Different Ways You Can Make Hot Chocolate This Winter

Fall might be pumpkin spice season, but winter is all about hot chocolate. This decadent beverage has been around for centuries and is a staple on beverage menus from rural Mexico to the center of Paris. The appeal of this drink is broad, and so are the recipes. If you are looking for ways to add a new twist to this classic hot holiday beverage, then you should learn some fresh and different ways to make hot chocolate.

For a quick and tasty hot chocolate, use instant hot cocoa mix and milk rather than water. For a gourmet version, opt for quality dark chocolate and slowly simmer in a sweetened milk. Mexican hot chocolate offers a slightly spicy kick, whereas mocha hot chocolate is a sweet way to get your daily coffee and caffeine fix. Some ornate winter hot chocolate flavors to consider include peppermint and white hot chocolate.

A cup of hot chocolate on a snowy winter day is a delicious and cozy experience unlike any other. If, however, you are someone who gets bored drinking the same beverage day after day, then this article is for you. Below is a list of all the ways you can make hot chocolate, along with tips to ensure each cup you make this winter tastes divine.

Five Tips For Making A Delicious Cup Of Hot Chocolate

1. Use Quality Ingredients

If you want your hot chocolate to taste as rich and chocolatey as possible, then make sure to use quality ingredients. While some instant hot cocoa mixes are cheap and easy, they are rarely filled with top-shelf ingredients.

Make your hot chocolate from scratch whenever possible, using real chocolate, high-quality milk (or a non-dairy milk), and sugar. Better ingredients will always yield better results.

2. Don’t Burn The Milk

Most hot cocoa recipes call for milk or a milk substitute. If you don’t cook with milk often, then you might not know it has a much lower boiling point than water, and once it boils, its flavor and texture are altered. 

To avoid the unpleasant taste and the dreaded film on your hot chocolate, don’t burn or overheat the milk. Milk burns at 160 degrees Fahrenheit, so avoid heating your hot cocoa mixture above 150 degrees.

3. Mix Ingredients Thoroughly

When making hot cocoa, be patient and ensure all ingredients are thoroughly mixed and blended before serving. Hot cocoa mixes may take only a few seconds to blend into milk at the right temperature, but real chocolate will take much longer.

Don’t rush the mixing process, and don’t heat the milk too quickly. Instead, patiently stir your hot chocolate ingredients as the milk slowly heats and simmers. This will ensure a perfect and creamy result.

4. Serve And Consume Immediately 

Hot chocolate is not like wine — it does not get better with age. You should serve and consume hot chocolate as soon as it’s ready. It tastes best when mixed and hot. If you let it sit, some ingredients can separate, and it will lose some of its flavor.

5. Garnish With Whipped Cream Or Marshmallows

While a great hot chocolate recipe requires no garnish, a cup of hot chocolate tastes better with whipped cream or marshmallows. Whether you are making a quick cup of instant hot cocoa or a gourmet and indulgent variety, remember to have something decadent to float on top of your hot chocolate.  

10 Different Ways To Make Hot Chocolate This Winter

1. Gourmet

The ultimate hot chocolate is a gourmet version that you make from scratch using raw ingredients like cocoa powder, 60% to 70% dark chocolate, and whole milk. The key to a good gourmet hot chocolate is quality ingredients and patience.

Stir all the ingredients listed above together, and add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor, and add sugar to your preferred sweetness level. Using a combination of cocoa powder and real chocolate makes a bold, rich chocolatey beverage perfect for chocolate lovers.

2. Instant

Instant hot cocoa is the most popular and convenient way to consume this chocolatey treat. You can take a scoop or packet and mix it with hot milk or water, and enjoy. This is an excellent type of hot chocolate to make if you don’t like cooking or are in a rush. 

To ensure your instant hot chocolate is tasty, buy a quality hot cocoa mix, and use milk rather than water.

3. Vegan

For those looking to cut back on dairy, cholesterol, and animal products, vegan hot cocoa is the perfect winter indulgence. Whereas many hot chocolate recipes have milk and milk-based chocolate, vegan hot cocoa uses non-dairy milk and more natural ingredients.

To prepare vegan hot cocoa at home, combine your choice of non-dairy milk with cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate (no milk added), and raw sugar to taste. This is a healthy-ish and straightforward way to enjoy a cup of dairy-free hot chocolate.

4. Mocha

If you have a sweet tooth first thing in the morning or love coffee at any time of day, consider making a coffee-infused hot chocolate. A coffee hot chocolate, or mocha hot cocoa, is a perfect balance of coffee's bold acidity and hot chocolate's rich creaminess.

A simple way to make mocha hot cocoa is to add a spoonful of instant espresso to your favorite hot cocoa recipe. Alternatively, you can substitute extra-strong brewed coffee for some of the milk in your recipe.

5. Mexican-Style

Mexican hot chocolate is a truly unique and exciting twist on this beverage. This type of hot chocolate is known for its slightly spicy flavor and use of Mexican chocolate blocks. You can find Mexican hot chocolate blocks and bars at most Latin American grocery stores and some specialty markets.

6. White

White hot chocolate is a fun twist on hot cocoa, and it’s perfect for people who aren’t huge chocolate fans. White hot chocolate is made using white chocolate chips, milk, sugar, and vanilla. It’s the perfect winter beverage for anyone who chooses vanilla over chocolate.

7. Cocktail

If you’re looking for a fun holiday cocktail recipe for the next time you host a holiday gathering, look no further than a hot chocolate cocktail. This beverage can be served hot in a mug by simply adding Irish Cream or Vanilla vodka. You can also make a cold martini version using Irish cream, chocolate liquor, and some chilled hot cocoa.

8. Iced Or Frozen

If you live in a hot desert or tropical climate, then you probably aren’t itching to drink hot chocolate. But to get in the winter and holiday spirit, consider making an iced or frozen hot chocolate. The preparation method is the same as the hot version, but you simply pour the beverage over ice after it cools, or use an ice cream maker to turn it into a frozen treat.

Iced hot chocolate has grown significantly in popularity in recent years and is even featured on many coffee shop menus during warm weather. 

9. Peppermint

If you want a hot chocolate that is refreshing and holiday-themed, opt for peppermint hot cocoa. You can use any type of standard hot cocoa mix for this recipe. To add mint flavor, you can use fresh mint, melt leftover candy canes, or add a bit of mint extract.

10. Crock Pot

Crock pot hot chocolate is a great way to make decadent, gourmet hot chocolate for large groups with minimal effort. Use the same high-quality ingredients you would for any gourmet hot chocolate (and a little extra heavy cream), and let the crockpot slowly melt them while you still occasionally stir.

A crockpot is the perfect vessel for large batches of hot chocolate, as it can maintain the ideal serving temperature without burning.

Final Note On Different Ways To Make Hot Cocoa This Winter

Hot chocolate is one of the most iconic winter beverages and liquid desserts on the planet. Its broad popularity also means there are many ways to prepare and alter this liquid chocolate treat. To change the flavor of classic hot cocoa, consider infusing it with coffee or peppermint.

For those who prefer vanilla to chocolate, make a white chocolate hot chocolate with fresh vanilla. You can also make a vegan hot cocoa using semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder, and non-dairy milk. Always use quality ingredients, stir thoroughly, and avoid boiling and burning the milk for best results.

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