Next time you find yourself craving something festive but a little unexpected, consider the frozen chocolate drink that has Cher and Jimmy Fallon openly plotting their New York City pilgrimages. The treat in question is Serendipity 3’s Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, a dessert so culturally embedded that it has become shorthand for indulgence in Manhattan, and thanks to a recent exchange between the two celebrities on The Tonight Show, a reminder that even pop icons keep seasonal food traditions.
‘The Tonight Show’ moment that reignited a holiday obsession
On a 2023 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Fallon and Cher bonded over the Upper East Side institution that serves the frozen chocolate drink. “It’s one of my favorite spots in the city, but you can’t get in,” Fallon said. “Obviously, you can get in. You’re Cher.” Cher responded without hesitation: “I can get in. I’ve been going there since I was 19. I can get in because I’ve got seniority.”
‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ | NBC
Serendipity 3 has been serving its signature Frrrozen Hot Chocolate for more than 70 years and has sold more than 30 million cups, according to the restaurant. The original version blends 14 different types of cocoa into a thick, spoonable dessert topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Fallon and Cher marked the 30 millionth serving together on air, underscoring the drink’s longevity and cultural pull. The restaurant’s own history notes that Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol, Joan Rivers, and Jackie Kennedy were all devoted fans, with Kennedy once requesting the recipe for the White House, a request that was politely declined. Oprah Winfrey later mentioned it on her famous “Favorite Things” list, cementing its place in American dessert lore.
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For those unable to make it to Manhattan, chains such as Starbucks and Panera have introduced their own interpretations over the years, but the original remains singular, largely because of its texture. The restaurant has emphasized that homogenized milk is essential to achieving its signature richness, a detail that becomes useful when translating the recipe into a vegan format.
Serendipity 3’s Frrrozen Hot Chocolate Made Vegan
A dairy-free adaptation of Serendipity 3’s Frrrozen Hot Chocolate starts with chocolate rather than milk, building depth through layered sweetness and fat. Coconut-based evaporated milk replaces dairy while preserving the dense, velvety mouthfeel that defines the drink. What follows is a fully vegan version inspired by the original method, designed to be made in batches and shared.
Serendipity 3
What You Need:
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 (12-ounce) package dairy-free milk chocolate chips
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup instant hot chocolate mix
3 tablespoons vegan butter
2 (12-ounce) cans evaporated coconut milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups ice
1 cup cold dairy-free milk
What You Do:
1. Place semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, sugar, hot chocolate mix, and butter into the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate chips start to melt, about five minutes.
2. Stir evaporated milk slowly into the chocolate mixture until chocolate chips are halfway melted, about three minutes. Remove from heat and continue stirring until the sauce is smooth and velvety, about two minutes.
3. Mix in vanilla extract. Let sauce cool to room temperature, at least 20 minutes. Place one cup chocolate sauce, four cups ice, and one cup milk in a blender. Cover and blend until smooth, then pour into two glasses. Refrigerate the remaining sauce.
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