The Best Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate Recipe

This delicious pumpkin spice hot chocolate recipe takes your regular cup of cocoa to a whole new level! Made with real pumpkin puree, chocolate chips and the added warmth of pumpkin spice, this Fall drink is one you’ll want to make again and again!

I have a confession to make: I actually really don’t love pumpkin spice flavored everything. I know, I know! It’s the flavor of Fall and all, but I’m just not that crazy about it.

Now old fashioned hot apple cider on the other hand…

Now, what I do love is the depth of flavor, real pumpkin and homemade pumpkin spice gives to my baked goods and drinks, like hot chocolate. It takes one of my favorite holiday drinks to a whole new level!

The rich, delicious flavor of hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream. Now that’s what I’m talking about!

why you’ll love this pumpkin spice hot chocolate recipe:

better than store-bought

If the only kind of cocoa you’ve had was made with a mix from the store, the you are in for a treat! Homemade hot chocolate made with chocolate chips is so much more rich and creamy!

A delicious fall treat

Whether you’re a diehard pumpkin lover or not, I think this is a Fall drink you will absolutely want again and again. It has the delicious spiced pumpkin flavor without over powering the hot chocolate.

easy to make

Its literally two steps: heat four simple ingredients together, and enjoy!

Have you tried my simple recipe for homemade hot cocoa mix yet?

what you need to make pumpkin spice hot chocolate:

ingredients

Chocolate – You can use any kind of chocolate chips you want. If you want a sweeter cup of cocoa, use milk chocolate. Semi sweet will give you a more balanced sweetness and dark chocolate chips are great for a less sweet cocoa.

Milk – You can use any kind of milk you like too! Skim, 2%, whole, half and half, heavy cream, almond milk, oat milk…you name it! I like to use whole milk because its a good balance between healthy and fatty.

Pumpkin Puree – Not to be confused with “canned pumpkin pie filling”. Homemade pumpkin puree works as well as the kind you get at the grocery store.

Pumpkin Spice – Nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, all spice…yum! If you don’t have premade pumpkin pie spice on hand, I’ve included my homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe at the end of this post.

Optional Add Ins:

Salt – Salt might sound like a funny thing to add to a sweet drink like this. But I find that adding just a pinch of salt actually brings out the sweetness in the chocolate and adds an extra depth of flavor to the cocoa.

Vanilla – Adding vanilla extract to the cocoa after its finished cooking really brings this recipe to the next level. Just add a teaspoon to the pot after you remove it from the heat.

Espresso Powder – Add in a teaspoon of espresso powder to give the chocolate an extra deep flavor.

how to make pumpkin spice hot chocolate:

Melt the Chocolate – In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate chips with 1/2 cup of milk/cream. Stir constantly to keep it from burning.

Add The Remaining Ingredients – Gradually whisk in the rest of the milk, pumpkin puree, salt and pumpkin pie spice until the mixture is smooth and warmed through. It should be steaming but not boiling.

Remove From Heat – If you want to add vanilla, stir it in after you take the saucepan off the heat.

tips for success:

To Serve – This recipe is best enjoyed right away when its nice and hot. Top with whipped cream or marshmallows and a dash of pumpkin spice.

To Store – Store leftover cooled hot chocolate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat

Variations – Any kind of chocolate chips will work for this recipe. Using milk chocolate will give you a sweeter, lighter flavor. Semi sweet or dark chocolate will have more of a mild sweetness and a deeper chocolate flavor.

Substitutions – In place of whole milk, you can use non-dairy milk, or half and half.

FAQ about this pumpkin spice hot chocolate recipe:

Can I use real pumpkin in pumpkin spice hot chocolate?

This pumpkin spice hot cocoa is made with 100% pure pumpkin puree. The pumpkin actually enhances the depth of flavor of traditional hot chocolate.

Did you know a lot of the pumpkin spice lattes marketed in the Fall season don’t actually contain any pumpkin at all!

What’s the best type of milk for pumpkin spice hot chocolate?

Whole milk is what I recommend for the most balanced cup of hot cocoa, but you can use skim, 2% milk, half and heavy or even heavy cream depending on your taste.

Can I make a vegan or dairy-free version of pumpkin spice hot chocolate?

You can definitely make this hot cocoa vegan and dairy free by using any dairy free milk such as coconut milk, soy milk or any of the nut based milks.

Can I use white chocolate for pumpkin spice hot chocolate?

You can make white hot chocolate by swapping white chocolate chips for the semi-sweet chocolate chips in this recipe.

more pumpkin recipes on the blog:

If you liked this recipe, I think you’ll really enjoy these other Fall recipes on the blog!

• Healthy Pumpkin Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal
• Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

I hope you love this recipe for pumpkin hot chocolate! If you make it, I’d love for you to come back and leave a comment and rating so that I know how you like it!

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