Hot Chocolate Drinks

This is why we love cold weather.

When the weather turns frosty, hot chocolate becomes the mainstay of a night spent on the couch, cuddled under a fluffy blanket with a mug in hand and a favorite movie on tv.

Hot chocolate drinks are a wonderful substitute for dessert and coffee.  Consider them dessert in a cup.

Here are a few to get you started, with more being added all the time...

Hot Chocolate Float

• 2 c. whole milk
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
  
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 6 oz. chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp. Chocolate Sauce, for serving
• Vanilla ice cream, for serving
• Chocolate shavings, for serving

Bring milk to a simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar and stir until no lumps remain. Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted. Turn off heat.

Pour chocolate sauce in a small dish. Dip cups in the chocolate to rim the cup. Pour hot chocolate into each glass, then top with a scoop of ice cream and some chocolate shavings.

Reese’s Hot Chocolate

• 2 1/2 c. whole milk
• 1/4 c. cocoa powder
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 3 tbsp. smooth peanut butter
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  

Dip mug rims in peanut butter and then into Reese's pieces.

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, combine milk, cocoa powder, sugar, salt and peanut butter. Whisk until peanut butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Divide into two mugs.

Top with whipped cream, a chocolate drizzle, and one half a Reese's cup. Serve.

Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

• 2 c. milk (preferably whole)
• 1/2 c. pumpkin puree
• 2 tsp. pumpkin spice
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2/3 c. white chocolate chips
• Whipped cream, for serving
• cinnamon-sugar, for sprinkling
• Cinnamon sticks, optional

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice and vanilla. Heat, whisking occasionally, until the mixture comes to a low simmer. Stir in white chocolate chips and cook until the chocolate has melted. Remove from heat.

Ladle into mugs then top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, if desired.

Mudslide Hot Chocolate

• 2 c. whole milk
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 6 oz. chocolate chips
• 1/4 c. Baileys
• 1/4 c. vodka
• 1/4 c. Kahlua
• Whipped cream, for serving
• Chocolate Sauce, for serving
• crushed oreos, for serving

Bring milk to a simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar and stir until no lumps remain. Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted. Turn off heat.

Pour chocolate sauce in a small dish. Dip cups in the sauce to rim the cup. Pour the hot chocolate into each glass, then top with whipped cream. Garnish with crushed Oreos and drizzle more with chocolate sauce.

 Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa

• 1 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 c. cocoa powder
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 6 c. whole milk
• Mini marshmallows, for garnish

Combine all ingredients except marshmallows in a slow cooker. Stir to combine.

Cook until everything is melted, stirring occasionally, 2 hours on LOW.

10 minutes before serving, add marshmallows and let them get melty. Garnish with more mini marshmallows, if desired.

Amaretto Hot Chocolate

• 3 c. whole milk
• 2/3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 c. sugar
• pinch/grind of salt
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 3 oz. Amaretto Liquor (1 oz. per glass)
• Toppings:
• Whipped Cream/Whipped Topping
• Slivered Almonds
• Chocolate Shavings

In a medium sauce pan, add the milk, chocolate chips, sugar and salt. Heat on medium low heat, whisking often. Continue to whisk until the chocolate melts completely and the mixture comes to a low simmer. (Do NOT let boil, as it will burn to the bottom of the pan.) Once liquid comes to a low simmer, promptly remove from heat. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.

Ladle the chocolate into 3 mugs, and add 1 oz. Amaretto liquor to each glass. Stir to combine. Top with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

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