It used to be, “Give me a Pina Colada + I’ll be happier than a pig in mud,” but lately, hot chocolate is kinda changing my tune. While I formerly considered myself a creature of the summer, now I’m all about fall and winter – because all the different variations of hot chocolate are totally altering how I think about tropical frozen beverages + cold weather. Give me some snow and sleet – as long as you lock me in a room with a fireplace and tons of hot chocolate.
And I’m not just talking about that powdered packet stuff. Hot chocolate can get old quickly if you’re not doing it right. Why settle for the mundane milk and chocolate combo when there are so many other yummy ways to go?
Peppermint
1 cup whole milk + 1/2 cup chocolate chips + 1 tbsp peppermint extract
Orange
1 cup milk + 1/2 tbsp sugar + 1/2 tbsp grated orange zest + 2 oz dark chocolate
Vegan
1 cup vanilla almond milk + 1 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder + 2 tbsp coconut palm sugar + 1 cup milk
Aztec
1 cup milk + 5 oz chopped dark chocolate + 1/4 tsp cinnamon + tiny pinch cayenne
Peanut Butter
1 cup skim milk + 1/2 cup heavy cream + 4 oz milk chocolate, chopped + 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
Pumpkin Spice
1 tsp maple syrup + 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice + 1 cup whole milk + 1 tsp unsweetened dark cocoa
Nutella
1 cup whole milk + 2 tbsp Nutella + 1 tbsp cocoa + pinch salt + 1/2 cup milk
Caramel
1/2 cup milk + 5 oz milk chocolate, chopped + 1/4 cup heavy cream + 3 tbsp caramel sauce
Lavender White
1 cup whole milk + 1/4 tsp lavender buds + 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Irish
1 cup milk + 1/2 cup chocolate chips + 2 oz bailey’s Irish cream
