Dunkin Donuts Hot Chocolate

Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate is the coziest, most delicious holiday drink! Come in from the cold and warm up with a sip of this decadent, creamy Dunkin hot cocoa. The easy recipe takes just 10 minutes and includes variations for salted caramel, mint, Oreo, white mocha, and Dunkaccino hot chocolate.

The best Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate recipe

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without plenty of warm mugs of delicious Dunkin hot chocolate! Piling mountains of whipped cream on top and sitting by the fire to thaw your toes – these are the winter essentials.

And with my copycat Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate recipe, you can prepare this delicious drink in the comfort of your home. You probably have everything you need to make a batch of Dunkin hot chocolate right now.

Aside from their classic hot chocolate, I’ve included instructions to create all the tasty flavor variations, such as mint, Dunkaccino, salted caramel, white mocha, and Oreo hot chocolate.

So grab your chocolate, milk, sugar, and cocoa powder because this is the winter drink you need in your life!

We love sipping hot chocolate all winter long! Our other favorites included evaporated milk hot chocolate and condensed milk hot chocolate.

What is the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there actually is a difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa.

Hot chocolate is melted chocolate combined with warm milk. The result is a rich, creamy drink that is more chocolaty than hot cocoa. And since the chocolate already contains sugar, you often don’t need to add extra sugar.

Hot cocoa, by contrast, is prepared with cocoa powder, sugar, and milk. This drink is light and sweet, but sometimes lacks that rich chocolate flavor. Those packets of Swiss Miss mix are a prime example of hot cocoa.

Copycat Dunkin hot chocolate

Call it hot chocolate or hot cocoa – my Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate recipe is the perfect combination of the 2 drinks. We’ll use both cocoa powder and chocolate to create the perfect blend of creamy, rich chocolate flavors in every mug.

Ingredients

Once you pulled everything together, this easy hot chocolate recipe will be ready for whipped cream and marshmallows in about 5 to 10 minutes. Here are the Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate ingredients. You can find full measurements in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Chocolate: Pick your favorite bar of semisweet or dark hot chocolate for a rich chocolate flavor. For a lighter taste, opt for a mix of semisweet and milk chocolate. And if you have chocolate chips in your pantry, those will also work great.
• Cocoa powder: Hershey’s unsweetened baking cocoa powder is my favorite here, but any brand of unsweetened cocoa powder is fine.
• Milk: Whole milk produces the creamiest results. However, if you prefer 2% or skim milk, go for it.
• Sugar: We need granulated sugar for sweetness. You can adjust the sugar to suit your taste.
• Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla extracts deepens the flavor.
• Salt: A pinch of salt won’t make your Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate taste salty, but it brings out the rich chocolate flavor and balances the sweetness.

How to make Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate

Making Dunkin hot chocolate from scratch is almost as easy as ordering a cup! The only difference is that the homemade version is a million times creamier and more indulgent! Your family will go crazy over it this winter.

1. Heat ingredients. Combine all ingredients in a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat. Stirring frequently, heat until the sugar dissolves and the chocolate melts and is evenly distributed through the milk. Continue cooking until the drink reaches your desired temperature. Be careful not to boil the hot chocolate.
2. Garnish. Remove the hot chocolate from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and pile on the toppings. You can add marshmallows, whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate sauce, a dusting of cocoa powder, or chocolate curls.
3. Serve. Serve the hot chocolate right away and enjoy warm.

Tips for success

Here are some of my best tips and tricks to help you make that perfect cup of chocolatey goodness. You’ll love how your homemade Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate turns out!

• High-quality chocolate: Choose good-quality semisweet chocolate that you enjoy eating for the best, richest flavor. Opt for bittersweet or dark chocolate if you prefer a less sweet taste. Milk chocolate is a great choice for a milder chocolate aroma (this is what most kids like).
• Whole milk: Use whole milk for the smoothest, creamiest texture. You could even use half-and-half or a mix of milk and cream for an extra-rich hot chocolate.
• Medium heat: Medium-low to medium heat is best to warm hot chocolate because you don’t want it to boil and scorch the chocolate. And be sure to whisk frequently to help the ingredients melt and dissolve.
• Adjust the sweetness to suit your taste: If you want a less sweet hot chocolate, reduce the sugar by half. If your kiddos like a sweeter drink, increase the sugar.
• Microwave: Warm the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl just until the milk is heated through and the chocolate melts. Stir every 20 to 30 seconds to prevent the chocolate from scorching, and don’t let the mixture boil.
• Small batch: Cut the ingredient amounts in half and make just enough of this Dunkin hot cocoa for two.
• Larger batch: To serve a crowd, multiply the ingredients by 2 or 3 to whip up a larger batch.

Variations – 5 Dunkin hot chocolate flavors       

Now that you know how to make Dunkin’s classic hot chocolate, it’s time to have some fun and try some variations! Each variation builds on the basic hot chocolate recipe I just showed you and makes 4 servings.

I looked at current and past Dunkin hot chocolate flavors, but please let me know if I missed one you’d like to see, and I will happily add it.

#1: Dunkin Donuts mint hot chocolate

Dunkin peppermint hot chocolate is a sweet, creamy drink with a delicious peppermint flavor. It’s the perfect combo of those chocolate and candy cane aromas and the quintessential Christmas drink.

• Make:  add 3 to 4 drops of peppermint extract to the recipe. Peppermint is really strong, so start with a tiny amount and adjust from there.
• Serve: I garnished the drink with whipped cream, crushed candy canes, and fresh mint leaves.

#2: Dunkaccino

The dunkaccino combines 2 favorite drinks, hot chocolate, and coffee. The mocha flavors are so delicious! This caffeinated hot chocolate is the perfect drink to start the day and keep you energized this holiday season.

• Make: To create a Dunkin Donuts dunkaccino, add 4 teaspoons instant coffee powder espresso to the recipe. You could also use 2 shots espresso or strongly brewed coffee in the recipe.
• Serve: Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of instant coffee powder if desired.
• Tip: Dunkin dunkaccino will have caffeine if you prepare the coffee with regular instant coffee powder. Feel free to use decaf for a version without caffeine.

#3: Dunkin Donuts Oreo hot chocolate

Dunkin Donuts Oreo hot chocolate is a wonderfully thick and rich beverage that tastes like pure Oreos and chocolate. It’s the perfect drink for all cookies and cream lovers!

• Ingredients: You’ll need 4 cups milk, 15 crushed Oreo cookies, and 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate.
• Cook: Add all ingredients to a saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the chocolate has melted, and the Oreo cookies have fully dissolved.
• Garnish: Decorate each serving with whipped cream and sprinkle crushed Oreos on top.
• Tip: This hot chocolate is quite thick. Feel free to add a little milk to thin it out.

#4: Dunkin Donuts salted caramel hot chocolate

Classic hot chocolate gets an upgrade with this decadent drink. If you love the sweet-salty combo of chocolate and caramel, Dunkin Donuts salted caramel hot chocolate will become a new favorite!

• Ingredients: You need 4 cups milk, 1 cup caramel sauce, 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt.
• Cook: Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat until the chocolate has melted, and everything is well blended and warm.
• Serve: Pour into mugs. Top with whipped cream and drizzle each serving with 1 tablespoon caramel sauce and a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt flakes.
• Tip: Adjust the sea salt to suit your taste or omit for a simple caramel hot chocolate.

#5: Dunkin Donuts white mocha hot chocolate

Dunkin’s white mocha hot chocolate features a milky chocolate flavor with notes of white chocolate and espresso. I think this flavor is retired now, but luckily, we can re-create it at home!

• Ingredients: Grab 4 cups milk, 1/2 cup white chocolate, 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Cook: Heat the ingredients in a saucepan until blended and warmed.
• Garnish: Serve hot chocolate with a whipped cream topping, a sprinkle of instant coffee powder, and white chocolate curls.

Storage & reheating instructions

How to store Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate

Now that you’ve made the best Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate recipe, here’s how to store and enjoy it later!

Once your Dunkin hot cocoa has cooled, store it in the refrigerator and consume within  3 to 4 days.

Reheat Dunkin hot chocolate

I recommend reheating your hot chocolate on the stove because you have more control over the temperature than if it’s in the microwave.

Only reheat it until it’s warmed through- don’t let it boil! You don’t want your hot chocolate to burn.

Make Dunkin Donuts hot cocoa ahead of time

To prepare the recipe in advance, follow the directions accordingly, then let your hot chocolate cool completely once simmered. Place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 1 to 2 days.

When it’s time to drink, reheat the drink on the stove until nice and warm.

More warming holiday drinks

These other homemade holiday drinks are super delicious and ready to please! From fruity to spicy, here are a few more recipes you’ll love having in your Christmas lineup. Cheers!

• Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
• White Hot Chocolate
• Eggnog with Condensed Milk
• Chocolate Eggnog
• Vanilla Eggnog
• Cranberry Mocktail
• Christmas Morning Punch
• Christmosas