Love Starbucks white hot chocolate? Re-create their famous hot chocolate drink at home. No need to run out to the coffee shop to get your favorite white chocolate recipe. You only need a few common ingredients to make one at home!

Oh it’s that time of year y’all. The weather has started to cool down in the mornings and evenings and the leaves have started to change. I love walking the dogs in the morning because it feels so good out. This is for sure my favorite time of year.

Besides the cooler weather, I just love fall/winter time food. The hot drinks and the comforting casseroles are the best. Of course the Starbucks white hot chocolate is right up there with my cool weather favorites.

What is Starbucks white hot chocolate?

The Starbucks white hot chocolate has been a mainstay on their seasonal menu for quite some time. As the weather starts to get cooler it becomes more and more popular with coffee house goers. Starbucks describes their white hot chocolate as a hot chocolate with white chocolate sauce. steamed milk. and whip cream.

It’s basically a hot chocolate. but instead of using cocoa they use the white chocolate instead. Starbucks white hot chocolate has a sweet and smooth taste distinctive of white chocolate.

You can make this white hot chocolate two different ways -you can use a white chocolate sauce and add it to hot milk. Or you can create the white hot chocolate all in a pot on the stove. The ingredients stay about the same for both.

Ingredients in a Starbucks white hot chocolate

Like I just mentioned you can either use a white chocolate sauce, either homemade or store-bought, and add it to hot milk or you can make the entire recipe in one pot over the stove. We love making this stove top version as a special treat on a cold day. Ingredients needed to make the recipe the stove top recipe are:

• sugar
• salt
• water
• vanilla
• white chocolate chips
• milk

Sugar – Plain white sugar works great.

Vanilla – Store bought or homemade vanilla extract will work in this recipe.

White chocolate chips – I love using Ghiradelli white chocolate chips for my white chocolate recipes. They melt great and they are full of flavor.

How to make white chocolate hot chocolate

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, you will also need to grab a sauce pan, spatula, measuring cups and spoons.

Step 1 Dissolve the sugar You start by combining the water, salt, vanilla and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. You do not need to bring it to a full boil, just hot enough to dissolve the sugar in the liquid.  

Step 2 Melt your white chocolate chips Add your white chocolate chips or chocolate bar, which ever you prefer to use. Stir until the chocolate has dissolved in the sugar mixture. You will want to make sure that the mixture is nice and smooth.

Step 3 Add your milk Finally, add in your milk and heat until it starts to get frothy. Again, a rolling boil is not needed.   Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream and white chocolate shavings, if desired.

What is a Starbucks white hot chocolate made of?

A white hot chocolate from Starbucks is made from white chocolate sauce, steamed milk and whipped cream. This recipe combines most of those ingredients on the stove top.

Can I use white chocolate bars?

Yup! You can! You can use any white chocolate that melts well.

Is there coffee in Starbucks hot chocolate?

Nope! There is no coffee in this white chocolate recipe. Looking for coffee? Try my Starbucks copycat white chocolate mocha! It’s pretty similar to this one, but has coffee.

Can I make this in the Instant Pot?

Yes! You sure can! I have a copycat Starbucks zebra hot chocolate (which is a hot chocolate with white chocolate and milk chocolate combined) that you can follow. Use the directions for the Instant Pot Zebra Hot Chocolate here.

Can I make this white hot chocolate in the Crock Pot?

Guess what?! You sure can! We love making this in the Crock Pot for parties. To make a white hot chocolate in the Crock Pot:

1. Place all of your ingredients in your Crock Pot.
2. Set your Crock Pot to high to melt your sugar and white chocolate chips.
3. Be sure to stir it constantly.
4. Once everything is melted and smooth, turn down to low or warm.
5. Serve into mugs and top with homemade whipped cream.

Tips and tricks

This recipe is pretty easy to make, but to make it even easier follow the tips below.

• Use a silicone spatula to easily stir your white chocolate chips. The spatula also allows you to scrap the edges of the sauce pan to fully incorporate everything.
• You can use any type of milk that you prefer for this recipe. Make it dairy-free by using almond or coconut milk.
• Save a few chocolate chips to add onto of your whipped cream. You can also add shaved white chocolate bar.

Other white chocolate recipes to try

Love white chocolate recipes? Hey, me too! Some of my favorites that I think you will enjoy are:

• White chocolate cocoa bombs
• White chocolate sauce
• White chocolate truffles

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the post below. Want to try it later? Pin the image below to save it. I appreciate your support!