Thick Italian Hot Chocolate (Cioccolata Calda)
Updated Jan 28, 2026, Published Dec 04, 2021
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This authentic thick Italian hot chocolate (cioccolata calda) is dense, decadent, and creamy. Nothing says winter in Italy like a rich cup of cioccolata calda. You will feel like you are in an Italian café as you sip this glorious drink. Make it in just 15 minutes, then grab a cup and cozy up by the fire on a cold winter day!
For a traditional hot chocolate recipe, stir my Homemade Chocolate Syrup into milk to make hot or cold chocolate. Dip these Soft Amaretti Cookies into the hot chocolate for the perfect treat!
Quick Look at This Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Servings: 4 people
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian & Gluten Free
- Method: Stovetop
- Technique: Heat the milk, then add the cornstarch and sugar and stir. Heat until bubbling, then whisk in the chocolate and vanilla and cook until thick and creamy. Pour into mugs and serve warm.
- Flavor & Texture: This thick Italian hot chocolate has a silky, pudding-like texture. It’s an indulgent sipping chocolate, and is delightfully different from chocolate milk or regular hot chocolate.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
This authentic Italian hot chocolate is gold! This thick and creamy hot chocolate is made with real chocolate to add a rich flavor, and is so delicious you won’t need extra toppings. You will crave this glorious chocolate drink all winter long!
Unlike the American version, Italian hot chocolate has a thick, velvety texture from the cornstarch thickener, and is made with real melted dark chocolate rather than cocoa powder for an incredible flavor. It’s the perfect drink for a chocolate lover!
Enjoy this hot chocolate with traditional Italian cookies like Italian Biscotti (Cantucci) or Italian Ladyfingers (Savoiardi). Be sure to put a little whipped cream on top too–it’s my family’s favorite way to enjoy this drink.
Made With Amore,
“The first time I made it, my husband & I fell in love with this rich & thick delicious decadence! I can’t believe how heavenly it tastes. This is a ‘much try’ recipe. I’d give more stars if allowed. ♡”
– Anna
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Italian Hot Chocolate
- Chocolate: Use either a chocolate bar and chop the chocolate, or use chocolate morsels. I recommend using a high-quality brand like Ghirardelli chocolate bars or chips, Guittard, or Godiva. Choose a semisweet or dark chocolate with a cocoa content between 50%-75%; 70% is my favorite as it’s higher intensity and less sweet!
- Powdered Sugar: You’ll need a touch of sugar to sweeten the hot chocolate, but not too much; we don’t want this to be super sweet.
- Milk: This makes the hot chocolate creamy and delicious! I recommend using whole milk for the creamiest texture, but I’ve used 2% instead and it is still delicious.
- Cornstarch: This helps thicken the hot chocolate and gives it a thick and luxurious texture. Feel free to use potato starch if you prefer.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Flavorings: The hot chocolate can be flavored with vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, a tiny bit of peppermint extract, or caramel sauce. (Honestly, I think it’s delicious as is, though!)
- Dairy Free/Vegan Version: Use your favorite creamy dairy free milk; coconut milk or oatmilk would both be delicious options. Also, use dairy-free/vegan chocolate.
- Gluten Free Version: Use gluten-free cornstarch or potato starch to thicken the hot chocolate. Ensure all the other ingredients are free from gluten cross-contamination.
How to Make Italian Hot Chocolate
This authentic Italian hot chocolate is thick, creamy, and utterly delicious! Scroll down to the recipe card for the full tips and instructions.
- Mix together the cornstarch and powdered sugar, then set aside. Chop the dark chocolate into very small pieces.
- Place the milk on low heat and heat until warm, about 3 minutes.
- Add the cornstarch and sugar mixture and whisk, always in the same direction, to prevent lumps.
- Wait for bubbles start to form on the surface, about 4 minutes, then add the chocolate and vanilla.
- Keep whisking until it’s thick and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Remove it from the heat before it thickens completely, or it may become too thick!
My Pro Tip
Before removing the pot from the heat, add a pinch or two of salt to the hot chocolate to cut the sweetness and enhance the flavor of the chocolate. If you like salted dark chocolate, this is for you!
- Pour it into mugs and serve warm.
- Optionally, add a dollop of whipped cream on top as a garnish. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Italian-style hot chocolate, or cioccolata calda, is a decadent drink made with simple ingredients: milk, high-quality chocolate, sugar, and a touch of starch for thickness. It’s served warm, dense, and silky, often enjoyed as an afternoon treat or dessert. This is not cocoa—it’s a true chocolate experience that feels cozy, indulgent, and very Italian.
Italian hot chocolate is thicker, creamier, and generally much richer than traditional American hot chocolate, which is less dense and rich. It is made with a few key ingredients: sugar, chocolate, cornstarch, and milk. It can be served on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream. (We love a little whipped cream on top!)
Both types of hot chocolate are rich and indulgent, but have one main difference. French hot chocolate (chocolat chaud) is made just with milk and melted chocolate, while Italian hot chocolate (cioccolata calda) is thicker because it’s also thickened with cornstarch. Italian hot chocolate is intensely chocolatey and is so thick and velvety that it can be enjoyed with a spoon!
Yes, hot chocolate is popular in Italy, especially during the colder months! It is treated more like a dessert than a drink, as it’s meant to be sipped slowly and savored. In Italy, you’ll often find people standing at the bar of cafés, enjoying a small cup of thick, velvety hot chocolate on a chilly day.
Serving Suggestions
This authentic Italian hot chocolate tastes amazing on its own or topped with whipped cream (my family’s favorite way to enjoy it). But it’s even better if you enjoy it with authentic Italian cookies for dipping! Some of my favorites are soft amaretti cookies, Italian wedding cookies, Italian butter cookies, and old fashioned cinnamon snap cookies.
My Pro Tips
Expert Tips
- Make sure the milk is warm before you start adding the other ingredients.
- Keep the heat on low and stir frequently. Be careful not to burn the bottom.
- Do not allow the chocolate to thicken too much before removing it from heat.
- If chocolate clumps start to form, remove the mixture from heat and whisk vigorously until it is smooth again.
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Italian Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk, or 2% milk
- 3.5 ounces dark chocolate, 50-75% cacao
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch, or potato starch
- 3 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, optional flavoring
- 1 pinch salt, helps cut sweetness
Instructions
- Chop the dark chocolate into very small pieces.
- In a bowl mix together cornstarch (or potato starch) and powdered sugar. Set aside.
- Place the milk on low heat. When the milk is hot, but well before it starts to boil (about 3 minutes), add the corn starch and sugar mixture and start stirring, always in the same direction, avoiding the formation of lumps.
- Once bubbles start to form on the surface (about 4 minutes), add the chocolate and vanilla and mix until thick and creamy, about 1 minute. The starch will cause it to thicken even when removed from heat, so it's a good idea to remove the chocolate from the heat before it thickens completely; otherwise you run the risk of turning it into a spoon cake!
- Pour it into two mugs and serve it warm. For a dash of decadence, add a dollop of whipped cream on top.
Notes
- Make sure the milk is warm before you start adding the other ingredients.
- Keep the heat on low and stir frequently. Be careful not to burn the bottom.
- Do not allow the chocolate to thicken too much before removing it from heat.
- If chocolate clumps start to form, remove the mixture from heat and whisk vigorously until it is smooth again.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
WOW!!! Nothing else necessary.
Yes! Enjoy and stay warm!
We are on a quest to try different kind of hot chocolate and so far it is our favourite.
Thrilled you love it! We just made some this afternoon. It is perfect for a cold winter day.
So delicious and comforting!
When I first saw ran across this recipe I thought, oh no that’s too thick! It looked so strange to me, that I initially dismissed the recipe. (You are so right about traditional American chocolate with a less rich thinner consistency) But the more I looked at the picture, the more I was intrigued. The first time I made it, my husband & I fell in love with this rich & thick delicious decadence! I can’t believe how heavenly it tastes. This is a “much try” recipe. I’d give more stars if allowed. โก
I am so happy you loved it! We drink this often in Italy on a cold day. Enjoy!