Undeniably I need coffee to stay awake, tea to feel comforted and green tea for a little Zen kick. No matter how much I appreciate my various daily doses of caffeine, nothing says indulgence quite like a hot chocolate. It really is an ingenious infusion of the most comforting things in the world– a hot drink and chocolate!
Inevitably with every January, history repeats itself and sweet treats are banished once again…
And okay, maybe after all the pigging out that we make our bodies suffer in December, reducing our sugar intake is a wise choice. However, I think we all forget how long winter goes on for! We actually do need to hibernate inside a bit more and have the odd little treat to keep our spirits up until spring.
How To Make Hot Chocolate:
Making this at home is surprisingly easy and cheap. Being curled up on your bed is the ideal way to enjoy sipping a cup of chocolatey goodness! While it’s hard to find a hot chocolate that isn’t tasty, it can be fun to try out something new. All of the recipes here follow the method of melting a couple squares of chocolate (depending on how rich you like it) and heating it through with milk, then adding toppings. If you are lactose-intolerant, some dark chocolate bars are dairy-free and you can try using non-dairy milks. Here are my top ten flavour combinations. Enjoy!
White Hot Chocolate and Hazelnut Praline: Super sweet and the praline aspect is simply irresistible.
Dark Chocolate and Chilli Flakes: Everybody has to try out this weird and wonderful combo.
Peanut Butter: Simply put a peanut butter cup into your hot chocolate and let it melt… magic!
White Hot Chocolate with Espresso: White chocolate can be quite sweet, but adding a shot of Espresso to it is one way of giving it a kick!
Classic Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream and Marshmallows: Classics are classics for a reason. The joy of whipped cream and marshmallows never goes away, no matter what your age.
Terry’s Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate: Chances are you may still have one of these chocolate oranges in your house from Christmas. Use it up in this creative and tasty way!
Dark Hot Chocolate and Ginger: Try a dark hot chocolate with whipped cream and a sprinkling of crushed ginger nut biscuits.
90% Dark Chocolate made with Almond Milk and a Sprinkle of Cinnamon: This combination verges on actually being good for you and it’s tasty all the same!
Coconut: Just like a bounty bar, only better! Sprinkle some desiccated coconut over milk, white or dark hot chocolate.
Amaretto: Almond and chocolate is always an incredible match. Why not add Amaretto? This will warm you up on a cold winter night.
Everyone should enjoy a hot cocoa every now and then. If you’re eating well this month but allowing yourself a treat a week, hot chocolate is a great choice for this! It will fulfil any sweet cravings you may have and cheer you up pretty quickly. Plus, it’s a great idea for an alcohol-free choice when you still want to have something fun.
