Enjoying a cup of hot chocolate is a wonderful way to celebrate colder temperatures. Hot chocolate with an unexpected twist is even better. Whether you use a powdered instant mix or make your hot chocolate on the stove, you’ll love these ten ways of getting creative with this wintertime drink.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter and chocolate is a winning combination. To create this tempting treat, just add a spoonful of peanut butter and stir. You might also drop in some peanut butter candies.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a classic cold-weather spice that goes beautifully with chocolate. Add some peppermint extract to your drink and serve it with a candy cane for stirring. You could also crush some peppermint candy to sprinkle on top, which is especially good with whipped cream.
Matcha Tea
Matcha tea is a popular health food bursting with antibiotics. It also happens to be an excellent flavor in dessert. Add a little bit of matcha tea powder to your hot chocolate. You’ll be pleasing your taste buds and your body.
Orange
Chocolate covered oranges are a decadent dessert, and you can recreate this flavor in your hot chocolate. Use a tiny bit of orange extract for flavor and mix in some grated orange zest for an unexpected taste. Garnish with a candied orange slice.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon smells like the holidays. It brings visions of baked goods and hot cider. All some cinnamon to your hot chocolate for a comfortable, cozy feeling. Use a cinnamon stick for stirring.
Ginger
Ginger is a warm and inviting spice perfect for cold weather. Get inspired by cookies like gingersnaps when you add a pinch of ginger to your hot chocolate. In fact, this drink would be best enjoyed with gingerbread cookies on the side.
Cayenne Pepper
It might seem unusual to add pepper to hot chocolate, but this has been a tradition in Mexico for years. A dash of cayenne brings just a little kick and balances the sweet chocolate.
Pumpkin Spice
If you can’t get enough pumpkin spice, this is the hot chocolate add-on for you. Create your own pumpkin spice chocolate drink by adding a few dashes of pumpkin pie spice. You could also use pumpkin butter for a richer texture and flavor. This hot chocolate definitely calls for whipped cream as well.
Chai Latte
Combine two of your favorite winter drinks when you add a chai latte tea to regular hot chocolate. Half tea and half hot chocolate will do the drink, but you can adjust the amount any way you like.
Eggnog
This final flavor to try in hot chocolate will result in a creamy masterpiece of a winter beverage. Using milk instead of water for the base of your hot chocolate, substitute some of the milk with eggnog according to taste. Sprinkle with a little bit of nutmeg to finish it off.
Hot chocolate is a favorite of many in cold weather. You can bring a little extra to your hot chocolate with one of these ten elevating additions.