20+ Hot Chocolate Recipes to Sip on This Winter

November 14, 2019
Photo: Christopher Testani; Prop Styling: Kaitlyn Duross; Food Styling: Chris Lanier
On chilly nights, snuggle up on the couch or next to a toasty fireplace with a warm mug of hot cocoa.
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Hot Chocolate

Photo: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller
Hot Chocolate Recipe
Like your hot cocoa extra-rich? Increase heavy cream to 3 cups, and decrease milk to 1 cup.
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Peppermint Stick Hot Chocolate

Jeff Kauck
Peppermint Stick Hot Chocolate Recipe
Make a traditional cup of hot chocolate fit for the holidays by serving it with candy canes. The candy cane is not only for decoration – it also adds flavor to the hot chocolate as it melts in the mug.

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Rich 'n' Thick Hot Chocolate

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Leigh Anne Montgomery
Rich 'n' Thick Hot Chocolate Recipe
Use melted chocolate bars instead of cocoa for an extra-rich cup of hot chocolate.
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Hot White Chocolate

Photo: Alex Farnum; Styling: Randy Mon
Hot White Chocolate Recipe
White chocolate chips, marshmallows, and vanilla vodka are the stars of this adult-only hot chocolate that's like a dessert in a cup.

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Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Mix

Photo: Oxmoor House
Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe
Make a batch of this peppermint-flavored hot cocoa mix to keep on hand for some instant comfort throughout the hectic holiday season.

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Hot Chocolate with Ginger

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell
Hot Chocolate with Ginger Recipe
This grown-up version of hot chocolate starts with an easy caramel syrup made with fresh ginger and sugar. Milk and chocolate sauce are then stirred in to make a cozy chocolate brew with a subtle kick.
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New Mexican Hot Chocolate

Photography: Karry Hosford
New Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe
Plain old hot chocolate gets a luscious but easy New Mexican makeover with the addition of honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Even better, this sweet treat is kept light by using two-percent milk.

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Peppermint Stick Cocoa

David Prince
Peppermint Stick Cocoa Recipe
It takes only minutes to assemble, but this combo of mini chocolate chips, crushed peppermint candies, cocoa, sugar, and milk powder makes a festive hot cocoa mix that's bound to be one "hot" holiday gift.

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Brandied Hot Chocolate

Annabelle Breakey
Brandied Hot Chocolate Recipe
Even if sleigh rides and caroling aren't on the agenda, hot chocolate made with a splash of French brandy and freshly grated bittersweet chocolate will turn up the heat in the most delightful way.
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Barcelona Hot Chocolate

Oxmoor House
Barcelona Hot Chocolate Recipe
The combination of espresso with dark chocolate yields a not-too-sweet beverage flavored with a hint of orange.

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Magic Cocoa

Photo: Melanie Acevedo
Magic Cocoa Recipe
Dazzle the kids by letting them create their own magic—turning white milk into chocolate milk. Use peppermint sticks as tasty stirs.

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Hot White Chocolate with Ginger

Photo: Karry Hosford
Hot White Chocolate with Ginger Recipe
The unique combination of ginger gives this sweet beverage a refreshing bite. It's perfect to warm you up on those cold days.
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Boozy Almond-Honey Hot Chocolate

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl
Boozy Almond-Honey Hot Chocolate Recipe

Infuse rich hot cocoa with amaretto liqueur to create this perfect adults-only, cold-weather cocktail. 

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Intense Hot Chocolate

Intense Hot Chocolate Recipe

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Toasted Coconut Hot Chocolate

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Toasted Coconut Hot Chocolate Recipe

Toasted Coconut Hot Chocolate image

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Mexican Hot Chocolate

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe
From the kitchen of Georgia Johnson, Austin, Texas, thecomfortofcooking.com

"Simmered with a cinnamon stick, vanilla extract, and a touch of chili powder, this hot chocolate is amazingly fragrant and delicious with a dollop of whipped cream."

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Classic Hot Chocolate

Photo: Charles Schiller; Styling: Karen Tack
Classic Hot Chocolate Recipe

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Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Time Inc. Video Studio
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe

For the perfect punch of peppermint flavor that isn’t overpowering (as a splash of extract can often be), swirling a candy cane into your mug of hot cocoa provides just the right touch. Plus, this simple trick for making peppermint hot chocolate makes good use of the abundance of candy canes your kids tend to collect around the holidays. They’ll enjoy having their own personal stirring sticks as much as you’ll enjoy the splash of peppermint schnapps added to your grown-up mug. 

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3-D Hot Chocolate

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Syling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
3-D Hot Chocolate Recipe

3-D Hot Chocolate image

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Creamy Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate

Time Inc. Video Studio
Creamy Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe

This incredibly rich beverage is anything but your nana’s hot cocoa. Incorporating tahini into this dairy-free hot chocolate adds a decadent layer of warming nuttiness that’s a perfect partner to the robust flavors of cocoa and vanilla. 

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Parisian Hot Chocolate

Photo: Yunhee Kim; Styling: Dawn Sinkowski
Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe
Prep: 5 minutes; Cook: 20 minutes. This European-style hot chocolate is so rich, you only need a little. The kids will go crazy for it.
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Spiked Hot Chocolate

Photo: Christopher Testani; Prop Styling: Kaitlyn Duross; Food Styling: Chris Lanier
Spiked Hot Chocolate Recipe

This warming treat is the perfect accompaniment for a walk through the snow: A hint of peppermint schnapps will give everyone a little pep in their step. Think of it as more of a dessert than a beverage, as this hot chocolate is a bit of a splurge. Canned coconut milk gives it full-bodied richness and makes it an indulgence. Molly explains that "coconut goes well with chocolate and mint, so it really brings this hot chocolate together nicely."

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