Polar Express Hot Chocolate Recipe (2024)

This Polar Express Hot ChocolateRecipe is super rich and creamy, and is the ultimate cozy weather treat. It’s easy to make in the slow cooker and is perfect for your next Christmas movie night!

For more holiday drink ideas, be sure to check out my Peppermint Oreo Milkshake, Cranberry Limeade Spritzer, and Slow Cooker Spiced Wine.

Polar Express Hot Chocolate Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

The Polar Express is always one of our favorites during the holiday season. The classic story about a young boy taking a train ride to the North Pole and learning to believe in the magic of Christmas always puts me in the Christmas spirit!

During my teaching days, we always had a fun Polar Express themed day at school before Christmas break. It was always one of my favorite days of the whole school year when the kiddos all came to school dressed in their pajamas, and we spent the day watching the movie, eating cookies, and drinking hot chocolate!

Polar Express Hot Chocolate Recipe (2)

During the train ride in The Polar Express story, the pajama clad passengers are served Christmas cookies and steaming mugs of HOT! HOT CHOCOLATE!

And THIS recipe for thick, rich, super decadent hot chocolate is just the ticket! The Golden Ticket, one might say!

Polar Express Hot Chocolate Recipe (3)

It’s super easy to make in the Crockpot and only takes a few minutes to prep. It’s perfect for a group because it makes a large batch. It’s so so good! Plus, here’s some yummy Polar Express cookie ideasto go with it!

If you’re making it for a class of kiddos, your family’s next movie night, or any Christmas get together, you’re going to have some truly happy and festive elves on your hands after just one sip of this delicious Polar Express Hot Chocolate!

Ingredients for Polar Express Hot Chocolate

  • heavy cream
  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • whole milk
  • sweetened condensed milk
  • semi-sweet baking chocolate
  • vanilla extract
  • your favorite toppings!
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How to Make Polar Express Hot Chocolate – Step by Step

Step 1: Add ingredients to slow cooker

Add half of the heavy cream to the slow cooker. Whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. This step will require a few minutes of whisking to incorporate the powder thoroughly into the cream.

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Step 2: Stir

Add the remaining cream, milk, sweetened condensed milk, chopped chocolate, and vanilla. Stir well to combine.

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Step 3: Slow Cook

Cook on low heat for 3 hours, stirring every 20 minutes or so until the chocolate is melted and fully combined. Keep on the warm setting for up to 3 hours for serving. If the hot chocolate gets too thick while it sits, you can stir in more milk to your desired thickness.

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Step 4: Serve

Serve with your desired toppings such as marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or crushed candy canes!

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Tips and Notes

  • Don’t add all ingredients at once.It’s important to follow the directions in step 1 so that the cocoa powder mixes in easier. If you add everything into the slow cooker at once it will take a very long time to mix the cocoa powder in. It tends to want to just sit on top and not mix in, so I find adding ingredients incrementally in this way makes it easier.
  • Stir intermittently. Make sure you are whisking/stirring every 20 minutes or so. This will keep the chocolate from burning onto the sides of the crockpot.
  • Adjusting the thickness. This makes a very thick and creamy hot chocolate, which is thicker than a classic packet of hot chocolate from the grocery store. If you want it thinner, use 2 cups of heavy cream instead of 4, and add 2 cups of milk in its place. You can also use 2% milk to thin it out. I personally love it as is; it’s so luscious and decadent, a true treat!
  • Use good quality chocolate! You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips in place of the baking bar. I suggest using higher quality chocolate so it melts nicely.

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How to Store Leftover Hot Chocolate

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and reheated on the stove or in the microwave.

How to Make Hot Chocolate on the Stove Top

If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can easily make this Polar Express Hot Chocolate on the stove. Follow the directions for adding the ingredients to a large soup pot or dutch oven and warm the hot chocolate over low heat until the chocolate bar pieces have melted. Keep on low heat uncovered and stir occasionally to keep the hot chocolate from burning.

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Here’s some Cookie Recipes to pair with your Polar Express Hot Chocolate!

  • Molasses Crinkle Cookies
  • Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Fudge Crinkles

5 from 36 ratings

Recipe: Polar Express Hot Chocolate Recipe

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 3 hours hrs

Total Time: 3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

ThisPolar Express Hot ChocolateRecipeis super rich and creamy, and is the ultimate cozy weather treat. It's easy to make in the slow cooker and is perfect for your next Christmas movie night!

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate baking bar, finely chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • marshamallows, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, candy canes, etc, for topping

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Instructions

  • Add half of the heavy cream to the slow cooker. Whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. This step will require a few minutes of whisking to incorporate the powder thoroughly into the cream.

  • Add the remaining cream, milk, sweetened condensed milk, chopped chocolate, and vanilla. Stir well to combine.

  • Cook on low heat for 3 hours, stirring every 20 minutes or so until the chocolate is melted and fully combined. Keep on the warm setting for up to 3 hours for serving. If the hot chocolate gets too thick while it sits, you can stir in more milk to your desired thickness.

  • Serve with your desired toppings such as marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or crushed candy canes!

Notes

  • Don’t add all ingredients at once.It’s important to follow the directions in step 1 so that the cocoa powder mixes in easier. If you add everything into the slow cooker at once it will take a very long time to mix the cocoa powder in. It tends to want to just sit on top and not mix in, so I find adding ingredients incrementally in this way makes it easier.
  • Stir intermittently. Make sure you are whisking/stirring every 20 minutes or so. This will keep the chocolate from burning onto the sides of the crockpot.
  • Adjusting the thickness. This makes a very thick and creamy hot chocolate, which is thicker than a classic packet of hot chocolate from the grocery store. If you want it thinner, use 2 cups of heavy cream instead of 4, and add 2 cups of milk in its place. You can also use 2% milk to thin it out. I personally love it as is; it’s so luscious and decadent, a true treat!
  • Use good quality chocolate! You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips in place of the baking bar. I suggest using higher quality chocolate so it melts nicely.
  • How to Store Leftovers:Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and reheated on the stove or in the microwave.
  • How to make on the stove top: If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can easily make this Polar Express Hot Chocolate on the stove. Follow the directions for adding the ingredients to a large soup pot or dutch oven and warm the hot chocolate over low heat until the chocolate bar pieces have melted. Keep on low heat uncovered and stir occasionally to keep the hot chocolate from burning.

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert, Drinks

Author: Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

Calories: 602kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 46g, Saturated Fat: 28g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 130mg, Sodium: 111mg, Potassium: 488mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 33g, Vitamin A: 1400IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 258mg, Iron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @TheBelleoftheKitchen on Instagram or tag #BelleoftheKitchen.

This site contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission.

Polar Express Hot Chocolate Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between instant hot chocolate and hot chocolate? ›

The source of the chocolate flavour is different. Hot Chocolate is made using solid chocolate melted in warm milk or cream. Hot Cocoa, however, is made from a powdered base of cocoa with added sugar and dissolved in hot water or hot milk.

How to make Rudolph hot chocolate cones? ›

Fill the cone with the hot chocolate powder, the chocolate chips, fudge pieces and marshmallows. Twist the top closed and secure with the brown pipe cleaner, then twist the pipe cleaner into two antlers. Fix two eyes and a red nose onto the front of the cone and tie a candy cane stirrer on top with ribbon.

What popular hot beverage is served to the children on the train in the Polar Express? ›

During THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, passengers are served hot cocoa and a cookie, delight in lively songs and dance, and enjoy a reading of the holiday classic, The Polar Express. Upon arrival at the North Pole, passengers deboard to watch Santa present the first gift of Christmas.

What did they drink on the Polar Express? ›

The movie follows a boy as he boards the mysterious titular train to the North Pole and meets Santa Claus. On the train, the children are served delicious-looking hot chocolate with a side of theatrical song and dance as an octet of waiters sing a song about the beverage while they serve the children.

Can I use hot chocolate powder instead of cocoa powder? ›

In short, you can use hot chocolate powder as a cocoa powder substitute in a pinch, but you may not experience the depth of flavour you want. Because most brands of hot chocolate powder include sugar or sweetener, you may wish to reduce the amount of sugar you add to your baking recipe.

Is instant hot chocolate better with milk or water? ›

Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.

How to make reindeer hot chocolate? ›

Reindeer Hot Cocoa Bags

Add a scoop of marshmallows to the top of the cocoa mix. Seal the bag by tying a brown pipe cleaner to the top of the bag. To make reindeer antlers, cut another pipe cleaner and twist around the mid-section of the pipe cleaner that is holding the bag shut.

How to make snowman hot chocolate in a jar? ›

This is a fun job for a kid! Put the lids on the jars. Hot glue the bottom of the peppermint jar to the top of the hot chocolate mix lid, and the bottom of the marshmallow jar to the top of the peppermint jar lid. Tie a ribbon(s) around the “neck” of the snowman to make a scarf.

What is the name of the black girl in The Polar Express? ›

Nona Gaye: Hero Girl.

How many minutes in is the hot chocolate scene in Polar Express? ›

If you're wondering whether this is actually in the movie, yes, I assure you it is; the hot chocolate scene was only in the first fifteen minutes. At one point they put Leader Girl in charge of the front of the train, but considering how incompetent the engineers are, it's a step up in management.

What does the hobo represent in Polar Express? ›

The hobo's identity is never revealed in the movie, leaving it open to interpretation as to who he is and what his true purpose is. Some fans have speculated that he is a representation of Santa Claus, while others think he may be a guardian angel sent to look after the children on their journey.

What is controversial about Polar Express? ›

The animation in The Polar Express has been criticized as creepy, with the characters feeling unsettling and off-putting to many viewers. The movie evokes a nostalgic feeling of Christmas, with its focus on the importance of belief and the magic of the holiday season.

Why is Polar Express so unsettling? ›

The Polar Express is controversial and “creepy” to some viewers thanks to its animation style, which created a phenomenon known as “Uncanny Valley.” While the filmmakers clearly opted for a more realistic art style, many of The Polar Express' characters look human but not human enough.

Is hot chocolate the same as powdered chocolate? ›

Cocoa Powder: Hot chocolate starts with cocoa powder, which provides a chocolatey flavour. However, hot chocolate mix is distinct from plain cocoa powder, as it often contains added sugar, powdered milk, and sometimes additional flavourings like vanilla or spices.

Is instant hot chocolate good for you? ›

Hot chocolate has been associated with improved mood and reduced stress levels due to its high cocoa content. The flavanols in cocoa have been linked to increased levels of serotonin, which helps to regulate mood and reduce anxiety. Additionally, theobromine in cocoa can help to reduce fatigue and improve alertness.

Is drinking chocolate powder the same as cocoa powder? ›

Unlike cocoa powder, a semi-finished product that still requires additional effort to add on other ingredients just to make a cup of chocolate drink, chocolate powder doesn't. It is readily mixed and crafted in the ratio of other ingredients, so all you need to do is adding hot water for an instant mix-in.

Does instant hot chocolate need milk? ›

Simply mix the powdered blend with hot water or milk for a quick and convenient treat that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Just add 1 heaped 25ml scoop of Galaxy Instant Hot Chocolate Drink into a cup or mug and then pour on hot water and stir.

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