Our favorite hot chocolate recipes for the holiday season.
Old-Fashioned Drinking Chocolate
Old-Fashioned drinking chocolate.
Chili Chocolate
Chili hot chocolate.
Peppermint White Chocolate
Peppermint white chocolate.
As the landscape turns wintry and the last vestiges of summer warmth fade from memory, nothing cheers the chilly soul like a mug of hot chocolate. From good old-fashioned fall-backs to decadent twists, here are three of our favorite recipes.
Old-fashioned Drinking Chocolate
A beloved staple, like memories of relaxing at your grandmother’s table with the snow falling outside the window, this recipe is sure to conjure nostalgia.
4 cups milk 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped or broken into small pieces ⅓ cup sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract pinch of salt
Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and salt. Stir until smooth. Add chocolate and vanilla, whisking until smooth. (If you prefer a thicker potion, simply add more chocolate.) Pour into mugs.
Serves 4
Chili Chocolate
For a south-of-the-border take on a favored classic, bolster the taste-quotient with a dash of chili pepper and spice.
6 cups milk 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 1 red chili pepper, split 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 cloves 1 stick cinnamon 12 ounces dark chocolate, chopped or broken into small pieces pinch of salt whipped cream for garnish
Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Add vanilla, chili pepper, pepper flakes, cloves and cinnamon. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain into a clean pot. Heat on medium, adding chocolate in batches and stirring until smooth. Add salt. Pour into mugs and garnish with whipped cream.
Serves 4
Peppermint White Chocolate
Packed with minty goodness, this recipe is perfect for ushering in the holiday season. Whip up a batch, gather your loved ones, crank the holiday music and revel in decking the halls.
2 cups milk 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup white chocolate, chopped or broken into small pieces 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract whipped cream for garnish peppermint candy, crushed
Heat milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Add extracts and chocolate and whisk until smooth. When chocolate is melted and milk is hot, pour into mugs. Garnish with whipped cream, and sprinkle crushed peppermint on top.
Serves 4-5
