Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (2024)

Home » Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate)

  • December 21, 2022
  • 9 Comments

Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (1)

Champurrado is a type of atole, which is a warm & thick corn-flour based beverage. I would refer to this as the Mexican version of hot chocolate, but it’s very different from actual hot chocolate.

It’s champurrado season! Just in time to make for Christmas or New Years Eve. Champurrado is a warm, thick, and comforting drink during the fall and winter seasons.

It’s made with Mexican chocolate, milk, cinnamon, piloncillo (raw cane sugar), and corn flour. Sometimes cloves are added as well, but I am not a huge fan.

Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (2)

Ingredients:

  • Mexican chocolate- I prefer the Ibarra brand if you can get your hands on it, but the Abuelita brand is morewidely available.

  • Cinnamon stick- get the Mexican brand that comes in bags in the Mexican spiceaisle.

  • Piloncillothis is whole cane sugar and comes in blocks shaped like cones. You can usually find this in the Mexican spiceaisle.

  • Masa harina (corn flour)- this can usually be found in the spices/baking aisle and will be labeled as masa harina, but Maseca is ok too (instant corn flour).

  • Salt-this is optional, but I add a bit of salt at the end. I think it brings out all of the flavors of the champurrado much better.

  • Milk-I like whole milk, but you can use a dairy free milk of your choice or even just water.

  • Water (divided)- todissolve the piloncillo and mix with the masa harina.

  • Vanilla extract- for added flavor, this is optional.

Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (3)

Pro tip:

When your champurrado has thickened, mix with an immersion blender to make it frothy. This does the same thing that a molinillo does (a tool used to frothing atoles), but most of us do not own one of those.

The immersion blender makes it nice and frothy in under a minute, and it also ensures that there are no clumps of corn flour in your champurrado.

Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (4)

Try my recipe for orejas to pair with your champurrado! I love dipping pan dulce into champurrado- conchas and orejas (palmiers) are my favorites.

Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (5)

Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (6)

Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate)

5 from 7 votes

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups water divided
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 oz piloncillo about 1 piece of piloncillo
  • 4 cups whole milk or non-dairy milk
  • 2 tablets Mexican chocolate about 4.5 oz
  • 1/2 cup masa harina (corn flour)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract optional
  • pinch of salt optional

Instructions

  • Optional: toast the masa harina in a skillet until it slightly turns to a light beige color and is fragrant.

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (7)

  • Blend with 1 cup of water until smooth. Set aside.

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (8)

  • In a large pot, heat 1 cup of water then add the cinnamon stick and piloncillo until dissolved.

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (9)

  • Add milk, then add the Mexican chocolate once it starts to steam. Take out the cinnamon stick but do not throw it away if you want more cinnamon flavor. (We will add it back later if you want). Stir frequently to make sure the chocolate dissolves and doesn’t get stuck to the bottom.

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (10)

  • Once the chocolate is fully dissolved, add the masa harina mixture and continue to simmer on low for 15-20 minutes, mixing occasionally. You can add the cinnamon stick back in at this point.

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (11)

  • Once the champurrado has thickened, add some vanilla extract (optional) and a pinch of salt (also optional) and mix with an immersion blender for better texture. It works like a molinillo to make it nice and frothy. Serve hot and enjoy!

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (12)

PrevPreviousOrejas (Palmiers)

*This post contains affiliate links to products that I actually use & recommend. I am not sponsored by these brands, but I do make a small commission from qualifying purchases made through these links.

This Post Has 9 Comments

  1. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (13)

    Nayely February 23, 2024Reply

    I’ve been craving champurrado and have tried many recipes but none as perfectly authentic as this one! I can’t wait to make it again and try it with the orejas! Thank you Stella for your amazing recipes!

  2. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (14)

    Jorge February 23, 2024Reply

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (15)
    Hi Stella! I love all the food that you make.
    I enjoy your recipes, and the breakdown on how to prepare them. This is one of my favorite things that I enjoy in the winter.
    Thank you

  3. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (16)

    Lucia Duran February 22, 2024Reply

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (17)
    Growing up in the United States, I always missed the champurrado that my grandma used to make in El rancho. This recipe is just like my grandma’s champurrado.

  4. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (18)

    Jordan Copeland February 22, 2024Reply

    I can’t wait to try out this recipe! @jaybaby9

  5. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (19)

    Diana February 22, 2024Reply

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (20)
    Love this champurrado recipe! It’s my go to now. My family loves it, thank you!

  6. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (21)

    Edward February 21, 2024Reply

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (22)
    Stop buying champurrado and just make this recipe. Trust me. It’s consistently good every time and has been so perfect for this rainy weather!

  7. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (23)

    B Johnson February 21, 2024Reply

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (24)
    great recipe. thanks for making recipes accessible to the common man. 😁

  8. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (25)

    Karina February 21, 2024Reply

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (26)
    I love this authentic recipe and I’m so glad I found it because it doesn’t call for any condensed milk or evaporated milk that’s not needed. Me encanta esta receta porque es súper auténtica ya que no incluye la azúcar como la de la leche condensada y la leche evaporada. Gracias por compartir

  9. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (27)

    Tara January 11, 2024Reply

    Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (28)
    I highly recommend toasting your masa, it gives it great flavor. I added cloves and a dash of cayenne pepper. Loved this recipe. I double it and strain out the spices and put in the fridge to heat one mug at a time.

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Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate) - (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between hot chocolate and champurrado? ›

Champurrado is a type of atole (corn masa drink) with its main characteristic consisting of chocolate. The difference between traditional hot chocolate and champurrado is the use of masa harina (corn flour). Atole is made by toasting masa on a griddle, then adding water that has been boiled with cinnamon sticks.

What is Mexican champurrado made of? ›

Champurrado is a warm Mexican drink made by heating milk, Mexican chocolate, piloncillo, and Mexican cinnamon together. It's then thickened with a mixture of water and masa harina. When it's ready, champurrado is smooth, thick, chocolatey, and creamy!

What is Mexican hot chocolate made of? ›

Ingredients in Mexican Hot Chocolate

This Mexican hot chocolate is made with real milk, 100% unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla extract, cinnamon, chili powder, and a little bittersweet chocolate to make the whole thing a bit creamier and smoother.

What is the difference between Mexican hot chocolate and regular? ›

Mexican hot chocolate contains spices like cinnamon and chili and chopped bittersweet chocolate to create a very rich but less sweet flavor. Whereas traditional American hot chocolate is usually made with a combination of cocoa powder and/or chocolate and tends to be more on the sweet side.

Why is Mexican hot chocolate so good? ›

Mexican hot chocolate includes various spices, including cinnamon, cloves, and ancho chili pepper. These ingredients give it a unique flavor that is sweet and slightly spicy.

Can you eat Mexican hot chocolate? ›

Mexican chocolate contains cacao paste, of course, but also sugar and cinnamon. This chocolate has a grainier texture than baking or milk chocolate because of those ingredients, and it's not necessarily meant to be eaten like you would a chocolate bar.

How long does champurrado last in the fridge? ›

This will keep for 4 days and tastes just as great reheated.

Why is Mexican hot chocolate grainy? ›

It has a noticeably grainy texture because it's processed only to the “liquor” stage, before it's poured into the disk-shaped molds to cool and harden. Classically, it's flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. To make the drink, this solid chocolate is broken into pieces, then just melted into a pot of hot milk.

What is Abuelita hot chocolate made of? ›

SUGAR, NONFAT MILK, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, COCOA, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (COCONUT AND/OR PALM KERNEL, AND/OR SOYBEAN), DAIRY PRODUCT SOLIDS, AND LESS THAN 2% OF CELLULOSE GUM, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SODIUM CASEINATE, SALT, SODIUM ALUMINOSILICATE, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, SUCRALOSE.

What can I use instead of Mexican hot chocolate? ›

Replace the Mexican chocolate called for in your recipe with an equal amount of semisweet chocolate or cocoa powder. Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and, if you like, a drop of almond extract for every ounce of chocolate.

What is Aztec hot chocolate made of? ›

Aztec hot chocolate is a traditional beverage customary to parts of Mexico where the ancient Aztec and Mayan civilizations lived. At its most basic form, it's a mix of hot chocolate with chili powder or spice, and sometimes cinnamon and vanilla. The word "chocolate" comes from the Aztec "xocoatl", for cacao plant.

Can you use water for Abuelita hot chocolate? ›

Can ABUELITA™ be prepared with water? Instant Hot Chocolate ABUELITA™ envelopes can be prepared with water. Tablets, Marqueta and Granulated ABUELITA™ can be prepared with dairy milk or non-dairy alternatives.

What is the best type of hot chocolate? ›

  • Best for Dark Chocolate Lovers. Crow & Moss Honduras Wampusirpi Drinking Chocolate. ...
  • Most Nostalgic. Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix. ...
  • Nostalgic Runner-Up. Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix. ...
  • Best Spiced. Spicewalla Classic Hot Chocolate. ...
  • Most Spike-able. ...
  • Platonic Ideal. ...
  • Best for Gifting. ...
  • Allergy-Free.
Feb 1, 2024

What did the Aztecs call hot chocolate? ›

This bitter, spicy Aztec drink is what modern 'Hot Chocolate' is based from. For a more authentic version the way the Aztecs enjoyed, chill the Xocolatl before drinking.

What's the difference between hot chocolate and hot chocolate? ›

Ingredients. The source of the chocolate flavour is different. Hot Chocolate is made using solid chocolate melted in warm milk or cream. Hot Cocoa, however, is made from a powdered base of cocoa with added sugar and dissolved in hot water or hot milk.

What is another name for champurrado? ›

Champurrado is a winter-time creamy chocolatey drink thickened with masa harina and cooked over low heat with cinnamon, piloncillo, and Mexican chocolate. This authentic hot drink would be known as atole, another name for a thick hot beverage in Mexico.

What does champurrado mean in English? ›

champurrado (countable and uncountable, plural champurrados) A traditional chocolate-based atole found in Mexico, containing panela, vanilla, anise and cinnamon. A Cuban water-based drink, containing several spices, mixed with rum or brandy.

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