Categories: Holidays

Get Creative With These Hot Chocolate Recipes

While we don’t see anything wrong with drinking hot chocolate all year long, it becomes especially popular during the winter months. There are enough hot chocolate recipes to make a new one every day of winter and never run out of something new to try. Blow away your friends and family, or just your own taste buds with these creative hot chocolate recipes. 

Hot Buttered Rum

While this might not be a suitable hot chocolate recipe for those falling bellow the 21-years-old line, it’s a decadent drink you won’t want to miss this season. Becky Hardin from “Rookie Cookie” describes a freezable mixture for the drink making it an easy go-to for a last-minute holiday drink. It’s a dryish mixture consisting of butter, brown sugar, hot cocoa mix, and cinnamon. After that, it only takes 2 1/2 ounces of rum and hot water to complete the drink. It’s self-proclaimed as liquid brownie batter so, is there really anything stopping you from trying this hot chocolate recipe?

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Cut through the sweet with some spice in this decadent hot chocolate recipe. Instead of opting for a chocolate mix, use real chocolate bars melted into a warm cup of milk. The recipe from “Ambitious Kitchen” describes a vegan hot chocolate recipe opting for almond and coconut milk over dairy milk and using dairy-free dark chocolate, but you can make this with non-vegan products as well. Adding cinnamon and some cayenne pepper turns this drink from sweet to sinful with just the right amount of devilish fire. Surprise your tastebuds with more than just temperature heat this winter using this hot chocolate recipe on nights you’re feeling just a little extra adventurous.   

Vanilla Mocha Hot Chocolate

This hot chocolate recipe doesn’t make you choose between coffee and chocolate because it combines it all in one cup. Again, this recipe calls for steamed milk and whole chocolate being melted together for a rich creamy taste you won’t want to stop drinking. The recipe from Tieghan at “Half Baked Harvest” says you only need to add vanilla extract, instant coffee, and real maple syrup to pull this recipe together. Opting for semi-sweet or dark chocolate will cut down on the sweetness but if your sweet tooth is really up there, opt for milk chocolate instead. Considering the ingredients, this might be a hot chocolate recipe to make earlier in the evening so you aren’t amped up on sugar and coffee before bed. 

Peanutbutter Hot Chocolate

Oh boy, oh boy it’s a peanut butter cup in an actual cup. The recipe on “Nutmeg Nanny” explains how you can make this hot chocolate recipe in a blender; the more you know. Fear not, if you don’t have a blender, you can still make this hot chocolate recipe in a saucepan. The combination of warm milk, semi-sweet chocolate, and a gooey glob of creamy peanut butter will have you refilling your cup faster than a snowman melts in the spring. I mean chocolate needs peanut butter the way your lungs need oxygen. Is that dramatic? Maybe. Do we stand by it? Absolutely. One sip of this hot chocolate recipe and you’ll be hooked. 

Blackberry Hot Chocolate

Even though as a society we will cover basically any fruit in chocolate and eat it, you rarely see fruity combos for hot chocolate recipes. But just because they aren’t ‘popular’ doesn’t mean they aren’t worth trying, because once you do, you’ll never want regular hot chocolate again. While this might be a hot chocolate recipe that’s a little more involved due to making your own coulis, it’s worth investing the effort in. The recipe from Jane at “Little Sugar Snaps” not only recommends adding the coulis to your hot milk, chocolate chunks, and vanilla mixture but topping off you whipped cream with some coulis drizzle. She describes this hot chocolate recipe as having s subtle note of a red wine flavor. Honestly, that sounds decadent enough to try right now. 

Hot Chocolate Float

The past little kid in all of us will wish we’d known about this innovative hot chocolate recipe sooner. It’s so simple and yet you don’t see it trending on social media. Well, that’s about to change because this hot chocolate recipe just turned the sweetness level up by 100. It’s so simple, you might make one every single night because you can change the flavor every single night which is an added bonus. Dorthy Kern from “Crazy for Crust” shared this recipe that’s easy to make and easier to drink. Think rootbeer float but replace the rootbeer with hot chocolate. We will give you a minute to let your mind explode with the possibilities. It’s as simple as using a hot cocoa mix and then adding a scoop, or two of ice cream. Dorthy recommends using mint ice cream but you can add your favorite flavor to the cup. 

Kahlua Hot Chocolate

Again, this is a hot chocolate recipe that you’ll need to be above the 21-years-old threshold to enjoy. This hot chocolate recipe isn’t too far off the beaten path of a classic hot chocolate cup, but you’ll want to add cinnamon and nutmeg on top of the Kahlua splash to really flavor up your cup according to Chungah from “Damn Delicious.” You can go all out on your cup and top it with marshmallows and chocolate and caramel drizzle to add to the aesthetic and the flavor. 

Unicorn Hot Chocolate

Prove to everyone unicorn’s do exist by showing them the one in your cup. For this hot chocolate recipe, you won’t have to melt down any chocolate chips but you might have to go on a little treasure hunt for some special ingredients. You’ll need a white chocolate powder mix, powdered milk, pink food coloring, and white chocolate drizzle. Top it off with whip cream and all the fun sprinkles your heart desires. On “Love and Olive Oil” the recipe author Lindsay describes how to perfectly recreate the iconic secret menu drink from Creme and Sugar in Los Angeles. It’s the perfect hot chocolate recipe to make on a gloomy Saturday in the middle of winter because it will bring some color and happiness into your home. 

See Also

Earl Grey Hot Chocolate

The soothing notes of earl grey tea mingle with the comforting sweetness of chocolate in this innovative hot chocolate recipe. The key to this hot chocolate recipe is to steep your tea leaves in steaming milk before stirring in your chocolate to melt. Such a simple idea to steep your tea in steaming milk, and yet, you rarely see it done. Chelsea from “Port and Fin” describes her fascination with earl grey tea leaves and their versatility in cooking, it was only natural they eventually made their way into a hot chocolate recipe. Indulge in tea and treats with one cup and you might find your new favorite night time drink. 

Chai Hot Chocolate

Hmmm, we’ve heard of a dirty chai, but a chocolate chai may be in the running for a new chai crown. If you’re missing the fall flavors while indoors in the heart of winter, this hot chocolate recipe will cure your winter chill. Just steep your favorite chia tea in hot water and add half a cocoa mix package and you’re set according to Carrie from “Frugal Foodie Mama.” Add the hearty earth flavors to your sweet hot chocolate to cut down the sweetness and feel your soul warm-up and your tastebuds tingle in happiness with this unique hot chocolate recipe. 

Frothy “Almond Joy” Hot Chocolate

Does your almond joy candy bar disappear too quickly for you to enjoy it properly? Well, this hot chocolate recipe by Carrie from “Frugal Foodie Mama” might just be the solution you didn’t know you were looking for. Opting for coconut milk over water or dairy milk emphasizes the iconic flavor of the candy bar, and when combined with the chocolate and almond butter in the recipe, well it’s simply the greatest thing you can put in your mug. The frothy part comes from putting the mixture in a blender but it will be just a decadent without the froth if that’s just not a possibility for you. Spoil yourself with this hot chocolate recipe and pour yourself another cup if it disappears just as quickly as the candy bar. 

Kit Kat Hot Chocolate

Another candy bar in a cup, the perfect way to sweeten up your winter months. For this hot chocolate recipe, you’ll start with the basic components of traditional hot chocolate but add in some crushed kit kat, whipping cream, cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla. Talk about sweet on sweet on sweet; there is nothing better when it comes to a hot chocolate recipe. Kacey from “The Cookie Writer” details the recipe and how to adjust the sweetness level to match your taste buds. 

What hot chocolate recipe are you going to try? All of them? Share the articles with your friends and host a hot chocolate party so you can try a mug of each!

Featured Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/851672979526398828/
Hot Buttered Rum Image Source: https://www.thecookierookie.com/chocolate-hot-buttered-rum/
Mexican Hot Chocolate Image Source: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/healthy-mexican-hot-chocolate/
Vanilla Mocha Image Source: https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/vanilla-mocha-hot-cocoa/
Peanut Butter Image Source: https://bakingmischief.com/peanut-butter-hot-chocolate/
Blackberry Hot Chocolate Image Source: https://www.littlesugarsnaps.com/blackberry-hot-chocolate/
Hot Chocolate Float Image Source: https://www.crazyforcrust.com/hot-chocolate-float/
Unicorn Hot Chocolate Image Source: https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2017/01/unicorn-hot-chocolate.html
Kahlua Hot Chocolate Image Source: https://damndelicious.net/2013/12/03/kahlua-hot-chocolate/
Earl Grey Hot Chocolate Image Source: http://portandfin.com/earl-grey-hot-chocolate/
Chai Hot Chocolate Image Source: https://www.thefrugalfoodiemama.com/2015/02/easy-chai-hot-chocolate.html
Almond Joy Hot Chocolate Image Source: https://www.thefrugalfoodiemama.com/2016/01/frothy-almond-joy-hot-chocolate.html
Kit Kat Hot Chocolate Image Source: https://thecookiewriter.com/homemade-kit-kat-hot-chocolate/
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Kayla Payette

A recent college graduate working her way into the publishing world. I love sharing stories for people, companies, and creators. I'll always have a passion for the written word even though digital marketing has spiked my interest. Thank you for reading my work and if you want to see what else I've done you can visit my online portfolio here! https://rosesrred125.wixsite.com/kaylapportfolio

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