5 easy hot chocolate recipes

Snuggle up with one of our homemade treats

Written by Gabrielle Meredith-Elsworth

Tis the season of rainy mornings, lost gloves and soggy tissues, but on the bright side it’s also the best time for hot chocolate! Although in my opinion, hot chocolate can and should be enjoyed all year round, there really is something special about settling down on the sofa with the kids, everyone armed with a big mug of the warm chocolatey goodness. And it tastes even better homemade… As there are hot stoves involved, get your little one to help you with the setting up rather than the making. They can help you measure the ingredients and with the all-important breaking up of the chocolate (although supervision may be required for that, and not just over them!).

All recipes are enough for 2 servings.

1) The classic: if it ain’t broke…

What you’ll need: 4 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons water, 500ml milk (higher percentage fat will make it creamier), whipped cream, mini marshmallows

What to do:

1. In a saucepan mix the cocoa powder, water and sugar until dissolved.
2. Add milk and stir until smooth.
3. Pour into mugs and serve with whipped cream and marshmallows.

2) Just mint to be: peppermint hot chocolate

What you’ll need: 200ml milk, 100g chocolate, 50ml double cream, ½ tablespoon peppermint essence, whipped cream (optional), mint leaves (optional)

What to do:

1. Heat up the milk in a saucepan – be careful not to let it boil!
2. Add the chocolate, cream and peppermint essence and whisk until smooth.
3. Pour into mugs and finish with whipped cream and a sprig of mint to be extra fancy.

3) It’s mine! Chocolate orangey yumminess!

What you’ll need: 300ml milk, 100ml double cream, 1 Terry’s chocolate orange chopped into pieces, whipped cream (optional), orange zest (optional)

What to do:

1. Heat the milk, cream and chocolate in a saucepan on a medium heat until the mixture is completely smooth and simmering.
2. Pour into mugs and serve with whipped cream and a bit of orange zest, if you like.

4) Unicorn: hot chocolate with a magical makeover

What you’ll need:  600ml milk, 1tsp vanilla extract, 100g white chocolate, pink food colouring, whipped cream, sprinkles, mini marshmallows

What to do:

1. Mix the milk, vanilla extract, white chocolate and two drops of pink food colouring together in a saucepan.
2. Put the saucepan on a low heat and stir constantly until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.
3. Pour into mugs and serve with whipped cream, sprinkles and marshmallows.

5) Hazelnut dream: a completely vegan treat

What you’ll need: 500ml hazelnut milk, 100g dark chocolate, 1tsp sugar, pinch ground cinnamon

What to do:

1. In a saucepan, heat half of the hazelnut milk on a medium heat.
2. Add the chocolate and whisk until melted.
3. Add the remaining milk with the sugar and cinnamon and whisk until the mixture is simmering.
4. Pour into mugs and serve.

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