Easy Black Forest Hot Chocolate

Black Forest Hot Chocolate is one of those drinks that feels like a warm hug in a mug, and once you make it from scratch at home, you will never look at a packet of store-bought hot chocolate mix the same way again. We're talking a velvety blend of cocoa powder and dark chocolate, swirled with sweet cherry juice, topped with billowy whipped cream and chocolate shavings, and finished with a plump Amarena cherry on top. It tastes exactly like someone melted a Black Forest cake into a mug, and honestly that is the best way I can describe it.

This Black Forest Hot Chocolate is a rich, creamy drink made with cocoa, dark chocolate, and cherry flavor, ready in just 10 minutes for cozy family moments.

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This black forest hot chocolate has become our official winter evening drink in this house. The moment the weather turns cold and the nights get long, Olivia starts asking for it. It's cozy enough for a quiet night in, impressive enough to serve to guests, and easy enough to make on a random Tuesday when you just need something special in your hands. It's the kind of drink that makes staying home feel like the best possible decision you could have made.

Why You'll Love This Black Forest Hot Chocolate

• It tastes like a dessert in a mug. The combination of cocoa powder and dark chocolate creates a deeply rich, layered chocolate flavor that no powder packet can ever compete with. Add the cherry-infused sweetness and the whipped cream topping and you have something that genuinely tastes like Black Forest cake in liquid form.
• It comes together in about 10 minutes with simple ingredients. No fancy equipment, no hard-to-find ingredients, and no barista skills required. Everything comes together in one small saucepan and the result looks and tastes like something from a specialty coffee shop.
• It works as a cozy family drink or a grown-up winter cocktail. Keep it alcohol-free for the kids and stir in a splash of cherry liqueur or cherry brandy for the adults. One recipe, two versions, everybody happy around the same table.

Ingredients for Black Forest Hot Chocolate

The magic of this black forest hot chocolate comes from layering real ingredients rather than relying on a powder mix. The combination of cocoa powder and dark chocolate gives you depth and richness that you simply cannot get any other way, and the cherry elements are what make it taste like an actual Black Forest cake. Here is everything you will need.

What You'll Need

For the hot chocolate base:

• 1 cup whole milk
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 oz dark chocolate (bittersweet or semisweet), finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon sugar (adjust to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

For the cherry element:

• 2 tablespoons Amarena cherry juice (from the jar) or black cherry syrup
• 2 Amarena cherries (for garnish)
• Optional: 1 tablespoon cherry liqueur (kirsch or cherry brandy) for an adult version

For the topping:

• 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks
• Dark chocolate shavings or cocoa powder dusting
• 1 to 2 Amarena cherries per mug

Why These Ingredients Matter

• The cocoa powder and dark chocolate blend: Using both is the key to a truly great black forest hot chocolate. Cocoa powder alone gives you bitterness and depth but not creaminess. Dark chocolate alone gives you richness but not that intense cocoa punch. Together they create a layered, complex chocolate flavor that tastes genuinely indulgent. Use a bittersweet and semisweet chocolate mixture if you want to balance depth with smoothness.
• Amarena cherry juice: This is the ingredient that sets a homemade black forest hot chocolate apart from anything you can buy in a Costa or Starbucks. Amarena cherries are Italian wild cherries preserved in a sweet, slightly tart syrup that tastes intensely of real cherry. Just two tablespoons of that syrupy cherry juice transforms the whole drink into something that genuinely tastes like black forest cake flavors in a mug. If you cannot find Amarena cherries, a good quality black cherry syrup works as a substitute.
• Whole milk and heavy cream combination: Using all milk makes the drink thin and flat. Using all cream makes it too heavy to finish comfortably. The combination of whole milk and a small amount of heavy cream gives you that perfectly velvety, rich body that coats your mouth without being overwhelming. This is the ratio that makes the texture feel genuinely luxurious.

How to Make Black Forest Hot Chocolate

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Whip the cream first. Pour the 4 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream into a cold bowl and whip with a hand mixer or whisk until soft peaks form. The cream should hold its shape when you lift the whisk but still look billowy and light, not stiff. Set aside in the fridge while you make the hot chocolate base.
2. Make the chocolate paste. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons of the milk. Whisk everything together into a smooth, thick paste. This step blooms the cocoa powder and dissolves the sugar before any more liquid goes in. It should look glossy and smell intensely chocolatey. Do not rush this step on high heat. Keep it on low and stir constantly until completely smooth.
3. Add the milk and cream. Slowly pour the remaining milk and the ¼ cup of heavy cream into the saucepan while whisking constantly. Increase the heat to medium and continue whisking until the mixture is hot and steaming. Do not let it boil. You want it just below a simmer, with small lazy bubbles appearing around the edges of the pan.
4. Melt in the dark chocolate. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the finely chopped dark chocolate. Whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth, glossy, and deeply brown. Adding the chocolate off the heat prevents it from scorching and keeps the flavor clean and pure.
5. Add the cherry and vanilla. Stir in the Amarena cherry juice and the vanilla extract. Taste the hot chocolate at this point and adjust the sweetness if needed. The cherry juice adds sweetness, so you may want slightly less sugar in the base depending on your cherry syrup. If you are making the adult version, stir in the cherry liqueur now.
6. Assemble and serve. Pour the black forest hot chocolate into your favorite mug. Spoon the whipped cream generously over the top. Add the chocolate shavings or a dusting of cocoa powder over the cream. Place one or two Amarena cherries on top as the finishing touch. Serve immediately while hot.

Hint: Finely chop your dark chocolate before adding it to the hot milk mixture. Larger chunks take longer to melt and can leave unmelted bits in the drink. The finer the chop, the faster and more evenly it melts into a perfectly smooth black forest hot chocolate every single time.

If you love warm, cozy drinks made from scratch, my Homemade Boba Milk Tea is another drink that feels like a special treat and comes together faster than you'd expect.

Little Moments in the Kitchen

The first time I made this black forest hot chocolate, Olivia walked into the kitchen while I was shaving the dark chocolate over the whipped cream and immediately said, "Are we having dessert for dinner?" I told her it was a special drink, not dessert, and she looked at me with absolute skepticism and said, "Mom, it has chocolate and whipped cream and a cherry on top. That's dessert." She is not entirely wrong, but I made her sit down at the table properly to drink it rather than hovering over the mug at the counter like she wanted to.

She took one sip, went completely quiet for a second, and then said in a very serious voice, "This tastes like the inside of a Black Forest cake." I nodded and told her that was exactly the point. She held the mug with both hands for the rest of the evening and declared it her new favorite cold weather drink. Coming from Olivia, that is a five-star review.

Substitutions for Black Forest Hot Chocolate

• Whole milk: Swap for oat milk or full-fat coconut milk for a dairy-free version. Both give you a creamy body that holds up well in this black forest hot chocolate. Oat milk is the closest to whole milk in terms of texture and sweetness.
• Heavy cream in the base: Replace with full-fat coconut cream for a dairy-free swap that still gives richness and body to the drink.
• Dark chocolate: Use dairy-free dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher) to keep the whole recipe dairy-free. Most good quality dark chocolate is already dairy-free so check the label.
• Amarena cherry juice: Substitute with black cherry syrup, tart cherry juice concentrate, or a good quality cherry jam thinned with a little warm water. Each gives you that cherry-infused chocolate beverage flavor without needing the specific Amarena cherries.
• Cherry liqueur: For an alcohol-free version, simply leave it out entirely. The Amarena cherry juice provides plenty of cherry flavor on its own. For the adult winter cocktail hot chocolate version, kirsch is the most traditional choice but cherry brandy works equally well.
• Sugar: Swap for maple syrup or honey using the same quantity. Both dissolve easily into the warm milk and add a subtle extra layer of flavor to the base.

Variations on Black Forest Hot Chocolate

• Black Forest Hot Chocolate Starbucks Copycat: Use the base recipe and add an extra tablespoon of black cherry syrup plus a drizzle of chocolate sauce over the whipped cream topping. Finish with a sprinkle of sugar crystals for that signature coffee shop look. This version comes very close to the black forest hot chocolate Starbucks style without the trip or the price tag.
• Costa Black Forest Hot Chocolate Style: Make the base slightly thicker by reducing the milk to ¾ cup and increasing the dark chocolate to 1.5 oz. Add a full 3 tablespoons of Amarena cherry juice for a more pronounced cherry flavor. The result is richer and more intense, closer to the style and nutritional profile of the Costa black forest hot chocolate.
• Boozy Black Forest Hot Chocolate: Stir in 1 tablespoon of kirsch (cherry liqueur) and 1 teaspoon of cherry brandy into the finished hot chocolate just before pouring. Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and an extra Amarena cherry. This is the perfect grown-up winter cocktail hot chocolate for a cozy evening in.
• Black Forest Hot Chocolate with Cocoa Powder Only: Skip the chopped dark chocolate entirely and increase the cocoa powder to 2 ½ tablespoons. Add an extra teaspoon of sugar to balance the bitterness. The result is slightly less creamy but still deeply chocolatey and works perfectly as a black forest hot chocolate with cocoa powder when you don't have a chocolate bar on hand.

Love fruity, tea-based drinks as much as warm chocolate ones? My Starbucks Copycat Iced Cherry Chai Latte brings that same cherry flavor in a completely different direction and is absolutely worth bookmarking.

Equipment for Black Forest Hot Chocolate

• Small saucepan: A 1 to 2 quart saucepan is the perfect size for this recipe. Small enough to heat the milk quickly and evenly, large enough to whisk without splashing. A heavy-bottomed saucepan distributes heat more evenly and reduces the risk of scorching the milk on the bottom.
• Small whisk: Essential for two things in this recipe. First for making the smooth cocoa paste without lumps, and second for incorporating the chopped dark chocolate evenly into the hot milk. A fork will not do the same job.
• Hand mixer or small balloon whisk: For whipping the cream topping to soft peaks. A hand mixer gets it done in about 60 seconds. A balloon whisk by hand takes a little longer but works perfectly well.
• Heatproof mug: Use a thick, heatproof ceramic mug that holds at least 12 oz. A thin mug will cool the black forest hot chocolate too quickly and you want to enjoy every single sip while it's warm and the whipped cream is still billowy.
• Vegetable peeler or microplane: For making the chocolate shavings garnish. Run a vegetable peeler along the edge of a cold dark chocolate bar for beautiful curling shavings. A microplane gives you fine chocolate dust instead, which is equally beautiful.

Storage Tips for Black Forest Hot Chocolate

• Best served fresh: This black forest hot chocolate is at its absolute best the moment it is made. The whipped cream is billowy, the chocolate is glossy, and the cherry flavor is bright. I strongly recommend making it fresh each time rather than storing it.
• Leftover hot chocolate base: If you have leftover hot chocolate base without the whipped cream topping, store it in an airtight jar or container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a small saucepan over low heat, whisking constantly until steaming. Do not microwave it directly from the fridge as it can scorch unevenly.
• Whipped cream: Do not store whipped cream on top of the drink. It will weep and dissolve into the liquid within an hour. Store any leftover whipped cream separately in the fridge in a small container for up to 24 hours and re-whip briefly with a whisk if it has softened before using.
• Dairy warning: Because this recipe contains both whole milk and heavy cream, do not leave the prepared hot chocolate sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Dairy-based drinks enter the bacterial danger zone quickly at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftovers promptly.
• Freezer: Do not freeze this drink. The milk and cream will separate when thawed and the texture will be grainy and unpleasant. Always make this black forest hot chocolate fresh for the best result.

FAQ About Black Forest Hot Chocolate

Conclusion

This black forest hot chocolate is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel genuinely special. It's rich, it's deeply chocolatey, it has that beautiful cherry brightness running through every sip, and it looks absolutely gorgeous in the mug with the whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top. Whether you make the cozy family version or stir in a splash of cherry liqueur for the grown-ups, this is a recipe that earns its place in your regular winter rotation. If you love warm, homemade drinks that taste like something from a café, my Blue Moon Milk Tea and Strawberry Iced Tea Starbucks Copycat are two more recipes you will absolutely love.

Give this black forest hot chocolate a try the next time the weather turns cold and let me know how it goes in the comments below! I love hearing from you. And if you want to take the Black Forest flavor in a completely different direction, the Black Forest Trifle on Allrecipes is a stunning dessert worth exploring. Happy cooking, friends!

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📖 Recipe

Black Forest Hot Chocolate

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This Black Forest Hot Chocolate is a rich, creamy drink made with cocoa, dark chocolate, and cherry flavor, ready in just 10 minutes for cozy family moments.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings: 2 servings

Course: Dessert, Drinks

Cuisine: American, European-inspired

Calories: 310

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1 cup whole milk Creates a creamy base.
• 0.25 cup heavy whipping cream Adds richness to the hot chocolate base.
• 1.5 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder Use high-quality cocoa for deeper flavor.
• 1 oz dark chocolate (bittersweet or semisweet), finely chopped Helps create a silky, melted chocolate texture.
• 1 tablespoon sugar Adjust based on sweetness preference.
• 0.25 teaspoon vanilla extract Adds warmth and depth.
• 1 pinch salt Enhances chocolate flavor.
• 2 tablespoon Amarena cherry juice or black cherry syrup Signature Black Forest flavor.
• 2 pieces Amarena cherries For garnish.
• 4 tablespoon heavy whipping cream (for topping) Whipped to soft peaks.
• 1 tablespoon cherry liqueur (optional) For adult version only.
• 1 tablespoon chocolate shavings or cocoa powder For topping decoration.

Equipment

• 1 Small Saucepan Use a heavy-bottom pan to prevent scorching the milk.
• 1 Whisk Helps create a smooth, lump-free chocolate base.
• 1 Mixing bowl Used for whipping cream topping.
• 1 Hand mixer or whisk For whipping cream to soft peaks.
• 2 Heatproof mugs Thick mugs help keep the drink warm longer.

Method

 

1. In a chilled bowl, whip [heavy whipping cream (for topping)] until soft peaks form. Olivia always insists on helping here, and I let her count slowly so she can see the cream transform like magic. Set aside in the fridge.
2. In a small saucepan, whisk [cocoa powder], [sugar], and [salt] with a few spoonfuls of [whole milk] until it becomes a smooth paste. This is Olivia's favorite part because she says it smells like "real chocolate science."
3. Slowly add remaining [whole milk] and [heavy whipping cream] into the saucepan. Warm over medium heat until steaming but not boiling. I always remind Olivia that patience is what makes the drink silky and smooth.
4. Remove from heat and stir in [dark chocolate (bittersweet or semisweet), finely chopped] until fully melted. Olivia loves watching it turn glossy and deep like liquid silk.
5. Stir in [Amarena cherry juice or black cherry syrup] and [vanilla extract]. For adults, add [cherry liqueur (optional)]. This is where the Black Forest magic really comes alive.
6. Pour into mugs, top with whipped cream, sprinkle [chocolate shavings or cocoa powder], and finish with [Amarena cherries]. Olivia always says the cherry should go on last so it feels "fancy like a café."

Nutrition

Serving: 250gCalories: 310kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 5gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 60mgPotassium: 250mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 300IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 180mgIron: 2mg

Notes

• This Black Forest Hot Chocolate is best enjoyed fresh while warm and topped with whipped cream.
• You can swap dairy milk with oat milk or coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
• For a stronger cherry flavor, add extra Amarena cherry syrup.
• Store leftover base (without cream topping) in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat gently on the stove.
• Do not boil the milk to preserve the smooth, creamy texture.

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