It’s time to pull out the scarves and sweaters and grab a mug full of your new favorite hot drink. This Pumpkin Hot Chocolate is a rich, spiced, and decadent treat that’ll make any day a little bit cozier. Made with milk, semisweet and white chocolate, a touch of maple syrup, pumpkin spice, and real pumpkin puree, this warm drink is autumn in a cup.

Why We Can’t Get Enough of This Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

It’s made with real pumpkin! A lot of pumpkin flavored treats feature pumpkin spice only, but this drink has a whole can of pumpkin puree in it too! We love the earthy flavor that the real pumpkin provides.
It’s nostalgic but with a twist. We grew up loving hot chocolate like many American kids. This pumpkin version is a unique take on the classic drink.
We love a warm, cozy drink. We love warm drinks in the fall and winter even though it hardly ever gets super cold where we live. There’s just something about drinking a hot and tasty treat out of a big mug that makes everything better.
It has not one but TWO kinds of chocolate! The white chocolate provides a delicate sweetness and the bittersweet chocolate adds richness and classic hot chocolate vibes.
It’s easy to make and super impressive. This drink tastes like you spent hours making it, but in reality, all you need to do is add everything to the pot, whisk it together, strain it, and you’re done!

Side view of a glass mug filled with pumpkin hot chocolate and topped with whipped cream.

Ingredients in Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

Whole milk – the fat in whole milk makes this thick and helps keep the hot chocolate from breaking.
Pumpkin puree – to make sure there’s enough pumpkin flavor in this drink, we add a full can of pumpkin puree. Just make sure your pumpkin puree has no added sugar or other ingredients.
Semisweet chocolate – this gives the pumpkin hot chocolate signature hot cocoa vibes, with a good balance of bitter and sweet. A chopped up chocolate bar works better than chocolate chips, in our experience.
White chocolate – white chocolate gives this drink sweetness and creaminess. We recommend using bar instead of chips because the bar melts better and doesn’t leave an oily residue the way that the chips do.
Pumpkin pie spice + freshly grated nutmeg – these add quintessential “pumpkin flavor” to this drink. We recommend using freshly grated nutmeg instead of ground for a stronger, fresh flavor. If you don’t have fresh, you can use ground or skip it and add more pumpkin pie spice instead.
Salt – a little salt in hot chocolate helps to bring out its natural flavors.
Vanilla extract – vanilla helps round out the rich chocolate notes.
Maple syrup – the maple syrup adds a nice additional sweet and nutty fall flavor.
Whipped cream (optional) – top your hot chocolate with optional whipped cream, homemade or store bought.

How to Make Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

Whisk the milk and pumpkin puree together
Add the white and semisweet chocolate
Swirl in the rest of the ingredients

In a large pot over medium-low heat, whisk the milk and pumpkin puree together and cook for 3 to 4 minutes so that the puree blends with the milk and the mixture warms through. Be careful not to let the milk boil or it’ll scald.
Add the chopped semisweet and white chocolate, spices, and salt and whisk until the chocolates have fully melted into the milk mixture.
Stir in the vanilla and maple syrup.
Pour the hot chocolate through a fine mesh strainer to strain out any pumpkin puree and spices that haven’t mixed in. We recommend straining it twice for extra smoothness.
Optional: if making whipped cream, add cold heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to a bowl. Using an electric beater or stand mixer, beat the cream until it forms soft peaks.
Pour some pumpkin hot chocolate into mugs and top each with a dollop of whipped cream, if using.
Serve hot with an optional dollop of whipped cream.

Tips & Variations

Swap out the white chocolate for more semisweet for an even richer chocolate flavor.
Make this a pumpkin white hot chocolate by swapping the semisweet chocolate for more white chocolate. Just make sure to skip or use less of the maple syrup because white chocolate is much sweeter than semisweet.
Add a shot of espresso to make this a pumpkin mocha.
Keep this kind friendly or add a splash of Kahlua for an adult version.

Top down view of a mug filled with pumpkin hot chocolate and topped with whipped cream.

Serving Suggestions

We suggest serving this pumpkin hot chocolate warm or hot, with a dollop of cool freshly whipped cream on top. Whip up this pumpkin hot chocolate whenever you want to make those cozy fall and winter moments even cozier. It’s great for Halloween movie nights, fall gatherings, or as a rainy day treat.

How to Store Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

For best results, store any leftover pumpkin hot chocolate in a container with a lid (a jar or thermos works well) in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. To reheat, place the pumpkin hot chocolate in a pot and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until heated through. You can also pour some hot chocolate into a microwave safe mug and reheat it in the microwave for about a minute or until hot.

Glass mug filled with pumpkin hot chocolate, which is topped with soft whipped cream that is starting to drip down the mug.

Ingredients

Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate

4 cups whole milk
15 oz canned pumpkin puree 1 can
4 oz semisweet chocolate bar chopped
4 oz white chocolate bar chopped
½ tsp fine sea salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Dash of freshly grated nutmeg
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp maple syrup

Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions

In a large pot over medium-low heat, whisk the milk and pumpkin puree together and cook for 3 to 4 minutes so that the puree blends with the milk and the mixture warms through. Be careful not to let the milk boil or it’ll scald.
4 cups whole milk, 15 oz canned pumpkin puree
Add the chopped semisweet and white chocolate, spices, and salt and whisk until the chocolates have fully melted into the milk mixture.
4 oz semisweet chocolate bar, 4 oz white chocolate bar, ½ tsp fine sea salt, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, Dash of freshly grated nutmeg
Stir in the vanilla and maple syrup.
2 tsp vanilla extract, 2 tbsp maple syrup
Pour the hot chocolate through a fine mesh strainer to strain out any pumpkin puree and spices that haven’t mixed in. We recommend straining it twice for extra smoothness.
Optional: if making whipped cream, add cold heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to a bowl. Using an electric beater or stand mixer, beat the cream until it forms soft peaks.
1 cup heavy cream, 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Pour some pumpkin hot chocolate into mugs and top each with a dollop of whipped cream, if using.

Final Thoughts

We love the cozy comfort of hot chocolate, and adding real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice makes this version super special and great for fall. Make this whenever you want to celebrate the season or when you’re craving a rich, warm drink. If you make this, be sure to tag us on Instagram or rate and comment on this recipe.

If you’re looking for another great pumpkin option, check out our Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting!