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Warm Up this Winter

Get cozy on a cold night with elevated hot chocolate

Hot chocolate can be traced back thousands of years. It has an incredibly rich history, thanks to the cultures that made up present-day Mexico. While how we make hot chocolate has changed as it has been shared around the world over the course of generations, it continues to be a timeless tradition that keeps Jack Frost from nipping at your nose.

You might spend your winters curled up with a good book while drinking a steaming cup of cocoa. Perhaps your family even breaks out holiday-themed mugs to watch The Polar Express or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Whatever the case may be in your household, you don’t have to just rip open a store-bought package. Unleash your creativity when you create hot chocolate by blending it with other iconic tastes.

FUN FLAVORS:

  • Cookies and cream

  • Lavender white chocolate

  • Snickerdoodle

  • White chocolate raspberry

  • Red velvet

  • Chai-spiced

  • Black Forest

  • Peppermint mocha

  • Salted caramel

TASTY TOPPINGS:

  • Mini marshmallows

  • Spiced whipped cream

  • Peppermint candy

  • Coconut flakes

  • Chocolate shavings

  • Butterscotch chips

  • Cookie crumbs

  • Cinnamon sugar

  • Orange zest

HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups milk (any percentage)

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup chocolate (chips or chopped)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Combine milk, cocoa powder, and sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat.

  2. Whisk mixture frequently until warm (not boiling).

  3. Add chocolate and continue whisking until it evenly melts into the milk.

  4. Add vanilla extract.

  5. Go the extra mile by incorporating ingredients for a fun flavor. Otherwise, stop here and pour your hot chocolate into mugs with your desired toppings.