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My homemade chocolate milk recipe is easy and quick to make with a few simple ingredients. It’s ready in minutes; you can customize it as you like, and there is no need to use chocolate syrup.
Is there anything more comforting than a glass of chocolate milk? We all have memories of drinking chocolate milk from a bottle or made from boxed powder and milk. So, I wanted to recreate the magic of this childhood treat.
I adapted the recipe to use three simple ingredients—you can learn how to make chocolate milk with cocoa powder, milk, and sugar (and an optional pinch of salt) and without any preservatives. Plus, you can use your favorite type of milk (whole, skim, dairy-free), adjust the sweetness, and customize it with extra flavors like vanilla extract, homemade chocolate syrup, cinnamon, coffee, nutmeg, etc.
And the best part? This homemade chocolate milk is an excellent option for making ahead as you can easily scale up for larger quantities. Now go and make it and take it on your next hike or gym session.
And if you, like me, love to make chocolatey treats from scratch, you might like my guide on Bean to Bar Chocolate and posts on how to make milk chocolate and how to make dark chocolate.
Ingredients
- Milk: I usually use whole milk for the creamiest results. But you can use your favorite type of milk: reduced-fat milk, skim milk, or non-dairy alternatives (like homemade soy milk, homemade almond milk, homemade coconut milk, homemade oat milk, etc).
- Cacao powder: I like using unsweetened cocoa powder, but you can use any you prefer.
- Sugar: Any sugar works: white, cane, brown, or an alternative sweetener of choice like maple syrup, honey, etc. You can also use powdered sugar, and it will dissolve quickly. Or, you can make it sugar-free.
- Salt: Just a pinch helps to intensify the flavors.
See the printable recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make chocolate milk
Add the ingredients: Gather the ingredients and place them all into the blender jug. Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender or a whisk, so place all the ingredients in a convenient bowl or a large glass.
Blend until smooth: Blend or whisk the ingredients until fully combined, resulting in a smooth mixture. Taste the milk and adjust the sweetness if desired. If you’re using any add-ins, be sure to blend them well into the milk.
Serve and enjoy: Pour the drink into a cup and enjoy! If preferred, you can first place it in the fridge to cool it down. Make sure to stir or shake before enjoying it.
And voila, this is the easy way to make homemade chocolate milk!
Recipe tips
- Use quality ingredients: With just two main ingredients, using high-quality cocoa powder and fresh milk will make a noticeable difference in taste.
- Stir or shake well before drinking: Refrigerated chocolate milk may settle, with cocoa and sugar collecting at the bottom. So give it a quick stir or shake to mix it back up before enjoying it.
- Make it ahead: You can enjoy it for days. Make a bigger batch, store it in a sealed pitcher or bottle, and drink it within 4 days, depending on the milk’s best-before date. Shake well before serving to ensure it’s mixed.
FAQs
You can top it with marshmallows or whipped cream, shaved chocolate, or even add a scoop of your favorite ice cream to turn it into a chocolate milkshake.
Yes, heat the milk in a small saucepan before adding the cocoa powder. It’ll be like a creamy hot chocolate. Alternatively, heat the milk in a microwave-safe bowl or cup, then add the cocoa and whisk well.
Creamy hot chocolate is traditionally served warm, while this chocolate milk recipe is served cold or at room temperature. Hot chocolate can also be made with water and cream.
Yes, coffee makes chocolate taste even more chocolatey and gives it a greater depth of flavor.
This drink is great after a workout because it’s packed with protein to repair muscles, restore energy, and help you rehydrate—all in one delicious drink!
More delicious drinks
If you try this homemade chocolate milk recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
The Best Homemade Chocolate Milk
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk of choice (I used full-fat milk)
- 0.35 oz cocoa powder 2 Tbsp
- 1 oz sugar 2 Tbsp, white, cane, coconut, etc. or sweetener of choice
- 1/8 tsp salt optional
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a blender and mix.Alternatively, use an immersion blender or a whisk and mix the drink directly into your glass.
- Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed. Then pour the chocolate milk into your cup and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Try adding just a teaspoon of real Mexican Vanilla Extract per half gallon of milk, it is subtle but noticeable change for the better. I use Penzy’s Vanilla. I used their double strength(double the number of beans uses so you can use half as much, good value) Madagascar Vanilla for a lot of years, this year I tied and prefer the more nostalgic flavor of the pure Mexican Vanilla extract.
Thanks for the great tip, Chris. Vanilla, though subtle, will indeed add such a sweet complexity to the chocolate milk!
It’s delicious! Tastes like a malted milkshake
I’m so happy you liked it, Lissa. Thank you so much for your comment!
delicious!!
Hey Elisa! I’m glad you found the recipe delicious! Enjoy making it again! 🙂
I love your chocolate milk recipe! We at RD Milk believe in using the highest quality ingredients, and your recipe aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence. We can’t wait to try this with our fresh milk. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much for your comment 🙂
amazinngggg so good 5 stars better if you add a little bit of coffee creamer <333
Glad you liked it!
Made this for my girls and it’s the best chocolate milk I’ve tasted! Easy, simple, and delicious.
Glad you all liked it, Paige!
I added all the ingredients to the blender(cold) along with a cup of ice and some vanilla extract. I used panela as sweetner. Very good!
Thank you for your comment, Jessica. Glad you liked it!
Just had to try this as I had all the ingredients on hand. I was amazed! This was the best chocolate milk ever. Ten times better than just mixing in store bought chocolate syrup and less expensive as I had all the ingredients. I was skeptical about the salt, but you were right, it made the flavor more intense. Learn something new every day. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
Thank you so much for your comment, Susan. So happy you enjoyed this recipe 🙂