coffee
• Coconut Milkshake
• Eggnog Milkshake
• Frosted Lemonade
• Homemade Orange Julius
• S’mores Frappuccino Starbucks
• Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
• Wendy’s Frosty

Popular Chocolate Desserts

• Chocolate Bundt Cake
• Chocolate Pudding Pie
• Hershey Bar Cake
• Toll House Pie

Take a look at more of my easy recipes for drinks and the best dessert recipes here on CopyKat!