HOT CHOCOLATE

This is my go to homemade hot chocolate.  It's quick, easy, rich, delicious and I always have the ingredients on hand.  Below this recipe are some other options that are also great!

4 cups milk
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond, peppermint, etc.)

*add a tablespoon of instant coffee for a morning treat!

Combine all ingredients on the stove over medium heat, until hot. Do not boil.
*Serve with marshmallows or cool whip on top.

2 tablespoons of cocoa powder in the first recipe was too much for me.   Keep everything else the same but cut the cocoa powder down to 1 tablespoon.

CROCKPOT HOT CHOCOLATE

You can make it on the stovetop if you'd like it ready quicker.  
Also, be sure to check out the homemade marshmallows!

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14oz)
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 cups milk

put everything in your crock pot on low for 2 hours. whisking every so often so that its mixing together. enjoy. :)

serve with Andes chips, marshmallows (big and small because everyone has their preference), candy canes, gingerbread men cookies, flavored extracts, flavored creamers, baileys, kahlua and/or ready whip!

will serve 6-8

These hot chocolate variations were published in a Food Network magazine 

The base of this hot chocolate is:  I'll likely never make this version because the recipe at the top is delicious as is and I always have those ingredients on hand however I wanted to share the variations here so that I can add them to our hot chocolate recipe.

4 cups half and half

7oz 70% dark cacao chocolate (bars)

2oz milk chocolate, chopped

dash of salt

I saw this video of Bobby Flay making Red Velvet Hot Chocolate and I'm excited to try the marshmallow whipped cream he used!

1 cup heavy whipping cream

4 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup Marshmallow creme

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whip heavy whipping cream and cream cheese until peaks form.  Fold in Marshmallow creme and vanilla and serve over hot chocolate.

Valentine Hot Chocolate:  Dip a clear glass in marshmallow fluff and then tip in valentine themed sprinkles.  Use the back of a spoon to dip into marshmallow fluff and press on inside of glass twice to create a heart (Make sure this is a thick layer of fluff because the hot chocolate will melt some of it off - works well with chocolate/strawberry milk as well).  Pour in hot chocolate and enjoy!

S'mores hot chocolate: Top hot chocolate with a couple spoonfuls of marshmallow fluff.  Toast fluff with a kitchen torch until desired color.  This was sooooo yummy and fun to do!