When the weather starts to get chilly, the cozy sweaters come out and home sweet home is the best place to be, a cup of hot chocolate hits the spot. Whether it's a big pot of gourmet homemade hot chocolate served to friends, or just a mug of instant hot chocolate powder, hot chocolate is everybody's favorite cup of comfort in fall, winter, or just any rainy day.
Any cup of hot chocolate can be snazzed up with marshmallows, whipped cream, or anything that adds a little dash of flavor. Chopped fresh mint leaves, sprinkles, crushed cookies and other garnishes look best when sprinkled on top of a layer of whipped cream on the top of the cup of hot chocolate.
Homemade Gourmet Hot Chocolate
This recipe makes a rich, decadent hot cocoa. This makes roughly four servings, but feel free to cut it in half or double it for more or less.
- 2 cups whole or 2% milk
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Put all ingredients except vanilla into a heavy saucepan and heat, stirring with a whisk, until chocolates melt and the sugar is dissolved. Add vanilla and continue to heat until hot, but not boiling.
Instant Hot Chocolate Mix
This instant hot cocoa is very popular as a gift. Make a big batch and pour it into Mason jars, top with mini marshmallows and tie a ribbon around the lid for a nice holiday gift. Instant hot chocolate makes an impressive cup of cocoa, too, with flavored marshmallows on top, or topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon or shaved chocolate.
- 2 cups non-fat dry milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 1/2 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
Mix all ingredients together and stir to mix well. Store in a tightly covered container. To make a cup of cocoa, mix ¼ of mix with 1 cup boiling water, and stir.
How to Snazz Up a Cup of Hot Cocoa
- For a dash of peppermint flavor, put a peppermint stick or candy cane in the hot cocoa and allow it to melt into the drink as you stir with it.
- Skewer two or three marshmallows on a wooden skewer and lightly toast them over a gas flame. Serve one skewer on the side of a mug of hot chocolate.
- Gourmet flavored marshmallows served on the side of a cup of hot chocolate or floated on top are both a garnish and added flavor.
- A squirt of chocolate whipped cream or a dollop of strawberry whipped cream . You can easily whip up some strawberry topping by adding mashed fresh strawberries to whipping cream and sugar. Sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles.
The Best Cups and Mugs for Hot Chocolate
- Tall mugs are perfect when you want a big dose of something warm and chocolaty.
- Oversized cups can give you a double dose of hot chocolate and with their wide mouths leave lots of room for marshmallows and other add-ins.
- Glass cups, mugs and pedestal cups make an attractive cup of hot chocolate, because you can see all that chocolaty goodness!
- Autumn leaves and candy corn for autumn, and snowflakes, reindeer and snowmen for winter, sometimes the best cup for hot chocolate is a seasonal cup that reminds us of the cozy time of year when we crave hot cocoa.
