Description
A rich, velvety, caramel-kissed pumpkin hot chocolate that tastes like a fancy cafe drink but is ready in just 5 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this sweet and salty treat requires minimal cleanup and uses simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree (100% pure, not pie filling)
- 3 tablespoons caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Whipped cream (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Combine the milk, heavy cream, pumpkin puree, caramel sauce, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt in a small saucepan.
- Whisk the mixture thoroughly until the caramel and pumpkin are mostly dissolved.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly until the milk is hot and small bubbles form around the edges (do not boil). This takes about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and whisk one more time to ensure the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Divide the hot chocolate between two mugs.
- Top with whipped cream and an extra drizzle of caramel if desired, then serve immediately.
Notes
Do not use pumpkin pie filling; use 100% pure pumpkin puree. The salt is crucial to balance the sweetness of the caramel. If using almond or oat milk, choose a ‘barista’ or full-fat version for better texture. This drink is best made fresh as the pumpkin puree may separate if stored.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Beverage / Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
Keywords: pumpkin hot chocolate, caramel hot chocolate, fall drinks, 5pm drink, cozy fall recipes, pumpkin spice drink, quick dessert drinks, weeknight treats