Iced Hot Chocolate

By
Lindsey Goodwin
Lindsey Goodwin
Lindsey Goodwin is a food writer and tea consultant with more than 12 years of experience exploring tea production and culture.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/15/23
Tested by
Danilo Alfaro
Danlio Alfaro
Tested by Danilo Alfaro
Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Iced hot chocolate recipe in a glass

The Spruce Eats
Prep: 2 mins
Cook: 1 mins
Freeze Time:: 12 hrs
Total: 12 hrs 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
690 Calories
14g Fat
117g Carbs
24g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 690
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 9g 44%
Cholesterol 39mg 13%
Sodium 794mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 117g 43%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 98g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 1mg 6%
Calcium 735mg 57%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 1481mg 32%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This recipe turns hot chocolate into a refreshing but still decadent treat. Iced hot chocolate boasts all the flavor of the warm, wintertime drink, but it's served chilled over ice. This recipe doubles down on the cocoa flavor with homemade hot chocolate ice cubes. As the ice melts, your iced chocolate will get diluted with more cocoa instead of water—it's an extra step that requires you to prep the night before, but one sip will make you see that it's worth the time.

This chilled hot cocoa can be enjoyed on both the warmest or the coldest days of the year. It's a delicious, all-weather treat that will satisfy your chocolate cravings, and it's a fun, new take on the traditional winter drink.

0:37

Click Play to See This Iced Hot Chocolate Come Together

"If you want to make chocolate milk and all you have is hot cocoa mix, you can. There will be sediment, especially if you make the chocolate ice cubes. Alternatively, make hot cocoa, then chill it so that the mix dissolves completely. My 9-year-old chocolate milk expert pronounced it 'chocolatey, refreshing, and good!'" —Danilo Alfaro

Iced Hot Chocolate in a glass with a straw
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 cups milk, divided

  • 2 packets (4 tablespoons) hot cocoa mix, divided

Steps to Make It

Make the Chocolate Ice Cubes

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for hot cocoa ice cubes gathered

    The Spruce Eats

  2. Whisk together 1 cup of the milk with 1 packet (2 tablespoons) of the hot chocolate mix.

    Whisk together milk and hot chocolate packet in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats

  3. Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray.

    Hot chocolate mixture poured into ice cube tray

    The Spruce Eats

  4. Freeze overnight or until the chocolate ice cubes are solid.

Make Iced Hot Cocoa

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for iced hot chocolate gathered

    The Spruce Eats

  2. Put 1 packet (2 tablespoons) of the hot chocolate mix in a glass.

    Cocoa mix in a glass with a bowl of cocoa powder alongside

    The Spruce Eats

  3. Slowly stir in the remaining cup of milk. Because this is a cold version of cocoa, it may take longer to dissolve all of the cocoa mix. Take your time and stir the drink until you see no more chunks of powder. It's best to add the milk in a slow, steady stream while stirring to avoid clumping.

    Milk and cocoa mixed together in a glass with cocoa in a bowl nearby

    The Spruce Eats

  4. When the mixture is smooth, add as many of the ice cubes as you prefer.

  5. Enjoy.

Chocolate Ice Cube Use and Storage

  • Beyond this iced cocoa recipe, you can use the chocolate cubes in other drinks. Almost any iced latte will take nicely to the melting milky chocolate.
  • Store the chocolate ice cubes in a tight container in your freezer to use at a moment's notice.

Recipe Variations

  • If you'd like a richer chocolate taste, add more hot chocolate mix to the milk when making the iced hot chocolate.
  • If you do not have time to make the chocolate ice cubes, you can use regular ice cubes. However, you may want to double the amount of cocoa mix.
  • Make mocha ice cubes to bring a hint of coffee to your cocoa; simply add a little bit of brewed coffee to the ice cube mixture. Or you can make cubes solely out of coffee for a stronger flavor.