5 Indulgent Hot Chocolates for the Coziest Winter
Treat yourself this winter season
Temperatures are dropping throughout the West, which means it’s time to heat things up inside with a rich cup of hot chocolate. The classic recipe is always a great choice, combining ground chocolate or cocoa powder—we recommend always using the highest quality available. Try these tasty variations:
Totally Decadent Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate becomes even more of an indulgent treat when a big dollop of caramel is stirred into it. Orange peel and vanilla bean bring the flavor.
Recipe: Decadent Hot Chocolate
Brandied Hot Chocolate
Adding French brandy to hot chocolate is like teleporting to the Alps, sans drooling Saint Bernard.
Recipe: Brandied Hot Chocolate
Mexican Hot Chocolate
Mexican chocolate is both spicy and sweet, the ideal combination for a cold winter’s night. Cinnamon, dried chilis, orange peel, and vanilla bean are the perfect complement to semi-bitter chocolate.
Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate
Boozy Frozen Hot Chocolate
If you’re cozy inside by the fire, why not break out the rum for a frozen version of this holiday treat?
Recipe: Boozy Frozen Hot Chocolate
Champurrado (Thick Mexican Chocolate Drink)
A traditional Mexican beverage that combines hot chocolate with masa (corn flour) for a nourishing, warming beverage.
Recipe: Champurrado
And… Don’t Forget the Homemade Marshmallows
Punch up any hot chocolate—homemade or made from a mix—with your own marshmallows. They’re fluffy and pillowy, a far cry from the rigid, stale kind in the grocery store.
Add in a drop of food dye for fun hues, or experiment with flavors by mixing in peppermint oil, vanilla, matcha powder, or cocoa powder.
Recipe: Homemade Marshmallows
If you’re looking for a great gift, seek out mixes from Western chocolate makers: Dandelion Chocolate’s Single Origin Hot Chocolate Mix, Guittard’s Grand Cacao Drinking Chocolate, or Recchiutti’s Dark Hot Chocolate.