No need to drop $4 every time you want a cup of fancy hot chocolate. Use your favourite mix (or recipe) and these simple add-ins; you'll ward off the winter chill with gourmet cocoa from the comfort of your own cottage. Top with whipped cream -- all that's missing is the cardboard cup.
Make it creamy: Stir in 1 to 2 tbsp peanut butter or 1 tbsp chocolate or butterscotch chips, or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Liqueur is your friend: Try Baileys, Kahlúa, Grand Marnier, crème de menthe, Frangelico, or amaretto.
Spice it up: Mix in 1/4 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom.
Enhance the taste: Add 3 tbsp maraschino cherry juice, 1 tsp grated orange zest, 1/2 tsp almond extract, 1 to 2 tbsp seedless raspberry jam, or 1 to 2 tbsp pumpkin pie filling.
Let it melt: Add a caramel hard candy, a peppermint or two, or a miniature candy cane (they'll soften and add flavour as you drink).
Get the recipe for Mexican hot chocolate here.
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Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/double-chocolate-hot-choc_n_1058372.html">Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate</a> recipe</strong>
Lavender Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.alamodejournals.com/index.php/2010/03/hot-for-chocolate/">Lavender Hot Chocolate recipe from à La Mode</a></strong>
Vanilla Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://thisweekfordinner.com/2009/12/15/homemade-vanilla-hot-chocolate/">Vanilla Hot Chocolate Recipe from This Week For Dinner</a></strong>
Classic Hot Choolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/hot_chocolate/">Classic Hot Chocolate recipe from Simply Recipes</a></strong>
Mexican Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/mexican-hot-chocolate_n_1057746.html">Mexican Hot Chocolate</a> recipe</strong>
Orange Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.knittedbliss.com/2011/02/seven-days-of-hot-chocolate-orange-hot.html">Orange Hot Chocolate recipe from Knitted Bliss</a></strong>
Gail's Spiced Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/spiced-hot-chocolate_n_1059637.html">Gail's Spiced Hot Chocolate</a> recipe</strong>
Mulled Wine Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.citrusandcandy.com/2011/12/mulled-wine-hot-chocolate.html">Mulled Wine Hot Chocolate recipe from Citrus & Candy</a></strong>
Spiced Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/spiced-hot-chocolate_n_1049163.html">Spiced Hot Chocolate</a> recipe</strong>
Triple Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://souvlakiforthesoul.com/hot-chocolate-you-sexy-thing">Triple Hot Chocolate recipe from Souvlaki For The Soul</a></strong>
Spiked Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/spiked-hot-chocolate_n_1057174.html">Spiked Hot Chocolate</a> recipe</strong>
Hot Chocolate Affogato
<strong>Get the <a href="http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2008/12/a-really-good-idea/">Hot Chocolate Affogato recipe from Stone Soup</a></strong>
Thick & Rich Drinking Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/thick--rich-drinking-cho_n_1061691.html">Thick & Rich Drinking Chocolate</a> recipe</strong>
Vegan Coconut Almond Hot Chocolate With Vegan Whipped Cream
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.apronstringsblog.com/vegan-hot-chocolate-recipe-veagn-whipped-cream-recipe/">Vegan Coconut Almond Hot Chocolate with Vegan Whipped Cream recipe from Apron Strings</a></strong>
We are not vegans. We still want to drink this.
White Chocolate Chai
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/20/white-chocolate-chai_n_1367197.html">White Chocolate Chai</a> recipe</strong>
Nutella Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.thehungryhousewife.com/2010/12/nutella-hot-chocolate.html">Nutella Hot Chocolate recipe from The Hungry Housewife</a></strong>
Baked Hot Chocolate
<strong>Get the <a href="http://www.framedcooks.com/2012/01/baked-hot-chocolate-2.html">Baked Hot Chocolate recipe from Framed Cooks</a></strong>
Okay, okay. It's more of a brownie than hot chocolate... but we couldn't resist.
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