1. Broil marshmallows for a toasted topping.
Here’s a decadent hot chocolate recipe that has you putting your actual mug in the oven. First, make the hot chocolate, then throw marshmallows on top, and place the mug under the broiler with the oven door open so you can watch your marshmallows—they cook fast. Once they’re nice and toasty, carefully remove your mug from the oven with a mitt.
2. Drop hot chocolate balls into a warm mug of milk.
Via Wonder How To
Once you try these you may never go back to the powdered way again. Stir together chocolate, heavy cream, and salt, then microwave for two minutes or until it’s melted. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for two hours, or until the chocolate is firm and scoopable, then make small chocolate balls about three tablespoons in size. Drop one into hot milk, or drop it in with milk and then heat up.
You can wrap each ball in plastic wrap and place in a Ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to five days, or in the freezer for up to two months.
3. Make hot cocoa floats with ice cream.
Via Sugar Hero
Is a recipe for a hot chocolate float really necessary? Well, this one is. It’s made from scratch, and it’s a thick mug of goodness. Whisk and cook cream, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove and whisk in chopped chocolate, stirring until it’s melted. Place a couple scoops of your favorite ice cream in mugs and pour the hot chocolate over the top.
4. Turn ordinary hot chocolate into a creamy Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.
Via One Sweet Mess
Simmer milk and cream, then add in chocolate chips until they melt. Stir in peanut butter and pour into a mug. (You might want to make an extra batch because you’ll be going back for seconds.)
5. Use a Keurig.
Via A Solution a Day
Use your Keurig for hot water that can be used with those instant packs for hot cocoa.
6. Serve it frozen.
Melt chocolate chips and add in hot cocoa mix with sugar. Next, add a half cup of milk and cool at room temperature. In a blender, place the leftover milk, cooled chocolate, and ice cubes, and blend on high until you get a frozen daiquiri consistency. Pour and top off with whipped cream.
7. Cut frozen ice cream or whipped topping into shapes.
You’ll need ice cream or whipped topping frozen solid. Then, just use a small cookie cutter and punch out shapes. Place shapes on parchment paper and put them back into the freezer until they’re frozen solid again and ready to serve. Bon appetite.
8. Sip it from a mug dipped in crushed candy canes.
All it takes to make this pretty-looking display of goodness is marshmallow fluff on the rim of a mug that’s then dipped in crushed candy canes. Pour in some instant hot chocolate and, if you have any, about a 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract.
9. Or, decorate a mug’s rim with edible confetti.
Via Tablespoon
Melt chocolate chips in a shallow bowl, then add rainbow chips and sprinkles to another bowl. Dip a glass into the melted chips then into the sprinkle mixture, and put in the fridge until the chocolate rims are set, about five minutes. Add cocoa and enjoy.
10. Add pumpkin puree to spiced white hot chocolate.
Heat up some milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla, and spices. Bring to a simmer for a minute then remove from heat and add white chocolate chips. Stir until the chips are melted. Serve immediately.
11. Add a dose of Nutella.
This recipe will take you less than five minutes to prepare, and possibly shorter to drink. Combine skim milk, a tablespoon of Nutella, and a dash of vanilla in a mug and microwave for one to two minutes. Sprinkle on some cinnamon, and add whipped cream at the end.
RELATED: 15 Slow Cooker Hacks You Probably Didn’t Know About
12. Give it as a gift.
Via She Knows
What you’ll need for this DIY project is two ornaments with removable tops, four packs of hot chocolate mix, some red and green sprinkles, mini marshmallows, and white and semisweet chocolate chips. Follow the instructions from She Knows, and put a smile on someone’s face for Christmas.
13. Make red velvet hot cocoa.
Via une-deux senses
The cream cheese whipped cream topping makes this irresistible. To bring this all together, you’re going to need milk, sugar, semi-sweet chocolate chips, red food coloring, vanilla extract, heavy whipping cream, and whipped cream cheese.
14. Or, make pink hot chocolate.
Via Baking Mischief
In a pot, heat milk and white chocolate until everything is hot and melted. Remove from heat, and stir in a couple drops of red food coloring. Along with the pink color, the star of this recipe is the whipped cream that’s made in a mason jar. First, put the jar in the freezer for 15 minutes, then pour in cream, sugar, and vanilla, and screw the lid on. Shake the jar for five to seven minutes until you can’t hear liquid sloshing inside.
15. Indulge in extra thick Italian-style hot chocolate.
You’ll need butter, chopped chocolate or chocolate chips, milk, sugar, and cornstarch. Stir constantly so you don’t burn the butter, and make sure to use the proper amount of cornstarch–that’s the trick to getting it so thick.
16. Make it in a Crock-Pot.
Stir whipping cream, milk, vanilla, and chocolate chips into a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
While you’re at it, turn it into a hot chocolate buffet, regardless if you’re having a party for adults or kids. Have a variety of toppings ready to sprinkle into each mug—from peppermint to crushed candies, or even ice cream scoops.
17. Use leftovers to make pancakes.
Via Food Network
Add any leftover hot chocolate to your standard pancake batter. Throw on some syrup and whipped cream for double deliciousness. Avoid hot chocolate or cocoa mixes with powdered milk or other dairy products in it, as this can change the structure and texture of the pancakes.
18. Make hot chocolate popcorn.
Make the popcorn however you like, then melt some white candy melts and drizzle over the popcorn and toss it. Sprinkle on hot chocolate mix, add chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows, then stir everything. Serve after the white chocolate has hardened.
19. Put it in eggnog.
Via Baking Bites
Buy some store-bought eggnog and add cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla extra, and a pinch of nutmeg. Finish it off with some whipped cream on top.
20. Add it to oatmeal.
Use the slow cooker for this one. Just add in steel-cut oats, water, coconut milk, cocoa powder, vanilla, coconut sugar, and some stevia. Set your Crock-Pot to low for one to two hours, and turn it to “keep warm” before going to bed. In the morning, you’ll have a nice treat for breakfast.
21. Make boozy double-chocolate hot chocolate.
Via HGTV
Grab milk chocolate cocoa mix, milk, chocolate syrup, chocolate liqueur, and some whipped cream-flavored vodka. Finish it off with a crunchy strip of chocolate-dipped bacon.
22. Give it a bite with chili.
All you need for this is hot chocolate, either instant or homemade, and some cayenne or ground chili pepper. Add your powdered chili in tiny pinches, taste testing along the way. Cayenne is a good choice, because it adds heat without changing the flavor of your chocolate.