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Green Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate and St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles Recipe

ByLucy
Jump to Recipe· 4.6 from 19 reviews

If you’re looking for a cozy, festive drink that’s bursting with flavor and perfect for celebrating, you’ve got to try my Green Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate and St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles Recipe. It’s not just any hot chocolate — it’s creamy, sweet, and has that gorgeous, vibrant green hue that makes it irresistible. Plus, the sprinkle topping adds such a fun, cheerful touch that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day (or whenever you want a little green magic in your cup). Stick around, because I’m sharing all my tips to help you make this fan-freaking-tastic treat!

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Why This Recipe Works

  • Creamy Richness: The combination of milk and heavy cream gives the hot chocolate an indulgently smooth texture that feels luxurious in every sip.
  • Perfect Sweetness: White chocolate chips melt perfectly and bring just the right amount of sugary sweetness without overwhelming the palate.
  • Vibrant Festive Color: The green gel food coloring stays bright and lively, making it a fun drink to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day—or anytime you want a pop of color.
  • Playful Topping: Whipped cream and festive St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles make this drink extra special and perfect for sharing or gifting.
The image shows small treats with three main layers stacked on a white round dish. The base layer is dark brown and looks like a small chocolate cup. The middle layer is white, fluffy, and creamy, sitting on top of the chocolate base. The top layer is a bright orange candy shaped like a pumpkin with a small green stem. Each treat also has one small round candy, either dark brown or yellow, placed on the white cream near the pumpkin candy. The background has a white marbled texture with blurred wooden panels and orange fall leaves in soft focus. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7 this …

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Green Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate and St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles Recipe plays a key role in making the drink smooth, sweet, and festive. I always recommend using good-quality white chocolate chips for melting, and don’t skimp on the heavy cream—your taste buds will thank you!

  • Milk: The base of the drink—whole milk gives a creamy mouthfeel without being too heavy.
  • Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious richness and helps the hot chocolate feel indulgent without being overly thick.
  • Sugar: Balances the slight bitterness of the white chocolate and deepens flavor.
  • Salt: A pinch enhances all the sweetness and flavors; don’t skip this little magic touch.
  • White Chocolate Chips: These melt smoothly and lend a sweet, creamy flavor essential to this recipe.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, fragrant layer that complements the chocolate beautifully.
  • Green Gel Food Coloring: Gives the festive green color without altering the taste, and a little goes a long way.
  • Whipped Cream: For topping—makes each cup feel fancy and creamy on top.
  • St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles: The playful, colorful garnish that brings the whole festive vibe together.
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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Green Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate and St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles Recipe is how easy it is to customize. Depending on your mood or ingredients on hand, you can tweak it to suit your taste perfectly.

  • Dairy-Free Variation: I’ve swapped in coconut milk and coconut cream before to keep it vegan-friendly—it still turned out creamy and delicious.
  • Extra Minty: For a peppermint twist, add a drop or two of mint extract—just be careful, it’s powerful!
  • Less Sweet: If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the sugar a little or cut back on the white chocolate chips.
  • Adult Version: A splash of Irish cream or Bailey’s mixed in after preparing the hot chocolate makes this a perfect grown-up treat.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Green Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate and St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles Recipe

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients and Prep

Before you heat a thing, collect everything on your counter—milk, cream, sugar, salt, vanilla, white chocolate chips, and food coloring. I like to have my sprinkles and whipped cream ready to go, too. Trust me, having everything within reach makes the whole process smoother and more enjoyable.

Step 2: Warm the Milk Mixture

Pour the milk, heavy cream, sugar, and pinch of salt into a medium saucepan. Heat it over medium, stirring gently but constantly to prevent any scorching. You’re aiming for steamy—just before it simmers—because you don’t want the milk to boil.

Step 3: Melt the White Chocolate

Add the white chocolate chips and vanilla extract to your warm milk mixture. Keep stirring as the chocolate melts completely into that creamy base. Watch the texture—it should be smooth and glossy with no lumps. This step makes all the difference for a silky finish.

Step 4: Add the Magic Green Color

Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in your green gel food coloring. I usually start with a tiny dab and add more until it’s just the right shade—you want green, but still appetizing, not swampy. Gel color works best because it gives a bright hue without watering down the hot chocolate.

Step 5: Serve and Decorate

Pour your luscious green hot chocolate into your favorite mugs. Top each with a generous swirl of whipped cream and a colorful handful of St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles. Watching the sprinkles melt just a little on the whipped cream is one of my favorite moments—it’s so festive and inviting!

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Tips from My Kitchen

  • Constant Stirring: Stir constantly while heating to avoid white chocolate scorching at the bottom—trust me, that burnt taste ruins the whole batch.
  • Gentle Heat: Keep the heat moderate; white chocolate melts easily and you don’t want to scramble your milk or burn the chocolate.
  • Food Coloring Control: Add gel coloring slowly. It’s tempting to go bold immediately, but a little goes a long way for that perfect green.
  • Mug Warm-Up: Warm your mugs beforehand with hot water to keep the hot chocolate hotter, longer (especially on chilly days).

How to Serve Green Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate and St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles Recipe

The image shows several small treats arranged on a white marbled surface. Each treat has three layers: the bottom layer is a brown chocolate base, the middle layer is a white creamy topping that looks soft and thick, and the top layer is a small orange pumpkin-shaped candy with a green stem. There are colorful round candies scattered around the treats in red, yellow, and brown shades. The background is blurred but features autumn colors like yellow and orange, with two small pale wooden house shapes placed behind the treats. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I always go classic with whipped cream because it adds a light, airy contrast to the creamy drink. Then, the St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles are non-negotiable—they bring that festive punch and a tiny bit of crunchy texture that’s delightful with each sip.

Side Dishes

This hot chocolate pairs perfectly with buttery shortbread cookies or warm cinnamon rolls. On one memorable St. Patrick’s Day, I served it alongside Irish soda bread, and it was a total hit—something about the buttery bread and sweet drink together felt just right.

Creative Ways to Present

For party guests, I filled mini clear mugs and lined them all up on a tray sprinkled with green-tinted sugar crystals and shamrock-shaped candies. Another time, I stirred in a bit of Irish cream liqueur for an evening gathering and topped with a dusting of edible gold glitter—talk about making an impression!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover green hot chocolate? Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. I usually use a glass jar with a tight lid to keep flavors fresh. Just give it a good stir before reheating.

Freezing

While I haven’t frozen this exact recipe, I imagine freezing could cause texture changes due to the cream and chocolate. If you want to try, freeze in ice cube trays and thaw gently in a saucepan over low heat while stirring.

Reheating

The best way to reheat is on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently. The milk can separate if it overheats, so slow and steady is key. Alternatively, warm it in short bursts in the microwave, stirring in between.

FAQs

  1. Can I use dark or milk chocolate instead of white chocolate in this recipe?

    Absolutely! While this recipe is made to highlight the creamy sweetness of white chocolate, using dark or milk chocolate will create a richer, deeper flavor. You might want to adjust the sugar to balance bitterness, especially with dark chocolate.

  2. What’s the best type of milk to use?

    Whole milk is my go-to for its balance of creaminess and lightness, but you can use 2% or any milk you prefer. For a dairy-free option, try almond or oat milk with coconut cream to keep the richness.

  3. How much green food coloring should I use?

    Start with a small dab of gel food coloring and stir it well. Add more in tiny amounts until you reach your desired green shade. Remember, gel coloring is very concentrated, so less is more!

  4. Can I make this recipe without heavy cream?

    Yes, but the texture won’t be quite as rich. If you skip the cream, consider using all whole milk or adding a splash of half-and-half to maintain some creaminess.

Final Thoughts

This Green Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate and St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s easy to make but feels extra festive and fun every time. Whether you’re cozying up on a chilly day or celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with friends and family, this drink is sure to bring a smile—and maybe even a little bit of magic. So grab your whisk, your favorite mug, and give it a try—I promise it’ll become your new favorite seasonal treat.

Print
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Green Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate and St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.6 from 19 reviews
  • Author: Lucy
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 3 servings
  • Category: Beverage
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

A festive and creamy Green Hot Chocolate perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, made with white chocolate, milk, and a touch of green food coloring, topped with whipped cream and sprinkles.

Ingredients

Liquid Ingredients

  • 3 cups milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract

Sweeteners and Add-ins

  • ¼ cup sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips

Toppings and Garnishes

  • Green gel food coloring
  • Whipped cream
  • St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, add milk, heavy cream, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and white chocolate chips.
  2. Heat Mixture: Heat the mixture over medium heat until it becomes steamy and the white chocolate chips have fully melted, stirring constantly to prevent burning or sticking.
  3. Add Color: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in green gel food coloring, adjusting the amount until you reach your desired color.
  4. Serve: Pour the green hot chocolate into your favorite mugs. Top each serving with whipped cream and St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles for a festive finish.

Notes

  • Use full-fat milk and heavy cream for the creamiest texture.
  • Stir constantly while heating to prevent the chocolate from scorching.
  • Adjust green gel food coloring gradually to achieve the perfect shade without affecting flavor.
  • For a vegan version, substitute dairy milk and cream with plant-based alternatives and use vegan white chocolate chips.
  • Whipped cream can be homemade or store-bought depending on preference.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 350 kcal
  • Sugar: 28 g
  • Sodium: 90 mg
  • Fat: 20 g
  • Saturated Fat: 13 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 33 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 60 mg

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