Read our tips for the best luxury hot chocolate plus check out our Baileys hot chocolate, spiked hot chocolate, vegan hot chocolate and more decadent hot chocolate recipes. Wondering who makes the best hot chocolate? Read our review of top-rated cocoa available to buy on the market.
For more winter cocktail recipes, try our chai latte, eggnog and mulled wine.
Hot chocolate station ideas
Unwind this festive season with a warming mug of decadent hot chocolate. To take things to the next level, set up your own hot chocolate station where friends and family can load up their perfect mug with all kinds of toppings.
To set up your station, you’ll need some cocoa – see who makes the best hot chocolate or make your own with our recipe. Next, you’ll need a selection of mugs for your guests to choose from. See the best coffee mugs to find your perfect style.
Set up little jars with plenty of toppings to pick from. This is where you can customise whatever ingredients you like best, the sky’s the limit. Try chocolate chips, candy canes, cinnamon sticks and mini marshmallows. Add a selection of Monin flavoured coffee syrups (£9.99) to add a hint of vanilla, gingerbread or caramel.
Adults can treat themselves to a splash of booze in theirs for an added kick. We love Bailey’s Irish Cream 17% ABV (£15.43), Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey 40% ABV (£22.12) and The Kraken Black Spiced Rum 40% ABV (£26.50). For more inspiration, see the best coffee liqueurs and our Irish cream taste test.
To really complete your set-up, add a milk frother to ensure a perfectly smooth result every time. See the best milk frothers to buy for our top recommendations.
Ingredients
- cocoa powder 3 tbsp
- whole milk 1.5 litres
- demerara sugar 3 tbsp, plus extra to taste
- dark chocolate 100g, chopped
- vanilla extract 1 tsp
- single cream 150ml
TOPPINGS
- dark rum, whisky, brandy, Disaronno or Baileys
- squirty cream
- Cadbury flakes
- Chloe’s Hazelnut & Cocoa Wafers (available from Waitrose and ocado.com)
- cinnamon sticks
- ground cinnamon
- chocolate chips
- mini marshmallows
- fudge chunks
Method
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Step 1
Put the cocoa in a large bowl or jug and mix in enough cold milk to make a smooth paste. Put the rest of the milk in a pan and bring to a simmer. Whisk the milk into the cocoa paste until everything is incorporated then pour back into the pan. Add the sugar, chopped chocolate, vanilla and cream, and heat gently, stirring until everything is combined. Sweeten with extra demerara sugar to your liking.
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Step 2
Pour the chocolate into heatproof glasses and let everyone add their own toppings.
Nutritional Information
- Kcals 530
- Fat 26.2g
- Saturates 16g
- Carbs 47.5g
- Sugars 43.8g
- Fibre 1.9g
- Protein 10.7g
- Salt 0.3g