Hot chocolate is a warm, sweet slice of satisfaction on a cold fall or winter evening. You can’t beat plain hot chocolate with marshmallows, but sometimes a little change is nice! These are not your ordinary hot chocolate recipes! Give these a try when you’re feeling adventurous for a fun twist on a classic favorite.
Boozy Hot Chocolate for the 21+ Crowd!
These hot chocolates have a little kick to ’em! Not only will the warm cup thaw you out, but the booze added to them will turn your insides all melty! Just be careful to not enjoy too many of these!
Hot Chocolate with Kahlua
Kahlua is coffee-flavored rum that gives any drink a kick! It’s featured in drinks like a White Russian, a Mudslide, and in B-52 shots, but it also blends well with hot chocolate! Try this hot chocolate recipe the next time you’re in the mood for something warm and alcoholic!
Ingredients:
- 2 C. milk
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 ½ Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp. nutmeg
- 1 oz. Kahlua
- Toppings such as marshmallows, caramel, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, etc.
Directions:
1. Combine the milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium sauce pan. Don’t put the Kahlua in yet! Warm on medium heat until it’s heated all the way through.
2. Remove from heat and add in the Kahlua. Separate into cups and top with your favorite toppings!
Amaretto Hot Chocolate
You’ve probably heard of an Amaretto Sour, but Amaretto hot chocolate? This mixture will surprise you! It’s an incredible blend of an almond liquor and hot chocolate. What more could you want?!
Ingredients:
- 3 C. milk
- ⅔ C. dark chocolate chips
- ¼ C. sugar
- ⅛ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. vanilla
- 3 oz. Amaretto
- Toppings such as whipped cream, chocolate syrup, caramel, slivered almonds, etc.
Directions:
1. Combine the milk, chocolate chips, sugar, and salt in a medium sauce pan. Heat on medium, stirring frequently until chocolate is melted and warmed through.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and Amaretto.
3. Separate into 3 cups and top with toppings of your choice!
Cabernet Hot Chocolate
What pairs well with a good Cabernet Sauvignon? Dark chocolate of course! Instead of eating chocolate with a glass of wine, why not combine the two? This recipe will do exactly that and your taste buds will be thanking you!
Ingredients:
- 1½ C. milk
- ⅓ C. dark chocolate chips
- 1 C. Cabernet Sauvignon
Directions:
1. Combine the milk and chocolate in a medium sauce pan and heat, stirring constantly, over medium heat.
2. Once the chocolate is melted and smoothly combined with the milk, add the wine and heat just until it’s warmed through. Don’t heat for too long or you’ll start to cook the alcohol out of the wine.
3. Serve it up in cups and enjoy! You may want to get another batch going while you drink the first cup! You’ll probably want seconds!
Hot Chocolate For the Whole Family!
These recipes can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter your age. With no alcohol, they’re simple chocolate decadence in a cup (topped with marshmallows). Kids 1-100 will love these!
S’mores Hot Chocolate
Camping and s’mores go hand in hand, but if you’re camping in the winter, you probably aren’t gong to be too keen on sitting outside around a fire. Turn your s’mores into a beverage with this hot chocolate recipe!
Ingredients:
- 3 C. milk
- ¼ C. cocoa powder
- 2 Tbsp. chocolate syrup
- ¼ C. sugar
- ⅛ tsp. salt
- Crushed graham crackers
- Mini marshmallows
Directions:
1. In a medium sauce pan, warm the milk over medium-low heat, being careful not to scald it.
2. Whisk in the cocoa powder, chocolate syrup, sugar, and salt. Continue to heat until everything is warmed through.
3. Rub a marshmallow on the rim of your cup to get it nice and sticky. Then dip the rim of the cup in the crushed graham crackers.
4. Pour the hot chocolate into the cup and top with marshmallows!
If you want a toasted marshmallow flavor, set the cups in the oven under the broiler for a few, just until the marshmallows are nice and brown!
Mint Candy Cane Hot Chocolate
Candy canes are everywhere this time of year! This recipe uses them as a flavoring and also as a gorgeous garnish! Everyone will love the minty chocolate flavor of this hot chocolate! And the best part of this hot chocolate recipe is that you can make it in the crock pot! Set it and decorate your RV while you wait!
Ingredients:
- 8 C. milk
- 8 oz. milk chocolate baking chocolate
- ¾ C. crushed peppermint candy canes, divided
- ½ tsp. vanilla
- Whipped cream
Directions:
1. Combine the milk, baking chocolate, and ½ cup of the crushed candy canes in a crock pot. Cover and cook on high for 1½ hours, stirring often.
2. Set the crockpot on warm so that you can keep the hot chocolate hot without overcooking it. As you ladle out each cup, stir the mixture to ensure it’s not separating. Top each cup with some whipped cream and a sprinkle of the remaining ¼ cup crushed candy canes.
Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate
Just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean you have to give up those beloved peanut butter cups! This hot chocolate offers that delicious combo in a hot beverage that will warm you from the inside out!
Ingredients:
- ¼ C. sugar
- ¼ C. cocoa powder
- 3 ¼ C. milk, divided
- ¼ C. creamy peanut butter
- ½ C. dark chocolate chips
- Sea salt
- Marshmallows
Directions:
1. Pour ¼ cup of milk into a medium sauce pan and heat until just warm. Whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar until smooth and well blended.
2. Whisk in the rest of the milk, and heat until it’s hot enough to steam.
3. Remove from heat and add the peanut butter and chocolate. Whisk until both are melted and all ingredients are well blended.
4. Pour into cups, sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt, and add marshmallows on top!
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Minty hot chocolate is probably the best there is, which is why we’ve added a second recipe for it! This one uses peppermint extract instead of candy canes for a bolder, mintier flavor.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ C. heavy whipping cream
- 1 ½ C. milk
- ¼ C. sugar
- ⅛ tsp. salt
- 6 oz. extra dark chocolate, chopped
- ¼ tsp. peppermint extract
- Whipped cream and chocolate syrup for topping
Directions:
1. Combine the heavy cream, milk, sugar, and salt in a medium sauce pan. Heat over medium-low heat until the mixture begins to steam.
2. Add in the chocolate and whisk until it’s melted and blended. Then stir in the peppermint extract and split the hot chocolate into cups. Top with the whipped cream and chocolate syrup.
Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate
Using the same spices that make Chai Tea what it is, this hot chocolate has a unique flavor. These spices blend very well with the hot chocolate and will definitely leave you feeling amazing!
Ingredients:
- 4 C. milk
- ½ tsp. Saigon cinnamon
- ½ tsp. ground cloves
- ¼ tsp. ground cardamom
- ⅛ tsp. ground white pepper
- 3 oz. extra-dark chocolate, chopped
- 3 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients except the chocolates and sugar in a medium sauce pan. Heat until steaming, using caution not to scald the milk.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate and sugar, mixing until melted and well blended. The mixture will be somewhat frothy.
3. Strain the chocolate to remove pieces of seasonings, and then divide into cups.
