Sweeten the Season With 7 Gourmet Hot Chocolate Recipes

Prep Time: 5 min | Serves: 8

Ingredients: 

• • 1 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• • 2 cups powdered milk
• • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• • ½ teaspoon salt

Steps:

• • Sift your sugar and cocoa powder to remove lumps.
• • Add the powdered milk, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk together until well combined.
• • Store in an airtight container for up to a year.

Cook Time: 5 min | Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• • 1 ½ cups whole milk (or cream of your choice)
• • ½ cup heavy cream
• • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• • 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• • ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
• • Whipped cream and candy cane to garnish

Steps: 

• • Combine milk, cream, and sugar in a pot over medium-low heat until it starts to simmer. Cook for 2–3 minutes.
• • Add your chocolate and stir until fully melted.
• • Remove from heat and add your peppermint extract.
• • Pour into a mug, top with whipped cream and a candy cane, and try not to drink it all at once.

Cook Time: 5 min | Serves: 6

Ingredients: 

• • 6 cups milk of your choice
• • 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• • 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• • Optional: ½ teaspoon chili powder for a spicy kick

Steps: 

• • Combine all ingredients (except the chopped chocolate) in a saucepan over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer.
• • Let cook for a few minutes until well combined.
• • Add the chocolate and stir continuously until melted.
• • Pour into mugs and garnish with cinnamon sticks, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or a topping of your choice!

Cook Time: 5 min | Serves: 4

Ingredients: 

• • 4 cups coconut milk
• • 2 tablespoons sugar
• • 8 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
• • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• • 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• • Coconut flakes, toasted
• • Optional: coconut whipped cream

Steps: 

• • Toast your coconut flakes.
• • Combine coconut milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and coconut extract in a saucepan over medium heat.
• • Once simmering slightly, lower heat and add white chocolate. Stir continuously until melted. 
• • Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream and toasted coconut.

Total Time: 20 min | Serves: 2

Ingredients: 

• • 4 cups fresh raspberries
• • ½ cup granulated sugar
• • ¼ cup water
• • 2 cups whole milk
• • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Steps: 

• • Combine raspberries, granulated sugar, and water in a saucepan. Boil over high heat for 5 minutes until the fruit has cooked down and the mixture thickens.
• • Press through a strainer and discard the seeds, leaving you with about 1 cup of raspberry purée.
• • Heat the milk over medium heat for a few minutes and add your cocoa powder, sugar, and purée. Mix until well combined.
• • Pour into mugs and taste the goodness!

Cook Time: 5 | Services: 2

Ingredients: 

• • 2 cups whole milk
• • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• • ½ teaspoon ginger
• • ½ teaspoon allspice
• • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• • Optional: gingerbread syrup to taste

Steps: 

• • Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat thoroughly, but do not boil.
• • Taste and add gingerbread syrup as needed for a stronger flavor.
• • Pour into mugs, top with a dusting of cinnamon, and enjoy!

Cook Time: 10 min | Serves: 3

Ingredients: 

• • 2 ½ cup milk
• • ½ cup heavy cream
• • 5 oz white or dark chocolate, finely chopped
• • ½ cup cookie butter
• • 1 teaspoon vanilla
• • ⅛ teaspoon salt
• • Biscoff cookie crumbles for garnish

Steps: 

• • Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat thoroughly until chocolate and cookie butter have melted and are fully incorporated into the mixture. Do not let it boil.
• • Pour into mugs, top with Biscoff cookie crumbles, and drink up!

Cook Time: 15 | Serves: 4

Ingredients: 

• • 3 cups milk
• • 1 cup hazelnut creamer
• • 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• • 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
• • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
• • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• • Hazelnut syrup, to taste
• • ½ cup hazelnuts, chopped and toasted to garnish

Steps: 

• • Chop hazelnuts and spread on a baking sheet. Toast at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
• • While hazelnuts are toasting, combine milk, cocoa powder, sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla extract in a saucepan over medium heat.
• • Add chocolate and still until melted.
• • Remove from heat and add vanilla extract and hazelnut creamer.
• • Taste and add hazelnut syrup if needed for nuttier flavor.
• • Pour in cups, sprinkle with toasted hazelnuts, and sip away.