It has been chilly and blustery here! This weather, combined with the grand entrance December makes and all the Christmas shopping/movies/wrapping/decorating essentially demands a delicious hot cocoa/hot chocolate recipe. Since I’d never made or had homemade hot chocolate before (thank you, Swiss Miss and Godiva, your packets have served me well!), I decided it was high time to make my own. Here’s the recipe I customized that yielded a delicious cup of hot chocolate! (Or more accurately, 6 delicious cups of hot chocolate!)

4 cups milk (I used 2%)

2 cups half and half 

1/4 cup sugar

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

A few drops peppermint extract (a TINY amount- it’s so strong)

Dash cinnamon (Optional- I feel like it adds something special!)

Combine all ingredients in small pot. Whisk gently over medium low heat until creamy. Ladle into cups and add your favorite toppings. We love to use candy canes as stir sticks. Some family members pick marshmallows, but I’m a whipped cream fan myself.

The gentle whisking is a great exercise in patience for young chefs! We loved working together and then choosing our favorite toppings to have a custom drink. I even added a dash of cinnamon atop my whipped cream (fancy, right?!)

I hope you enjoy this decadent hot cocoa!