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Stovetop Rum Hot Chocolate

This creamy and delicious Stovetop Rum Hot Chocolate is an easy spiked hot chocolate made from scratch in 5 minutes. Perfect for those cold cozy days!

Be sure to try my Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Gingerbread Latte recipes next!

Spiked hot chocolate overflowing out of copper mugs with marshmallows and fairy lights behind.

Stovetop Rum Hot Chocolate

This homemade stovetop rum hot chocolate, also known as a nightcap, is thick, creamy, and rich. It’s a drinking chocolate recipe that is made with 4 simple ingredients.

Made without cocoa powder, it uses semi-sweet/dark chocolate chips instead. No powdered pre-mixes!

Dip these Christmas Chocolate Crinkle Cookies into a mug of this boozy hot chocolate for a cozy evening by the fireplace for the holidays!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Ingredients to make rum hot chocolate are whole milk, semi-sweet/dark chocolate chips, dark rum and light brown sugar.
  • Whole milk: Make it dairy-free by using your favorite dairy-free milk such as almond, coconut, oat or soy milk.
  • Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips, also known as dark chocolate, work best here. Can be substituted with a chocolate bar, just roughly chop it up first. Be sure to choose dairy-free chocolate chips for a dairy-free version.
  • Dark rum: I like to use those miniature bottles of liquor, about 50ml/2oz, instead of purchasing a large bottle. That is unless you want to ;). Add more or less rum depending on your preference.

How to Make Rum Hot Chocolate (with photos)

There is a full and detailed recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step one: In a medium-sized saucepan, add chocolate chips and brown sugar then pour in the milk. 

Chocolate chips and brown sugar in white pot and pouring in the milk.

Step two: Place saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop and heat through slowly while whisking so the chocolate chips melt through evenly and won’t stick to the base, about 3-4 minutes. Do not bring it to a boil or simmer. 

Step three: Once the steam is coming off the surface, remove it from the heat. If desired, whisk vigorously to create foam. 

Whisking hot chocolate mixture in saucepan.

Step four: Whisk through rum, adding less or more if desired.

Step five: Pour into mugs. Top with marshmallows and chocolate shavings or dust over cocoa powder. Enjoy!

Pouring the rum into the hot chocolate mixture in the saucepan.

Expert Tips

  • Whisking continually: While the mixture is heating on the stovetop to avoid the chocolate chips from sticking to the bottom.
  • Create foam: Whisking the hot chocolate mixture vigorously will create foam, this works best when you use whole milk.

Can I make this kid-friendly?

Of course! To make it kid-friendly, just skip the rum and continue with the rest of the recipe. It’ll still be deliciously enjoyable for everyone.

Rum hot chocolate drizzling out of copper mugs with marshmallows and fairy lights behind.

⏲️ Storage Instructions

Store leftover hot chocolate by cooling it completely and pouring it into an airtight glass jar, such as a mason jar or sealed container. Keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Make in advance by using the same method as above.

Reheat hot chocolate in a saucepan on the stovetop over low-medium heat, whisking to re-combine the ingredients. Heat to your desired temperature.

If you enjoy this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️ star rating and a comment review below. I love to hear what you think and it’s much appreciated. Thank you! Your email address will not be published. Sam x

Spiked hot chocolate overflowing out of copper mugs with marshmallows and fairy lights behind.

Stovetop Rum Hot Chocolate

Samantha Pickthall
This creamy and delicious Stovetop Rum Hot Chocolate is an easy spiked hot chocolate made from scratch in 5 minutes.
4.72 from 7 votes
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people
Calories 461 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips
  • 1 Tbsp light brown sugar
  • 500 ml whole milk
  • 2 Tbsp dark rum, see notes

Toppings

  • Marshmallows
  • Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder

Instructions
 

  • In a medium-sized saucepan, add chocolate chips and brown sugar. Pour in the milk. 
  • Place saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop.
  • Heat through slowly while whisking so the chocolate chips melt through evenly and won’t stick to the base, about 3-4 minutes. Do not bring it to a boil or simmer.
  • Once steam is coming off the surface, remove from heat. If desired, whisk vigorously to create foam.
  • Whisk through rum, adding less or more if desired.
  • Pour into mugs.
  • Top with marshmallows and chocolate shavings or dust over cocoa powder.
  • Serve and Enjoy!

Notes

  • Dark rum: I like to use those miniature bottles of liquor, about 50ml/2oz, instead of purchasing a large bottle. That is unless you want to ;). Add more or less rum depending on your preference.
 
 
  • Make it dairy-free: Use your favorite dairy-free milk.
 
  • Store leftovers: Allow the hot chocolate to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight glass jar, such as a mason jar, or a sealed container. Store it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
 
 
  • Make it in advance: You can also prepare this hot chocolate ahead of time using the same storage method above.
 
 
  • Reheat: In a saucepan on the stovetop over low-medium heat. Be sure to whisk it well to recombine any ingredients that may have settled, heating it up to your preferred temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 461kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 11gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 103mgPotassium: 646mgFiber: 4gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 440IUCalcium: 348mgIron: 3mg
Keyword hot chocolate, nightcap, rum
Tried this recipe? Let us know how it was!

First published in June 2021, this recipe was updated in January 2024 to include new step-by-step images, expert recommendations, storage guidelines and more.

2 Comments

    1. Hi Coreena, I got these copper mugs a few years ago from Target. I don’t think they have them anymore unfortunately! But any homewares store I’m sure will sell something similar 🙂

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