Grinch hot chocolate is a fun Christmas drink made with creamy white chocolate, a little peppermint, and a festive shade of green. It’s made right in the slow cooker, so you can let keep warm while everyone helps themselves.
One of my favorite holiday memories when my kids were young was having Christmas movie nights with all the classics my husband and I grew up watching. A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and of course, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I always loved the line, “Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day.”
This hot chocolate is a fun addition to a Grinch movie night or any Christmas get-together. It tastes like a drinkable version of melted mint chocolate chip ice cream (minus the chocolate chips!), and you can make it even more festive with whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, and little red candy hearts.
If you’d rather have traditional chocolate hot chocolate, try my crockpot hot chocolate recipe, too.
Why You’ll Love This Grinch Hot Chocolate
- Creamy with a hint of peppermint – White chocolate and sweetened condensed milk make a silky hot chocolate with just enough mint flavor.
- Easy crockpot recipe – Add everything to the slow cooker, give it an occasional stir, and let it do the work.
- Makes enough for a crowd – This recipe makes about 10½ cups, and the crockpot keeps it warm for serving.
- Fun Christmas party drink – Turn it into a Grinch hot chocolate bar with festive toppings and little red candy hearts.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to make this green Christmas hot chocolate:
- White chocolate chips
- Whole milk
- Heavy cream
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Peppermint extract
- Green gel food coloring
- Optional toppings such as whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, and candy hearts
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
White chocolate chips: I use Ghirardelli white chocolate chips. They melt well and have a good flavor. Since white chocolate is the base of this drink, it’s worth using a brand you like.
Whole milk: I recommend whole milk for the creamiest hot chocolate. You can use 2% or skim milk, but the finished drink will be thinner.
Heavy cream: Heavy cream gives the hot chocolate its rich, smooth texture. I use a 3:1 ratio of milk to cream because I find that equal amounts can make it too thick, especially with the sweetened condensed milk. If you prefer a thicker drink, you can increase the cream and decrease the milk.
Sweetened condensed milk: Don’t skip this ingredient. Along with the white chocolate chips, it provides the sweetness and gives the hot chocolate a silky consistency.
Peppermint extract: I use just enough peppermint extract to give the hot chocolate a light mint flavor. You can substitute vanilla extract if you prefer.
Green food coloring: I recommend gel food coloring because you get a good color without needing much. I found mine at Michael’s. It’s Satin Ice Bright Green food color gel. If you’re using regular liquid food coloring, you may need a combination of green and yellow to get the Grinch green you’re after.
Toppings: Red candy hearts are my favorite finishing touch. Red and green sprinkles or candies are another festive option.
More White Hot Chocolate Recipes
For more festive flavors, try my Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate made with cinnamon syrup or my Copycat Starbucks Peppermint White Hot Chocolate.
How to Make Grinch Hot Chocolate in a Crockpot
You’ll need a 3 to 4-quart crockpot for this recipe.
Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.
- Add the ingredients. Pour the whole milk, heavy cream, and sweetened condensed milk into the crockpot. Add the white chocolate chips and peppermint extract. Give everything a good stir or whisk to combine. When whisking, use a large whisk so the chocolate chips don’t get caught inside the wires.
- Cook on low. Put the lid on and set the crockpot to low. Stir every 15–20 minutes, using a rubber spatula to scrape up any melted white chocolate from the bottom and edges. It takes about 1½ to 2 hours for everything to melt and become smooth.
- Add the green coloring. Once the white chocolate is completely melted, add a few drops of green food coloring gel and stir. Continue adding a little at a time until you get the shade you like. (I used 6 drops.)
- Keep warm. Turn the crockpot to the warm setting and replace the lid until you’re ready to serve.
- Serve and decorate. Ladle the green hot chocolate into mugs and add whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, or a red candy heart.
Tip: Getting the Right Shade of Grinch Green
Start with just a few drops of gel food coloring and stir thoroughly before adding more. I used about six drops of bright green gel, but the amount depends on the brand and shade.
Why You Shouldn’t Cook Crockpot Hot Chocolate on High
It may be tempting to turn the crockpot to high to speed things up, but I don’t recommend it.
White chocolate chips can scorch if they get too hot. High heat can also cause a skin to form across the top of the hot chocolate.
Just like with my regular crockpot hot chocolate recipe, low and slow is the way to go. Keep the lid on while cooking, removing it briefly to stir every 15–20 minutes. Once everything is melted and smooth, switch to warm and keep the lid on until serving.
Recipe Notes & Tips
Make a double batch: For a larger Christmas party, double the ingredients and use a 6-quart crockpot, or divide the recipe between two 3- to 4-quart crockpots. Allow extra time for everything to heat through.
Storing leftovers: Refrigerate leftover hot chocolate promptly in an airtight container. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring as needed. If it’s been sitting out at a party for a long time without being kept safely hot, discard any leftovers.
Yield: This recipe makes approximately 10½ cups, or about 10 generous one-cup servings. You can get more servings if you’re using smaller mugs.
How to Make Grinch Hot Chocolate on the Stove
Don’t have a crockpot? You can make this recipe on the stovetop instead.
- Add the milk, heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, white chocolate chips, and peppermint extract to a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until the white chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the green gel food coloring, adding a little at a time.
- Pour into mugs and add your favorite Christmas toppings.
Avoid boiling the hot chocolate or turning the burner up too high. Gentle heat is important when melting white chocolate.
How to Set Up a Grinch Hot Chocolate Bar for Christmas
A Grinch hot chocolate bar is a fun addition to a Christmas party or movie night. Since the hot chocolate stays warm in the crockpot, you can set everything out and let guests fix their own mugs.
Put the toppings in small bowls and include a few different choices:
- Whipped cream
- Mini marshmallows
- Candy canes or peppermint sticks
- Red and green sprinkles or jimmies
- Red candy hearts
I especially like adding a little red heart to the whipped cream. It’s a nod to the Grinch’s growing heart and makes the green hot chocolate look even more festive.
More Hot Chocolate Recipes
Whether you’re planning a Christmas movie night or just want another cozy drink, here are a few more hot chocolate recipes to try.
- Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
- Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate
- Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
- The Creamiest Hot Chocolate
- Starbucks Original Hot Chocolate Copycat
- Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
- Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Crockpot Grinch Hot Chocolate
This Grinch Hot Chocolate is a creamy white hot chocolate made with white chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and a hint of peppermint. Colored a festive shade of green and made in the slow cooker, it's a fun Christmas drink for holiday parties, Christmas movie nights, and sharing with a crowd.
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) package white chocolate chips
- 6 cups whole milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- About 6 drops green gel food coloring
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, marshmallows, red and green sprinkles, candy hearts
Instructions
- Add the white chocolate chips, whole milk, heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, and peppermint extract to a 3- to 4-quart crockpot. Stir or whisk to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 1½–2 hours, stirring every 15–20 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and edges until the white chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Stir in the green gel food coloring, adding a little at a time until you reach your desired shade of green.
- Turn the crockpot to warm and replace the lid until ready to serve.
- Ladle into mugs and garnish with whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, or red candy hearts.
Notes
- Don't set crockpot to high: High heat can scorch the white chocolate and cause a skin to form on top.
- Food coloring: Gel food coloring works best. Start with a few drops and add more as needed.
- Thicker hot chocolate: Replace some of the milk with additional heavy cream.
- Doubling: Use a 6-quart crockpot or divide between two smaller crockpots.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers promptly in an airtight container. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 570Total Fat: 33gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 200mgCarbohydrates: 60gSugar: 58gProtein: 11g
Nutritional information is an estimate calculated using the ingredients and serving sizes listed. Actual values may vary depending on the brands used and portion sizes.