Our Favorite Hot Chocolate Recipe & Hot Cocoa Adult Party Variations!

Fall is almost upon us and one of my favorite things is warming up to a delicious cup of hot cocoa! If you are a chocolate lover like me, you may shy away from the typical store bought hot chocolate. I prefer a dark chocolate, or a very rich hot chocolate, so I have tweaked this hot chocolate recipe to suit my tastes. You can too - it all depends on the type of cocoa powder you use.

Whether you are serving hot chocolate during your fall or winter wedding, or during a spooktacular Halloween event, your guests will enjoy a deeply satisfying cup of delicious hot cocoa. So first, I'll give you our easy to make hot chocolate recipe and then a few twists to make this seemingly kiddie drink, very adult!

Hot Chocolate Recipe Ingredients

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Hot Chocolate Recipe Instructions

Stir together cocoa, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Stir in hot water until blended and then bring to a low boil, just simmering. Continue to stir for 2 minutes while it simmers. Watch that it does not scorch!

Stir in milk while it is still on the burner, and continue to stir until it is very hot - but do not boil!

Remove from heat, add vanilla and stir in. Beat with a whisk or rotary stirrer until foamy. Add half and half until it is at serving temperature. Serve topped with whipped cream, marshmallows and a very light dusting of powdered chocolate on top of whipped cream if desired.

Hot Chocolate Recipe Variations

Aztec Hot Chocolate Add a pinch of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, ground red pepper plus 2 tablespoons of honey when you add the vanilla extract.

Mayan Hot Chocolate Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper when you add the vanilla extract.

Spiced Hot Chocolate Add 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg when you add the vanilla extract. Serve with a cinnamon stick.

Italian Hot Chocolate Whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the milk until it is dissolved. Then add the milk to the hot cocoa recipe as instructed above. This will produce a thick, rich hot chocolate.

Canadian Hot Chocolate add 1/2 teaspoon of maple extract when you add the vanilla extract.

Irish Hot Chocolate add 1 ounce of Bailey's Irish Creme per cup. Then top with hot cocoa mixture.

Mexican Hot Chocolate add 1 1/2 oz white tequila and 1/2 oz Kahlua coffee liqueur per cup. Then top with hot cocoa mixture.

Caribbean Hot Chocolate add 1 1/2 oz dark creme de cacao and 1/2 oz dark rum per cup. Then top with hot cocoa mixture.

Brazilian Hot Chocolate add 4 shots of espresso and a teaspoon of cinnamon when you add the vanilla extract.

Kentucky Hot Chocolate add 1 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey and 1/2 oz dark creme de cacao per cup. Then top with hot cocoa mixture.

New York Hot Chocolate add 1 oz chocolate mint liqueur and 2 shots of espresso. Then top with hot cocoa mixture, whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings.

Mint Hot Chocolate 1/2 teaspoon mint extract OR 3 tablespoons crushed hard peppermint candy OR 2 to 3 tablespoons white creme de menthe OR A splash of peppermint schnapps. Serve with peppermint candy stick, if desired.

Raspberry Hot Chocolate add 1 ounce of creme de cacao, 1 ounce of Chambord raspberry liqueur, a splash of vodka per cup. Then top with hot cocoa mixture.

Orange Hot Chocolate add 1/2 teaspoon orange extract OR 2 to 3 tablespoons orange liqueur per cup. Then top with hot cocoa mixture.

Kahlua Hot Chocolate add 1 oz Kahluaź coffee liqueur per cup. Then top with hot cocoa mixture and whipped cream.

Swiss Hot Chocolate Stir in 2 to 2-1/2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee when you add the vanilla extract.

You can serve these drinks during your fall or winter wedding - at your bar or during your dessert hour as after dinner drinks. If your catering hall can't whip up a batch of homemade hot cocoa, or if you would like to give them a unique favor to take home - purchase our gourmet hot cocoa favors and attach a recipe card with your favorite hot chocolate additions! Or attach a small bottle of your favorite liqueur so that your guests can take home their very own adult hot chocolate. Let them whip up a little fun! Hot chocolate isn't just for kids anymore!

© 2011 Erica Tevis, Little Things Favors

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