If there’s one thing we love more than just about anything on the holidays (besides down time with our families, of course), it’s hot chocolate! Whether we’re making ourselves a mug of old fashioned cocoa, a traditional European mug of warm drinking chocolate, or a new fangled gourmet recipe full of candy garnishes and flavour shots, we’re happy just to be enjoying a warm, sweet treat! There are just so many different kinds, though, that sometimes we have trouble choosing between flavors. We just want to try every unique kind out there!
Are you a big hot chocolate lover too, especially around Christmas, but you could use some new recipes to try out this year? Here are 15 of the best flavours we’ve tried or discovered and can’t wait to make ourselves so far!
1. Chocolate and sprinkle cocoa stir-in spoons
Are you actually such a hot chocolate lover that you love taking any opportunity you can to share your favourite treat with the people around you, but you’ve already made your fill of cocoa powder filled, snowman themed mason jars and reindeer decorated cone shaped bags? Then try these hot chocolate dripped and Christmas sprinkled stirring spoons instead! Tsiporah shows you how to make them and how to stir them into warm milk to make deliciously sweet hot chocolate.
2. Hot chocolate with marshmallows and a candy cane stir stick
Perhaps you already have a favourite hot chocolate recipe and you don’t feel like you need to switch things up but you’re looking for simple ways to customize your drink to make it a specifically holiday drink? Then check out how easily Food Network did it! They suggest popping in a few snowy white miniature marshmallows and using a deliciously minty Christmas candy cane as a stir stick.
3. Rich Nutella hot chocolate
Has your very favourite chocolate thing in the whole world always been chocolate hazelnut spread? Then we have a feeling you’re going to adore this creamy and flavourful Nutella hot chocolate recipe from Genius Kitchen! We love their idea of topping the drink off with two full sized marshmallows for maximum sweetness.
4. Vegan dairy free holiday hot chocolate
Are you completely crazy about the idea of making hot chocolate for the whole family on Christmas eve but one of your family members has some dietary restrictions when it comes to animal products? Then here’s a vegan hot chocolate recipe that’s perfect for them, and it’s also gluten free as a bonus! Check out how Britton Loves made it happen and also topped it off with coconut based whipped cream.
5. White peppermint hot chocolate
You’ve probably had peppermint hot chocolate before and you might have even also already tried hot chocolate made with white chocolate, but have you ever thought about combining the two? Well, if you haven’t, Carina Stewart is here to show you why it’s such a deliciously good idea! They even show you how to dress up the basic delicious recipe with a dollop of whipped cream and a homemade crushed candy cane rimmer.
6. Peppermint mocha hot chocolate with coffee
Did we really catch your attention when we started talking about peppermint hot chocolate but you’re also actually a huge coffee lover and the idea of combining the two appeals to you a lot? In that case, we definitely think you’re going to love this peppermint hot chocolate and coffee recipe from Crazy for Crust. It’s the perfect sweet treat with a little bit of a pick me up!
7. Homemade melted drinking chocolate
When you think about enjoying some “hot chocolate”, are you actually expecting a mug of melted drinking chocolate as opposed to a mug of warm milk with chocolate mixed in? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest giving this traditional European cocoa a try! Find out how it’s made on Ali Larter.
8. Hershey Kisses hot chocolate
Were you intrigued by the idea of making your hot chocolate out of chocolate treats that you really love on a regular basis, kind of like the Nutella recipe we showed you earlier, but with actual chocolate candies? Then this warm holiday drink from Mom Always Finds Out that’s made with Hershey kisses is exactly the kind of recipe you need!
9. Christmas morning Barcelona hot chocolate
Perhaps you’d like to try a hot chocolate that’s actually traditional for Christmas morning but is still something you haven’t tried before as part of your particular holiday tradition? Then check out this deliciously unique hot chocolate recipe from Barcelona! Hot Beauty Health shows you how to combine dark chocolate, strong coffee, and brown sugar for a rich, sweet taste.
10. Frozen hot chocolate
The idea of a “frozen” hot chocolate might sound like an oxymoron and, to be honest, it kind of is, but that doesn’t mean someone hasn’t tried it out! In this case, Ten Thousand Villages not only tried it out, but proved it to be completely delicious! Think of it as a mocha frappe but without the coffee element; it’s all chocolatey goodness!
11. Mexican spiced hot chocolate
Did we really catch your attention when we started talking about hot chocolate recipes from other places and with other ingredients but you wish you could find one with a bit more kick? In that case, this Mexican hot chocolate recipe is absolutely the recipe you’ve been looking for all along. Find out how it gets its spice on Gimme Some Oven!
12. Old fashioned malted hot chocolate
If you’ve been to an old fashioned diner and had an authentic malted milkshake before, you already know how thick and rich they are in such a wonderful way. Thanks to Taste of Home, though, a milkshake isn’t the only way you can enjoy that flavour and texture! Their recipe shows you how to make it happen as a hot drink too.
13. Gingerbread hot chocolate
Are your favourite hot chocolates around the holidays always the ones that have some other type of Christmas flavour built right into the recipe? Then Hot Beauty Health has just what you’re looking for, particularly if Christmas cookies are your favourite thing (besides cocoa, of course). Their recipe teaches you how to make a drink that perfectly blends chocolate and the taste of perfectly spiced gingerbread!
14. Dutch hot chocolate
Perhaps you’ve already got some great ideas for what kind of hot chocolate you’ll make for your kids but now you’d like to find a recipe that’s just for adults? In that case, we have a feeling you’re going to be pretty intrigued by this Dutch hot chocolate recipe from Mix n’ Sip! They show you how to add vodka and Kahlua for a bit of a bite along with your warm mocha goodness.
15. Hot chocolate with egg liqueur
Are you still quite intent on finding a hot chocolate recipe that has a bit of a specifically holiday flavour but you’ve also been having trouble choosing between making yourself hot chocolate and egg nog for Christmas day? Well, have you ever thought about combining them so you can enjoy both? That’s exactly what Theris Wardrobe used egg liqueur to do here!
