Life

11 Cups of Hot Cocoa, Cause It's Freaking Cold Out There

It’s cold out there, and a proper jacket and a warm set of gloves will only get you so far. Celebrate the onslaught of winter weather with a hot mug of creamy cocoa. ‘Tis the season, after all. Here we’ve set you up with 11 of our very favorite hot chocolate recipes. From cinnamon-infused hot cocoa to peppermint white hot cocoa, we have a drink for you, no matter what you dig. So grab a seat by the fire and crack the binding on that new book. Let’s get warm and cozy and a little sugar-buzzed. Let’s cocoa.

Image: How Sweet It Is

by Emily Mack

Toasted Marshmallow Cream Hot Chocolate

This recipe from How Sweet It Is takes hot cocoa and marshmallows to a completely different level. That’s actually frosting on top of that mug. We’re into it.

Image: How Sweet It Is

Tres Leches Hot Chocolate

In a quality cup of cocoa, the milk can play as essential a role as the chocolate. This recipe — with three kinds of milk —means business, and we are so grateful. (via Mel’s Kitchen)

Image: Fotolia

Fotolia

Hot Cocoa with Peppermint Marshmallow Cookies

Serve up this dairy-free and naturally-sweetened cocoa with homemade peppermint marshmallow cookies. Definitively cozy. (via Against All Grain)

Image: Against All Grain

Cinnamon-Infused Hot Chocolate

Cinnamon stick enlivens this take on classic hot cocoa from Joy The Baker. You’ll have the warm fuzzies in no time.

Image: Fotolia

Fotolia

Hot Cocoa Smoothie

This cocoa from The Healthy Foodie doubles as a smoothie. With as much chocolate as a mug of this stuff has, we can safely say that this is our preferred kind of health food.

Image: The Healthy Foodie

Kahlua Hot Chocolate

A mug of this will make you very merry. Plenty of chocolate, sugar, milk, marshmallows, caramel, and — oh yeah — Kahlua. (via Damn Delicious)

Image: Damn Delicious

Easy Double Chocolate Vanilla Bean Hot Cocoa Mugs + Marshmallows

Share the love with this DIY holiday gift how-to. Set your friends and loved ones up with cocoa mix, homemade marshmallows, candy canes, and a printed recipe card. You win Christmas! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Image: Half Baked Harvest

Skinny Hot Cocoa

Do the holidays have you feeling a little bit like Mrs. Claus? Try this recipe for “skinny” hot cocoa from Family Fresh Cooking. It’s practically good for you! That’s what we’re choosing to believe, at least.

Image: Family Fresh Cooking

Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

If we can’t have a white Christmas, we’ll settle for a white chocolate Christmas. And this peppermint white hot cocoa recipe from Averie Cooks will help to get us there.

Image: Averie Cooks

Crockpot Coconut Hot Chocolate

Let your slow cooker do the heavy lifting with this recipe from How Sweet It Is. Just grab a spot on the couch, a big, wooly blanket, and prepare yourself for the most glorious overload of chocolate and coconut your mouth has ever had the privilege of experiencing.

Image: How Sweet It Is

Truffle Hot Chocolate Balls

Streamline your cocoa-making process with these truffle hot chocolate balls. When the mood strikes, just drop one of these chocolately morsels into a cup of hot milk and you’ll be sipping cocoa in no time. Magical. (via Mel’s Kitchen)

Image: Mel’s Kitchen

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