5 Deliciously Dreamy Hot Chocolate Recipes

It doesn't matter what the temp is, I'm a fan of hot beverages: coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate...

So I thought I'd put together a little hot chocolate guide for any fellow readers who can't get enough liquid cocoa. Marshmallows optional.

Nutella Hot Chocolate

via thehungryhousewife.com

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
  
• 2 1/2 Tbsp Nutella
  
• 1 Tbsp Cocoa
  
• Tiny pinch of salt
  

Directions:

1. In a small sauce pan over medium heat, whisk all ingredients together until well blended and hot.
   
2. Pour in a cup and top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

Whipped Hot Chocolate

via kandeej.com

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:
For the chocolate -

• 2 cups milk 1 tbs vanilla extract 
  
• 1/4 sweet ground cocoa 
  

For the whipped cream - 

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream 
  
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar 
  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

Directions:

1. Place a mixing bowl in the freezer. (You'll get it out in a sec for the whipped cream.)
   
2. In a pot, pour milk, vanilla extract and sweet ground cocoa, turn heat to medium and whisk all ingredients together until smooth and chocolaty. 
   
3. Turn temperature down to low and let simmer. 
   
4. Get bowl from the freezer and pour in the heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.
   
5. Use a kitchen mixer or whisk by hand and whip, whisk, beat.
   
6. Turn stove off and pour the hot chocolate into mugs, about 1/2 to 3/4 full. Then spoon in big heaps of the whipped cream. 
   

Dairy-free Hot Chocolate

via youngandraw.com

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (you can also use coconut milk for an extra rich drink)
• 3 tbsp cacao or carob powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 3 tbsp coconut sugar or coconut syrup
• pinch Himalayan sea salt

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a medium sauce pot and bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring often. 
   
2. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 4-5 minutes.
   

Mexican Hot Cocoa

via self.com

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 cups reduced-fat (2 percent) evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup chocolate liqueur
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ancho chili powder
• 10 cinnamon sticks
• 1 dried red chile
• 2 1/2 oz bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. Whisk evaporated milk, whole milk, liqueur, vanilla, sugar, cocoa, 1 tsp of cinnamon and chili powder in a heavy saucepan. 
2. Add 2 of the cinnamon sticks and chili and cook gently over medium-low heat until warm. 
3. Add chocolate and cook, whisking until melted. 
4. Gently bring to a high simmer; reduce heat and simmer until liquid thickens and reduces slightly, whisking often, 10 minutes. 
5. Combine heavy cream with remaining 1/2 tsp cinnamon and beat until peaks form. 
6. Ladle 1/3 cup hot cocoa each into 8 teacups; top each with 1 tbsp whipped cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Easy Peasy Homemade Hot Chocolate

via marthastewart.com

Makes 5 3/4 cups dry mix or 92 eight-ounce servings

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 1/4 cups cocoa
• 1 tablespoon table salt
• Whole milk for serving

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt, and whisk to combine well. Store the mixture in an airtight container.
   
2. For individual servings, pour 1 cup whole milk into a microwave-safe mug, and microwave on high just until hot. Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa mix, and stir to dissolve. For a larger batch of cocoa, warm the milk in a saucepan set over medium-low heat, taking care not to let the milk boil; as it warms, stir in 2 tablespoons of mix for each cup of milk.