We have officially passed Thanksgiving, meaning it’s now the most wonderful time of the year… and we’re gearing up for my personal favorite holiday! It’s Christmastime, which to me, means bring on the shopping, presents, twinkling lights, sweet treats, old movies, and fuzzy socks. One of the absolute best sweet treats during this festive time of year is, and always will, hot chocolate. Keep reading to find out the top five ways to make hot cocoa while staying warm and festive at home!
1. Betty Crocker’s Christmas Cocoa
This hot chocolate recipe is a little more complex than most, but those extra steps are certainly worth it when you’re left with a beautiful cup of this Christmas cocoa. Plus, the ingredients are easy-to-find items that I guarantee you will already have in your home. So, grab your sugar, baking cocoa, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, milk, and marshmallow creme, and prepare to have your taste buds delighted!
2. Food Network’s Holiday Hot Chocolate
This easy-ish recipe is perfect for anyone who knows their way around a saucepan. Additionally, Food Network knows that people like to make their hot cocoa their own, and with this recipe, they leave room for you to create a masterpiece if you’d like to. The ingredients you’ll need include milk, light brown sugar, vanilla, salt, semisweet chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate. In the end, add your favorite toppings if you’d like to!
3. Ashlee Marie’s Best Hot Chocolate Recipe
If you enjoy DIY projects, this recipe is perfect for you. Plus, this recipe creates about 10 steaming cupfuls of hot cocoa, enough for you and your family. Grab your cocoa powder, sugar, salt, water, whole milk, and vanilla, and get ready to have your mind blown by what baker Ashlee Marie claims is the BEST hot chocolate recipe ever.
4. Allrecipes’ Polar Express Hot Chocolate
Inspired by the classic Christmas film Polar Express (2004), this hot chocolate recipe will have you singing and dancing to your favorite nostalgic holiday movies. Be warned, this recipe is very rich, but honestly, who doesn’t want that on a cold winter night? Simply combine milk, sweetened condensed milk, heavy whipping cream, chocolate chips, vanilla, and salt to be instantly transported onto the magical Christmas train we all know and love.
5. Striped Spatula’s Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Last but certainly not least, this recipe is my all-time favorite for hot cocoa. There’s something so magical and yummy about adding just a dash of peppermint to a warm chocolate drink, which is why I personally love this recipe. The ingredient list for this dish includes milk, heavy cream, sugar, salt, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and crushed candy canes. Although this does require more ingredients than the other recipes, the results are deliciously worth the effort!
Let us know in the comments below which recipe in this list is your favorite, and tell us how you’ll be spending the holidays this year!