Whole Foods Recipes: 90% Dark Chocolate Hot Chocolate
Last updated: February 27, 2026
A clean hot chocolate is just real chocolate, warm milk, and a small amount of sugar—simple and reliably better than mixes.
Key takeaways
- Real chocolate — melt high-cocoa chocolate into milk for a deeper flavor.
- Gentle heat — avoid boiling to keep texture smooth.
- Small sugar — adjust slowly; 90% chocolate needs less than you think.
Purpose
Create a fast, repeatable hot chocolate using whole ingredients and simple technique.
Total time
5–7 minutes
Ingredients (1 large mug)
- Whole milk — 1½ cups
- 90% dark chocolate — 20–30g (about 2 squares), finely chopped
- Sugar — 1–2 teaspoons, adjust to taste
- Sea salt (optional) — a tiny pinch
- Vanilla extract (optional) — a small splash
Keep it simple. The quality of the chocolate does most of the work.
Method
1) Warm the milk
Heat milk over medium-low until steaming. Avoid boiling.
2) Melt the chocolate
Add chopped chocolate and whisk gently until fully melted and smooth.
3) Sweeten and finish
Add sugar, stir to dissolve, then taste. Optional: add a tiny pinch of salt to make the chocolate flavor pop.
4) Serve
Serve immediately while hot and smooth.
Notes
- Adjust sweetness slowly — 90% chocolate can be intense; small sugar additions go a long way.
- Lighter version — add a bit more milk and slightly less chocolate.
- Best fresh — this is best enjoyed right away.
Next steps
Continue with more Whole Food Cooking.
This article focuses on general food quality and cooking with quality ingredients, not medical advice.