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A creamy white hot chocolate recipe made with grapefruit-infused whole milk, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, honey, vanilla, and good-quality white chocolate. A citrusy twist on traditional white hot chocolate!
Why Make This Grapefruit White Hot Chocolate Recipe?
I guess you could say that I’m a fan of divisive foods (see also: anchovies, olives, and candy corn…) So while not everyone loves white chocolate—or grapefruit, for that matter—both of these are staple ingredients in my kitchen.
To create this citrus-inspired twist on a classic mug of white hot chocolate, I’ve combined good-quality chopped white chocolate (not grocery store chocolate chips) with whole milk and fresh grapefruit juice, plus a touch of honey to sweeten, and vanilla extract to heighten the white chocolate’s natural vanilla notes.
The result? A smooth, velvety hot chocolate beverage with a wonderfully unexpected grapefruit flavor. Best served with a swirl of whipped cream, and pieces of homemade candied grapefruit peel!
White Hot Chocolate Ingredients
To make this grapefruit white hot chocolate recipe, begin by gathering the following ingredients:
- Whole Milk – I suggest using whole (rather than semi-skimmed) milk for a rich, creamy drink. For other milk options, see my notes on substitutions, below.
- Grapefruit Peel – You’ll need about half of the peel of a large red or white grapefruit, sliced into 1-inch wide strips. Feel free to use a citrus peeler to ease the process along!
- White Chocolate – You’ll need 85 grams, or 3 ounces, of good-quality white chocolate. Callebaut 28% is my go-to white chocolate for everyday use, but any good-quality brand will work. Avoid cheap chocolate chips, which are better for baking than they are for beverages, where texture and meltability are of utmost importance.
- Grapefruit Juice – After removing the peel, squeeze the grapefruit and set aside about 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) of juice.
- Vanilla Extract – Vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste heightens the natural vanilla notes of the white chocolate
- Honey – To sweeten. You can add more honey as desired, use another sweetener (see my suggestions below) or omit it altogether if you prefer a drink which leans more citrusy than sweet.
How to Make White Hot Chocolate
To make grapefruit white hot chocolate, you’ll begin by infusing grapefruit peels into whole milk (described in detail below). Next, rewarm the infused milk over low heat and add the white chocolate. Whisk gently, allowing the chocolate to melt.
Remove the mixture from the stovetop and whisk in freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, plus vanilla extract and a touch of honey.
Pour your white hot chocolate into mugs and serve immediately, garnished with whipped cream, shaved white chocolate, fresh grapefruit zest, or pieces of chopped candied grapefruit peel.
Infusing Grapefruit Into Whole Milk
The first step in creating the citrus-y grapefruit flavor is infusing sections of grapefruit peel into whole milk.
To do this, gently warm the milk and citrus peels in a pan on the stovetop, simmer for a minute or so, then turn off the heat and allow the fruit to steep for at least 30 minutes, or as long as an hour. (The longer you allow the grapefruit peels to sit in the milk, the stronger the citrus flavor.)
Use kitchen tongs to remove the grapefruit peel, then proceed with the recipe as written.
Garnishing and Serving Grapefruit White Hot Chocolate
Whipped Cream – The classic finishing touch for a mug of hot chocolate! Use a spoon or a piping bag to top your grapefruit hot chocolate with whipped cream (or coconut whipped cream). You can even flavor the whipped cream with grapefruit oil.
White Chocolate – Sprinkle curls or pieces of grated white chocolate over your mug for a pretty finishing touch, or add a handful of miniature white chocolate chips.
Fresh Grapefruit Zest – Use a Microplane to zest fresh grapefruit peel over the whipped cream.
Candied Grapefruit Peel – Make a batch of homemade candied grapefruit peel, chop into tiny pieces, and scatter on top!
Marshmallows – Serve your hot chocolate with homemade vanilla bean marshmallows.
Recipe Substitutions and Adjustments
I developed this recipe with whole milk, but you can substitute a plant-based alternative such as oat, coconut, or almond milk. However, keep in mind that white chocolate contains milk, so this substitution won’t make the drink dairy free or vegan. (Similarly, you can replace the honey with another sweetener like agave, but the recipe still won’t be vegan because of the dairy-based white chocolate.) For a dairy free and vegan alternative, try my vegan hot chocolate recipe instead.
I love grapefruit, but you can make this hot chocolate recipe with oranges, too!
As written, this recipe will make two smaller portions, or one large portion. If serving a crowd, you can double, triple, or quadruple the recipe to meet your needs.
Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions
You can prepare the grapefruit-infused milk up to 24 hours in advance. Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Store leftover grapefruit hot chocolate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in a small saucepan on the stovetop, or pour it into a microwave-safe mug and heat on medium-high power for 1-2 minutes.
Other hot chocolate recipes you might enjoy:
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Red Wine Hot Chocolate
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
White Hot Chocolate with Bailey’s Whipped Cream
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
Grapefruit White Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 portions (about 200 milliliters each) 1x
Description
Hot chocolate made with grapefruit-infused whole milk, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, honey, vanilla, and creamy white chocolate.
Ingredients
Hot chocolate:
370 milliliters whole milk (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 grapefruit peel, sliced into 1-inch wide strips
85 grams chopped white chocolate (3 ounces; about 1/2 cup)
30 milliliters freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (2 tablespoons), or to taste
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon honey, or to taste
To garnish:
Whipped cream, or coconut whipped cream
Shaved white chocolate
Grapefruit zest, or candied grapefruit peel
Instructions
In a small saucepan, combine whole milk and grapefruit peel. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Simmer for one minute.
Remove from heat. Cover and allow grapefruit to steep in the milk for at least 30 minutes, and up to 1 hour.
With kitchen tongs, remove the grapefruit peel.
Rewarm the milk over low heat. Add the chopped white chocolate, whisking gently until the chocolate melts.
Remove from heat. Whisk in grapefruit juice, vanilla extract, and honey.
Taste and adjust, adding more grapefruit juice or honey as desired.
Pour into mugs. Garnish with whipped cream, shaved white chocolate, grapefruit zest, or chopped candied grapefruit peel.
Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Steeping Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Beverages
