Hot Chocolate Science

This winter-warming hot chocolate science experiment is super easy and a great addition to your hot chocolate making experience. We tested different temperatures of hot chocolate to investigate whether marshmallows melt faster in hot or cold milk, but there are many variations you could try with the same ingredients.

If you like this, you might also like my other ideas for science in the kitchen.

Hot Chocolate Science Investigation

Hot Chocolate Ingredients

Hot chocolate powder

Milk or Water

Marshmallows

Microwave

Spoon

Timer

Hot Chocolate Experiment

You could set this investigation up in many different ways, so do what you think will work best for the children you’re working with.

Thinking Scientifically

How to make an experiment a fair test

For the activity to be a fair test, only one variable should change, and everything else stays the same. For this investigation, we are changing the temperature of the hot chocolate so the amount of milk, type of cup,  amount of hot chocolate powder and marshmallows should stay the same for each test condition.

Measure the same amount of milk into three identical cups.

Heat one in a microwave for 1 minute, one for 40 seconds and one for 20 seconds ( or whatever time you think will work best considering the age of the children and the power of the microwave )

Add the same amount of hot chocolate powder to each and give it a good stir.

Place the same number/weight of marshmallows gently into each cup.

Make observations of each cup at 30-second intervals.

Record your data.

Questions to ask

How do the marshmallows change as they melt?

Do you think the marshmallows will be warm?

Why do you think marshmallows melt faster in a warmer drink?

Do you think the marshmallows would melt faster if you pushed them below the surface?

Extension Ideas – Hot Chocolate Science

Creative Family Fun investigated how the hot chocolate powder dissolved in different water temperatures.

You could also make chocolate spoons or hot chocolate sticks and investigate how long they take to melt in cold, warm and hot milk.

What do you think would happen if you used bigger marshmallows?