Grinch Hot Chocolate

Merry Grinchmas! This green Grinch hot chocolate recipe is the perfect drink to make for a family movie night during the holiday season. It’s rich, sweet, creamy, and delicious and pairs beautifully with any Christmas cookie.

December can’t get here fast enough. We’re ready for all the hot chocolate, holiday goodies, and Christmas movies we can squeeze into one month. A favorite Christmas movie is, of course, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but we love all variations, from the cartoon version made in the 60s to the Carrey and Cumberbatch versions that are more recent.

Grinch Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

As a tribute the iconic character, we’ve made lots of Grinch desserts to get into the Christmas spirit, like Grinch cake mix cookies and Grinch Rice Krispie treats. We’ve even whipped up a Grinch punch that’s a hit at holiday parties.

But this green hot chocolate inspired by The Grinch is a new family favorite. It’s such a fun way to warm up when it’s cold outside and is a delicious addition to movie night during the holiday season. Speaking of hot chocolate and holidays, this homemade hot cocoa mix makes a wonderful DIY gift for the foodie in your life.

Ready to make your own grinch-themed drink? Here’s what you’ll need to whip up a big batch for the whole family.

Ingredients

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

• Heavy Cream — This gives the hot chocolate a rich, creamy, indulgent flavor and silky texture. You can use heavy whipping cream if you can’t find heavy cream.
• Whole Milk — Adds more liquid and thins and balances out the heavy cream.
• White Chocolate Chips — Use good quality white chocolate for easier melting and the best taste.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk — Adds sweetness to the drink.
• Vanilla Extract — Add this for depth of flavor. You can use a different extract if you prefer.
• Gel Food Coloring — You’ll need green and yellow food coloring to achieve the perfect Grinchy green color.
• Toppings (Optional) — Mini marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, or crushed peppermint candies are great choices for hot chocolate toppings. Next time I think I will try it topped with my homemade marshmallows!

Equipment You’ll Need

To make this Christmas Eve creamy crockpot hot chocolate with a Grinch theme, you’ll need the following kitchen tools and supplies:

• 6-quart slow cooker
• gel food coloring
• measuring cups and spoons
• stirring spoon, spatula, or whisk
• ladle
• Christmas mugs

How to Make Grinch Hot Chocolate

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below. 

Step 1: Add the heavy cream, milk, white chocolate chips, condensed milk, and vanilla extract to the slow cooker. Stir together gently to combine.

Step 2: Turn slow cooker to low heat and cook for 2-3 hours, stirring every 20 minutes until the chocolate is melted and the ingredients are fully combined.

Step 3: Add green and yellow gel food coloring until you get the right shade of green. You can keep the hot chocolate on the warm setting for up to 3 hours for serving once it’s ready. If it gets too thick while it sits, whisk in more milk to thin it out.

Step 4: Serve cocoa with your favorite toppings, like miniature marshmallows, a dollop of whipped cream, green and red sprinkles, or some crushed candy canes. Jumbo red candy hearts on top would be a fun touch, too.

Serving Suggestions

Serve up big mugs (these Grinch mugs would be absolutely perfect!) of this delicious hot chocolate with your favorite Christmas cookies, like these snickerdoodle cake mix cookies, classic sugar cookies, or holiday shortbread cookies.

Storage and Freezing

Refrigerator: Store leftover hot chocolate in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Reheat in the microwave, slow cooker, or on the stovetop on low until melted down again. You’ll need to reheat the entire batch since the ingredients will separate while in the refrigerator, and reheating all of it at once helps keep the flavor the same.

Freezer: Freeze in a zip-top freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.

Additions and Variations

Make it minty. Instead of vanilla extract, use peppermint extract! It’s much stronger, though, so you’ll need to use half the amount of peppermint for the vanilla listed in the recipe.

Try boozy hot chocolate. For a grown-up twist, add a splash of peppermint schnapps or Baileys Irish Cream to individual servings.

Set up a hot cocoa bar. Set out marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, and crushed candy canes so everyone can customize their cup of Grinch hot chocolate while watching the Grinch movie.

Spice it up. A pinch of cinnamon or a dash of nutmeg can add an undertone of warm spices to this tasty hot chocolate.

Easy Grinch Hot Chocolate Recipe FAQ

More Hot Cocoa Recipes

Winter is the perfect time to get cozy, get in the holiday spirit, and enjoy a hot beverage. Try one of these hot chocolate recipes and curl up with a good book!

• Pink Velvet Hot Chocolate — Perfect for Valentine’s Day, especially if you get lots of snowy weather in February.
• Creamy White Hot Chocolate — Serve with loads of marshmallows and a peppermint stick for the ultimate cozy weather drink.
• Crockpot Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate — Sweet, decadent, and the ideal way to warm your bones on a cold winter’s night.