Red Velvet Hot Chocolate with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

RED VELVET HOT CHOCOLATE is perfectly creamy, velvety and sweet, with a fully infused rich flavor. The cream cheese whipped cream on top really sets it apart.

You can whip it up in just a few minutes, and enjoy it while watching classic Christmas shows, decorating the tree, or use it to warm up after a chilly visit to the tree farm or caroling.  Perfect for Valentine’s Day too!

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate

What’s not to love about hot chocolate?  Its hot, sweet and chocolate-y goodness never does me wrong.

Since we are a lover of all things red velvet, I decided to make Red Velvet Hot Chocolate while seeking comfort and warmth away from the chill outside. 

The base of this comforting drink is simple: milk (I used 2%, but you could use whole fat), sugar, semi-sweet chocolate, McCormick Vanilla Extract and of course McCormick Red Food Color. 

Then for a luxurious finish, red velvet needs cream cheese frosting, right?  So, I topped it off with cream cheese whipped cream and added a marshmallow and peppermint stick for good measure.

If my hot chocolate-loving family wouldn’t have been home, I would’ve guzzled the whole batch down by myself.

The hot chocolate was perfectly creamy, velvety and sweet, with a fully infused, rich flavor thanks to the McCormick vanilla extract. The cream cheese whipped cream is what really sets this hot chocolate recipe apart. It met my lips with a distinctively warm, round, sweet note of vanilla along with a sweet tangy surprise at every sip….. it absolutely MADE it!

If you love the sweet flavor of red velvet, the tangy sweetness of cream cheese frosting, and the luscious decadence that is hot chocolate, then this is THE warm drink for you.  I hope you enjoy this Red Velvet Hot Chocolate recipe from McCormick as much as we did!

This recipe makes enough for three generous (or four small) mugs, so modify the ingredient amounts as you see fit. 😉

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Since we are a lover of all things red velvet, I decided to make Red Velvet Hot Chocolate while seeking comfort and warmth away from the chill outside. 

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 10 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used mini chocolate chips)
• 2 teaspoons McCormick® Red Food Color
• 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 cup heavy cream, cold
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract

Instructions

For Red Velvet Hot Chocolate:

1. place milk and granulated sugar in medium saucepan. Bring to simmer on medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar.
2. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate with wire whisk until melted. Stir in food color and vanilla. Pour into serving cups. Serve with marshmallows and Cream Cheese Whipped Cream, if desired.

For Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip cold cream until soft peaks form (this may take 5-10 minutes) Start on low and gradually increase speed to high. Place whipped cream in a medium bowl and set aside.
2. Place cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla in bowl of stand mixer and beat until well combined and creamy.
3. Fold in whipped cream by hand until fully combined and fluffy. Refrigerate until ready to use.
4. Dollop or pipe onto red velvet hot chocolate.

Disclaimer: I have been baking and cooking with McCormick in my home for 30 years.  I’m super excited to have a working partnership with them.  As always, all opinions and views are all my own.