Hot chocolate is a staple drink of not only the holiday season, but winter as a whole. One of the most common ways people make regular hot chocolate fancier is by replacing hot water with hot milk, adding whipped cream, or finishing with marshmallows on top. However, even this combination can become stale.
There are many different ways you can transform your hot chocolate just by adding a few extra ingredients. Here are a few simple recipes you can try to recreate for the holidays.
Vanilla Extract
This recipe is simple, but not my personal favorite. Vanilla extract is easily mixed with hot chocolate. I added about a teaspoon, but you can adjust to your own personal tastes. However, the scent is hidden by the chocolate. Taste-wise, there is a slight sweetness to it, like marshmallows; however, the flavor isn’t very strong. You may consider adding more vanilla extract if you want a stronger flavor.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you might want to try adding other types of syrups and extracts to experiment with different flavors.
Cinnamon
Compared to the vanilla extract, cinnamon has a much stronger flavor that stands out within the hot chocolate. Not only does it smell nice, but it gives the hot chocolate a slightly spicy aftertaste.
You could play around with this and try out other spices like nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or even turmeric. However, I think cinnamon has the strongest flavor out of all these spices, as you can actually tell the difference between this and a regular cup of hot chocolate.
Peanut Butter
Out of the three, adding peanut butter is my favorite way to elevate a simple hot chocolate. It makes the hot chocolate taste like a blended Reese’s peanut butter cup and gives the drink a nutty aftertaste. Getting the peanut butter to mix with the hot chocolate isn’t easy and requires a lot of persistence, but the end result is worth it.
For people who are allergic to peanut butter, you can substitute other nut butters. I also tried adding Nutella, which made the drink very rich and chocolatey. It was almost overpowering, effectively removing the typical hazelnut taste Nutella is known for. But to each their own.
Conclusion
These are only a few simple ways to level up your hot chocolate. You should feel free to experiment with the drink and see what ingredients and flavors work best for you!
