Strawberry White Hot Chocolate
Keep warm this winter with a mug of creamy Strawberry White Hot Chocolate! This twist on a classic hot cocoa calls for just four ingredients and gets its sweetness from strawberries and white chocolate chips. Top mugs of foamy strawberry hot chocolate with marshmallows, strawberries and extra white chocolate chips and enjoy. Whether you’re serving Strawberry White Hot Chocolate for Valentine’s Day or a snow day, it’s perfect for young and old!
If you’d have told me I’d battle a nasty ear infection AND strep throat this winter while breastfeeding, I would have laughed in your face.
I’d have also been painfully, shockingly incorrect.
And last week, I fought it out with strep throat.
(So I’m eating all the cozy comfort foods, including Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup, Chicken Pot Pie, Spicy Tomato Soup and more. Because of course I am.)
I don’t know what it is about these sicknesses that I always pin to kids and me getting them. My immune system has never been super awesome, but it’s also never been downright terrible.
But ever since the arrival of Lady A and her going to a Mother’s Day Out program when she was 18 months, I’ve come down with everything imaginable.
The only positive is I haven’t experienced hand, foot and mouth this winter. Because that would be miserable with a newborn.
So as I write this — throat aching, ears pounding — I’d love a giant glass of this strawberry white hot chocolate.
Why I love this recipe:
Hot chocolate is the ultimate comfort food, and there is something so much fun about being able to make it at home.
The idea for this strawberry hot cocoa recipe came to me when I was thinking of fun drinks and recipes to make for Valentine’s Day. I knew that Lady A would love to help me make this.
She did, and the resulting white hot chocolate was decadent and sweet (but not too sweet!) And we both loved the strawberry flavor AND the pink color, too!
So if you’re looking for a sweet drink to make this Valentine’s Day or for any other wintertime gathering, we highly recommend this white hot cocoa.
More hot cocoa and hot chocolate recipes to try: Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa | Dairy Free Hot Chocolate | Iced Cocoa | Pomegranate White Hot Chocolate
Want to entertain with hot chocolate? Make a Hot Chocolate Board!
What you need to make this recipe:
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Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here’s what you need to grab from the grocery store:
- Milk — for recipes like this, I recommend using whole milk because that has the most flavor. That being said, you can use whatever milk you have in your house, including nondairy milk.
- Frozen strawberries — while you could use fresh, frozen will be the freshest and sweetest in the wintertime.
- White chocolate chips — this is the chocolate element of our cocoa. Use high-quality chips. I love Guittard’s White Chocolate Chips because they taste delicious and are made from creamy white chocolate that melts beautifully.
- Pure vanilla extract — use the best you can afford. This will bring all the other flavors and ingredients together and help them sing.
Variations and substitutions:
If you’d like to make this a more traditional white hot chocolate, you can easily leave out the strawberry puree, and this would taste delicious.
If you’d like to use raspberry or another fruit in place of the strawberry, you can certainly do that. Remember that strawberries are pretty sweet naturally, and a substitute of a more tart fruit like a raspberry could yield a less sweet hot chocolate.
If you’re OK with that (or are fine adding a little sugar), have at it, and report back. I’d love to know what you think and how it turned out.
How to make Strawberry Hot Chocolate
Warm the milk in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
When the milk begins to simmer (NOT a boil!), add the white chocolate and strawberries. Whisk constantly until the white chocolate begins melting.
Remove the pan from the heat, and let the white chocolate finish melting.
Immediately pour in the vanilla extract.
Continue whisking until all the white chocolate has melted.
Blend the ingredients into a smooth liquid using an immersion blender or a classic blender.
Divide between two large mugs, garnish with marshmallows, more strawberries and extra white chocolate baking chips. Serve immediately!
How to store:
Store leftovers in an airtight container or a glass mason jar in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheat gently in the microwave until warmed through. I like to do this in 30-second bursts until warm enough.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
This strawberry hot chocolate recipe would be fabulous for entertaining. Not only is it unique, but it’s delicious and sweet and beautifully colored.
While this recipe would be fantastic for Valentine’s Day, it could certainly be made for any snow day OR a mother-daughter (or mother-son or father-daughter, father-son) time spent together over a homemade treat.
This would be lovely at Christmas time, too, or made for a hot chocolate party.
You could even whip up a large batch if you’re having friends over for dinner and want to send them home with something warm and cozy… or a sleepover, too!
The possibilities are endless.
Frequently Asked Questions
No! White hot chocolate calls for white chocolate, not cocoa. The color would be a murky brown IF cocoa were used in this recipe.
This is naturally pink hot chocolate, thanks to strawberry purée! No food coloring or dyes necessary.
I purchased a high quality brand from Sprouts. You can find this at your local store or a Whole Foods or Central Market-type store. You could also order them from your favorite online retailer.
If you’re skeptical of the chips, I get that! You can also purchase your favorite white chocolate bar and chop it into the amount listed in the recipe, then throw it into the warm milk.
There are some vegan white chocolates, so yes, a vegan or dairy free white hot chocolate is definitely something that can be made if you use your favorite non-dairy milk, too. (I’ve been told King David White Chocolate Flavored Chips are excellent.)
I can’t attest to the taste of this white hot chocolate versus Starbuck’s, but I can say this: I’ve read the ingredient list of the Starbucks drink, and this one has less ingredients. The Starbucks treat calls for a white mocha sauce.
Quick tips and tricks to making the BEST Strawberry Hot Cocoa
- If you’re making this recipe in the wintertime, use frozen strawberries. Since frozen strawberries are frozen at their peak sweetness, they should be sweeter than fresh strawberries you find in the chilly months.
- Double or triple the recipe for a crowd.
- Make a hot chocolate bar using this recipe… it would be fun for a crowd!
- How to store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave until warmed through.
What are some other warm drinks to enjoy during the wintertime?
If you’re looking for a classic hot chocolate recipe, try out Vanilla Hot Chocolate and European Style Hot Chocolate.
If you’d like to try a cocktail, check out Hot Spiced Cranberry Orange Cocktail, Pomegranate Hot Buttered Rum or Spiked Peppermint Hot Chocolate.
Now who’s ready for a glass of this goodness?
Scroll on down to learn how simple this Strawberry White Hot Chocolate is to make!
Strawberry White Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup frozen strawberries thawed slightly
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- Warm the milk in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
- When the milk begins to simmer, add the white chocolate and strawberries. Whisk constantly until the white chocolate begins melting, about 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat, and let the white chocolate continue melting.
- Pour in the vanilla extract.
- Continue whisking until all the white chocolate has melted into the milk mixture.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the ingredients into a smooth liquid. You could use a regular blender if you don't have an immersion blender.
- Divide between two large mugs, and garnish with marshmallows, additional strawberries and more white chocolate baking chips. Serve immediately!
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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