True story: I will never turn down a mug of peanut butter hot chocolate.
Especially with peanut butter whipped cream!
It’s one of the best flavor pairings — peanut butter and chocolate feels like the ultimate comfort combination.
When it comes to combos, I still love classics like bread and butter or almond butter and jelly, but peanut butter + chocolate is unbeatable.
I was sad to hear City Bakery in NYC closed — they made an exceptionally rich hot chocolate I think about often. This recipe isn’t exactly that, but it’s proper hot chocolate: real chopped chocolate melted into warm milk for a thick, luxurious drink. I could use a mug right now.
Growing up I didn’t know the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate. We were a hot cocoa family with the single-serve packets, but I remember being at a friend’s grandma’s house and having stovetop hot chocolate — it was unforgettable: intensely chocolatey and like dessert in a cup.
It.was.insane.
That memory is what this recipe channels: melted chocolate folded into warm milk along with creamy peanut butter and a pinch of flaked sea salt. This version uses both cocoa powder and chopped chocolate to create extra depth of flavor.
The drink is finished with peanut butter whipped cream that isn’t sweetened further — it balances the hot chocolate’s richness beautifully — and a final sprinkle of flaked sea salt.
This reminds me a bit of my favorite slow cooker coconut hot chocolate, which is so decadent you can freeze leftovers and enjoy them like a pudding — bonus dessert from your drink.
Perfect for sipping on a chilly evening.
Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
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Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 2 cups milk (whole or coconut milk makes it the creamiest!)
- 1 cup half and half or heavy cream or coconut milk/cream (for dairy free)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 8 ounces high-quality dark chocolate, chopped
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- ¼ teaspoon flaked sea salt, plus more for topping
- mini marshmallows, for serving
peanut butter whipped cream
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Instructions
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Combine the water, milk and cream in a saucepan over low heat. Warm until bubbles form around the edges. Whisk in the sugar and cocoa powder until dissolved. Add the chopped chocolate and peanut butter, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon until everything is fully melted and combined. Stir in the flaked sea salt.
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Divide the hot chocolate between mugs. Top with peanut butter whipped cream and mini marshmallows. Finish with extra flaked sea salt to taste.
peanut butter whipped cream
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Place the cold heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the peanut butter and beat on medium-high until soft peaks form. Spoon or pipe the whipped cream onto each mug of hot chocolate.
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Note: no additional sugar is needed for the whipped cream — the hot chocolate is sweet enough and the unsweetened cream balances it nicely.
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I appreciate you so much!
Might just curl up and nap on that whipped cream pile.