Mexican Hot Chocolate

Chocolate. So hot right now.

Learn how to make this rich, warming, traditional Mexican hot chocolate. This authentic Mexican hot chocolate recipe combines dark chocolate, sugar, and cinnamon for winter’s best drink.

What Makes Mexican Hot Chocolate Different From Regular Hot Chocolate?

Mexico — or the territorial region now known as Mexico — holds the distinction of being the historical cradle of chocolate cultivation and consumption. Chocolate was cultivated and enjoyed by the ancient Mayan and Olmec civilizations thousands of years B.C.E.

So it’s no wonder that the region has their chocolate game down, and continues to have a strong chocolate tradition.

Mexican hot chocolate recipes differ from standard, or American, hot chocolate or hot cocoa in several ways. 

• Traditional Mexican hot chocolate combines ground, unsweetened cacao nibs (bits of dried cocoa pod seeds) with water, sugar, and spice — primarily cinnamon. This results in a very rich, somewhat grainy, drink.
• American hot cocoa is made from milk warmed with sugar and cocoa powder, instead of using actual melted chocolate. This makes a less rich drink — but one that is still delicious, of course.

This Mexican hot chocolate is more home-kitchen friendly than a very traditional recipe.

Instead of sourcing and grinding your own cacao nibs, you will combine dark chocolate with sugar, cinnamon, milk, and vanilla — and a pinch of chili powder, if you like. The result is rich, earthy, spiced, and just sweet enough chocolate drink that warms you through and through.

Mexican hot chocolate ingredients pictured with a traditional molinillo whisk

What does traditional Mexican hot chocolate taste like?

A warm cup of Mexican chocolate tastes absolutely amazing, like drinking a rich chocolate dessert. This Mexican chocolate drink is very rich, maybe a bit grainy from the sugar (though not if fully dissolved), and fragrant with vanilla and spices. This hot chocolate is often made a little spicy from cayenne, though you can make it as spicy or milk as you like.

What’s in the Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe

Abuelita hot chocolate is often confused with Mexican hot chocolate. The two are not interchangeable. All Abuelita hot chocolate is Mexican hot chocolate; not all Mexican hot chocolate is Abuelita.

Abuelita hot chocolate refers to stirring Abuelita discs, a brand of hot chocolate discs already seasoned and flavored with sugar and cinnamon, into milk to make Mexican hot chocolate. (The discs also vegetable oils and emulsifiers.)

Abuelita makes a quick “dump and stir” Mexican hot chocolate in one easy package. For the record, to make the Aubelita hot chocolate recipe according to package directions:

1. Stir 1 disc into 4 cups of milk.
2. Heat over medium heat, stirring or whisking, until hot and frothy. Add sugar to taste.

Nestlé’s Abuelita hot chocolate discs, ready to add to milk. We are making homemade Mexican hot chocolate instead.

Homemade Authentic Mexican Hot Chocolate: Spices and Recipe Ingredients

This Mexican hot chocolate recipe teaches you to make the cozy, spiced winter chocolate drink from scratch.

You will need the following ingredients and spices to make your pot of Mexican hot chocolate:

• Whole milk
• Very good quality dark chocolate (I use Valrhona 70%chocolate, or bittersweet)
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon
• A pinch of salt and chili powder

Milk is simmered with cinnamon, salt, and spice before chopped dark chocolate is whisked in.

How to Make This Traditional Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe

This Mexican hot cocoa recipe is very straightforward.

1. Heat 2 cups whole milk with sugar, cinnamon, a pinch of salt, vanilla, and the spicy chili or cayenne (if using).
2. Let the milk simmer for about 10 minutes to bloom and dissolve the cinnamon and cayenne, if using.
3. Add the chopped dark chocolate and whisk and stir until the chocolate is fully melted and emulsified.
4. Taste. Some people may like it a bit sweeter. I like it on the bittersweet side, though.
5. Add whipped cream, if desired, and garnish with some chocolate shavings or a cinnamon stick.

Oh — and many bonus points if you whisk your Mexican hot chocolate with a traditional molinillo and clay pot!

Love this warming winter drink recipe? You’ll also like these chocolate recipes:

• How to Make Box Brownie Mix Better
• Homemade Dark Chocolate Pudding
• Fudgy Double Chocolate Cookies

Print Recipe

Traditional Mexican Hot Chocolate

This rich Mexican hot chocolate recipe makes a batch of luxurious, spiced hot chocolate that warms winter perfectly.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Course: beverage, Dessert

Cuisine: Latin American, Mexican

Keywords:: abuelita hot chocolate, chocolate, dessert, drinks, holiday drinks, hot cocoa, mexican hot chocolate, mexican hot chocolate recipe, valentine's day

Servings: 2 to 3 people

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or 2 cinnamon sticks, lightly crushed
• Pinch kosher salt
• Generous pinch cayenne pepper or hot chili powder (optional)
• 3 1/2 ounces chopped dark chocolate, such as Valrhona 70%
• Whipped cream, to serve (optional)

Instructions

• Combine the milk, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cayenne or chili powder (if using) in a medium pot. Heat over medium heat until simmering. Reduce the heat a little and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes to bloom the cinnamon and spices.
• Add the chopped chocolate. Cook, whisking, until the chocolate is fully melted and emulsified. Taste for sweetness and spice.
• If using cinnamon sticks, strain the liquid through a mesh sieve into cups. If not using cinnamon sticks, pour the Mexican hot chocolate directly into mugs.
• Serve warm with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, and perhaps a garnish of a few chocolate shavings or additional cinnamon sticks.