
Cozy up with these 12 Rich, Steamy Hot Chocolate Recipes
On a bitterly cold day, nothing warms you up quite like a rich, steaming mug of hot chocolate. And, let’s face it: we could all use a little warming up, considering this season’s extreme winter weather.
To help keep you warm and toasty, we here at Wet & Forget rounded up a dozen of the richest, most heavenly hot chocolate recipes out there.
From classic hot chocolate that you can whip up using ingredients you already have in your kitchen, to more adventurous flavors such as salted peanut butter hot cocoa, this list has something to satisfy every palate and warm you right down to your toes. Enjoy!
Classic Hot Chocolate Recipes
Creamy Hot Cocoa
Hot cocoa is hot chocolate’s lighter, milder cousin. This recipe from allrecipes.com is the perfect treat to serve the kids when they come inside from playing in the snow. It also uses ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen if you do any baking.
If you don’t have the half and half, substitute some extra milk for a slightly less-creamy version.
Hot and Milky Malted Cocoa
Here’s another hot cocoa recipe from The Food Network’s Alton Brown, who adds a touch of cayenne pepper to create extra warmth and a little kick. This recipe is ideal for mixing up the dry ingredients ahead of time and storing the mix for later.
The Kitchn’s Faith Durand likes to substitute malted milk powder for the regular powdered milk in this recipe and use milk instead of hot water, to make hot and milky malted cocoa.
Extra-Thick Hot Chocolate
On those extra cold days, sometimes you’d rather have a steamy chocolate drink that “sticks to your ribs.” This creamy, rich hot chocolate is extra-think and extra-good.
The recipe also includes optional mocha or peppermint flavors.
Decadent Belgian Hot Chocolate
If there’s one thing the Belgians know how to do just right, it’s chocolate. David Lebovitz got this absolutely sinful hot chocolate recipe straight from the head chocolatier at one of Brussel’s famed chocolate shops.
It’s a chocolate overload in a cup, and every chocaholic’s dream.
Fun Flavor Combinations
Hot Chocolate 3 Ways: Orange, Raspberry, or Mint
“The Pioneer Woman” loves to share homemade flavors on her website, and her hot chocolate page doesn’t disappoint. These flavor varieties will definitely keep your mouth from getting bored on snow days!
Mexican Hot Cocoa
This scrumptious recipe from Epicurious.com combines chocolate, cinnamon, 2 types of chili pepper, and an optional dash of chocolate liqueur to really warm you up!
Salted Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa
Whoever invented the flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter most certainly earned enough good karma to last 100 lifetimes. This recipe takes that best of all flavor combinations and turns it into hot chocolate, another of humankind’s greatest culinary inventions. Enough said!
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Chocolate and peppermint are a magic combination. They come together in this recipe and refresh your palate while you warm your belly with hot-chocolately goodness.
Using this recipe is easy enough for any old afternoon, and special enough for dinner guests on a cold evening.
White Chocolate Warmth
Caramelized White Chocolate Hot Chocolate
Stella Parks from The Kitchn caramelizes white chocolate to give this cozy, comforting drink a butterscotch-style kick. She even rounds out the flavor with cinnamon and vanilla. Your mouth will thank you!
Cardamom Orange Spiced White Hot Chocolate
Willow Arlen of Will Cook for Friends takes warm, white chocolate and spices it up with orange zest and cardamom for a chai-like treat.
Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate
Warm pumpkin spices and vanilla are the perfect complement to the white chocolate in this creamy cup of deliciousness.
For Grown-Ups Only
Broiled Bailey’s Hot Chocolate
This ingenious recipe from Amanda K. By the Bay turns this simple drink into a sophisticated dessert and cocktail rolled into one. The Bailey’s Irish Cream adds warmth and richness, while the broiling gives the marshmallows on top a crunchiness that will remind you of campfire s’mores.
This perfect ending to a dinner with friends will have your guests begging for seconds.
Eat Your “Hot Chocolate” with a Spoon!
Rich, Warm Chocolate Pudding
If you prefer to eat your “hot chocolate” with a spoon, this is just the recipe for you. This recipe from Williams-Sonoma makes a creamy-smooth chocolate pudding pie, and Wet & Forget team member Melissa has also found a wonderful winter variation.
To warm her family up, Melissa skips the “pie” part and just makes the thick, rich chocolate pudding filling. She pours it into cups and serves it warm on cold winter days to surround her loved ones in a warm chocolate glow.
This pudding is so rich and chocolately, it reminds Melissa of the decadent churros con chocolate she became addicted to while studying in Spain. You can also serve the pudding chilled and topped with whipped cream, or go ahead and make the whole pie. You’ll never eat boxed pudding again!
Photos courtesy of masatoshi_, Arnold Gatilao, oatsy40, Paul Wilkinson, Scott Shaffer, and Moyan Brenn.
Stop by our website to learn more about our easy solutions to everyday problems. Wet & Forget makes it so you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your hot chocolate!
stella
Hey,
Thanks for sharing:)
I loved this post specially the Grown Ups treat “Broiled Bailey’s Hot Chocolate” It is making me uncontrollable. I just want to have this right now.
Thanks again
Stella
Wet And Forget
Thanks Stella,
I’m glad you enjoyed our post. You can never go wrong with baileys and hot chocolate in the winter!