This Hot Chocolate Collection offers 7 different ways to enjoy a cup of festive and soul-warming hot chocolate, including gingerbread, candy cane, and eggnog.
Festive Collections
Hello everyone! I hope you’re doing well. One week till Christmas. Let’s repeat: ONE WEEK TILL CHRISTMAS. Holy Santa Claus!
It’s going to be my last recipe before Christmas, I believe. During this season, I have shared 14 festive ideas with you. 15, with this one. That being said, I’ve deserved a little break. Just enjoying the movies, eggnog, and cookies without blogging. However, there will be one or two new recipes before New Year’s eve celebration. Again, it totally does not mean I won’t change my mind on Monday! :)
A Christmas collection is not a new idea. Over the past two holiday seasons, I have shared this Christmas Tea Collection and Mulled Apple Cider Collection. Thus, it’s time for some decadent hot chocolate! In my book, it’s a perfect Christmas indulgence.
As you can see, this is not just hot cacao. Nope – rich, creamy, and decadent. Lots of calories. Real chocolate, real dark cacao powder. Needless to mention, you can always adjust the basic recipe to you liking – make it thinner (or maybe thicker), sweeter, etc. I love using good quality dark or extra dark chocolate, but milk chocolate will do, too. Everything is totally up to you!
Hot Chocolate Collection Flavours:
- Spiced Hot Chocolate. That’s a basic recipe. Take whatever spices you like. In fact, you can use some cayenne or other hot pepper for an extra soul-warming touch.
- Gingerbread Hot Chocolate. Oh each! Molasses, honey, and warming spices. It’s just a gingerbread cookie in a mug!
- Candy Cane Hot Chocolate. No words needed. Just add some crushed candy cane when making your hot chocolate.
- Eggnog White Hot Chocolate. That’s the sweetest version. I would suggest small servings. Perhaps, some alcohol (rum) would cut the sweetness.
- Orange and Nutmeg Hot Chocolate. That’s the combination made in heaven. Here you have some options. Use either dried (dehydrated) chopped oranges, orange zest or even orange extract. Besides, you can infuse the chocolate with dried oranges and then discard them or live those little bites.
- Irish Cream Hot Chocolate. Boozy hot chocolate is the best kind of chocolate, right?
- Lavender Hot Chocolate. That’s not a Christmas flavour, but you know me. Besides, dark chocolate and lavender go so well together.
So many festive ideas! Everyone can find something to your taste.
My friends, let me wrap this post up. I hope you all have a wonderful and peaceful holiday season, full of laugh and delicious holiday treats. Hopefully, you can treat yourself with this Hot Chocolate Collection. See you very soon!
Hot Chocolate Collection
Course: DrinksDifficulty: Easy2-4
servings5
minutes5
minutesThis Hot Chocolate Collection offers 7 different ways to enjoy a cup of festive and soul-warming hot chocolate, including gingerbread, candy cane, and eggnog.
Ingredients
- Hot Chocolate (Basic Recipe):
~ 2 cups milk 2%
~ 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
~ 70-100 gr. dark chocolate (or semi-dark), roughly chopped
1 tbsp. light brown sugar
- Spiced Hot Chocolate:
~ 2 cups milk 2%
~ 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
~ 70-100 gr. dark chocolate (or semi-dark), roughly chopped
1 tbsp. light brown sugar (optional)
a good pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom each (or other spices of your choice)
- Candy Cane Hot Chocolate:
~ 2 cups milk 2%
~ 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
~ 70-100 gr. dark chocolate (or semi-dark), roughly chopped
1-2 candy cane, crushed
- Orange and Nutmeg Hot Chocolate:
~ 2 cups milk 2%
~ 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
~ 70-100 gr. dark chocolate (or semi-dark), roughly chopped
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1-2 dried orange rings (chopped) or 1 tsp. orange zest
- Gingerbread Hot Chocolate:
~ 2 cups milk 2%
~ 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
~ 70-100 gr. dark chocolate (or semi-dark), roughly chopped
1 tbsp. honey or sugar
1-2 tbsp. fancy molasses
a good pinch of gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cardamom (or any combo of your choice)
- Irish Cream Hot Chocolate:
~ 2 cups milk 2%
~ 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
~ 70-100 gr. dark chocolate (or semi-dark), roughly chopped
1-3 tbsp. Irish cream
- Lavender Hot Chocolate:
~ 2 cups milk 2%
~ 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
~ 70-100 gr. dark chocolate (or semi-dark), roughly chopped
1/8 tsp. dried lavender
- Eggnog White Chocolate:
1,5 cups eggnog
~ 100 gr. white chocolate, roughly chopped
a goof pinch of nutmeg
Directions
- Hot Chocolate (Basic Recipe):
- In a saucepan combine the milk with cocoa and sugar, whisk to incorporate.
- Add the chopped chocolate and cook over low-medium heat, stirring with a whisk often, until melted and smooth.
- Adjust sugar if needed. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
- Spiced Hot Chocolate:
- In a saucepan combine the milk with cocoa, spices, and sugar, whisk to incorporate.
- Add the chopped chocolate and cook over low-medium heat, stirring with a whisk often, until melted and smooth. Adjust spices and sugar, if needed. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
- Candy Cane Hot Chocolate:
- In a saucepan combine the milk with cocoa, whisk to incorporate.
- Add the chopped chocolate and crushed candy cane and cook over low-medium heat, stirring with a whisk often, until melted and smooth. You don’t need to add sugar, but that depends on your taste. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
- Gingerbread Hot Chocolate:
- In a saucepan combine the milk with cocoa, spices, molasses, and honey (sugar), whisk to incorporate.
- Add the chopped chocolate and cook over low-medium heat, stirring with a whisk often, until melted and smooth. Adjust spices, molasses, and sugar, if needed. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
- Irish Cream Hot Chocolate:
- In a saucepan combine the milk with cocoa and sugar, whisk to incorporate.
- Add the chopped chocolate and cook over low-medium heat, stirring with a whisk often, until melted and smooth. Stir in the Irish Cream. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
- Lavender Hot Chocolate:
- Crush dried lavender with your fingers or chop it finely. In a saucepan combine the milk with cocoa, lavender, and sugar, whisk to incorporate.
- Add the chopped chocolate and cook over low-medium heat, stirring with a whisk often, until melted and smooth. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
- Orange and Nutmeg Hot Chocolate:
- In a saucepan combine the milk with nutmeg, cocoa and sugar, whisk to incorporate.
- Add the finely chopped dried oranges or orange zest. Add the chopped chocolate and cook over low-medium heat, stirring with a whisk often, until melted and smooth.
- Alternatively, you can place 2-4 whole dried orange rings in step 2, to infuse. When hot chocolate is ready, remove the orange and discard. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
- Eggnog White Chocolate:
- In a saucepan combine the eggnog with white chocolate and nutmeg. Cook over low-medium heat, stirring with a whisk often, until melted and smooth. Add more nutmeg, if desired. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
Hi – I’m Ben, a blogger, recipe developer, and food photographer. I’m glad you’re here! I hope you will enjoy hundreds of delicious recipes and a pinch of havoc in the kitchen.
Wow, Ben! They all look and sound so delicious. I’ll happily work my way down the list! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Kim | Give it Some Thyme recently posted…Cranberry Orange Prosecco Cocktail
Wow, thanks for all those hot chocolate variations! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
So many amazing versions of hot chocolate here Ben, I love them. I’d forgotten how good hot chocolate is until last week someone at my work make some in their slow cooker. Take care and have an amazing Christmas! :-)
Neil recently posted…My Best Cheesecake Recipes For Christmas
Holy Santa Claus for sure! I love this collection of hot chocolate flavors, Ben. Robbie took a sip of his first hot chocolate (technically just hot cocoa) the other day – he kinda liked it, but was still a little unsure about it. I think the concept of a warm drink is still a bit odd to him. Either way, I need all of these flavors in my life – especially the eggnog one! Actually, I’ll take 2 eggnog and leave you the lavender. Deal? :-) Merry Christmas to both of you!
David @ Spiced recently posted…Gingerbread Swirl Cheesecake
Oh, my gosh, such a delicious collection of hot chocolate recipes! We’re pretty boring around here, but I may need to spice things up for the holidays!!! Enjoy your break and Merry Christmas!