5 Ways to Spice Up Your Hot Chocolate (2024)

FAQs

5 Ways to Spice Up Your Hot Chocolate? ›

Add 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract for a little extra zip! Other great ideas to try: whipped cream, shaved gourmet chocolate, good old fashioned marshmallows, or our personal favorite, all of the above! The next time you're feeling the winter blues, try one of these recipes and feel your spirits soar.

Sweet Foods

Generally, the best sweet food pairings for hot chocolate are sweets with a pronounced flavor, such as mint—anything with peppermint, such as mints, chocolates, candy canes, etc., are a great choice. Try angel food cake drizzled with caramel sauce, crème de menthe liqueur, or limoncello.

We love dark chocolate with matcha or salt, milk chocolate with caramel or coffee, and white chocolate with raspberries or nuts.

Try combining dark chocolate with coffee, ginger, cloves, sea salt or even smoky spices such as chipotle peppers. On the other hand, milk chocolate has a creamy texture and can harmonize well with spices that have a softer profile such as vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Add Espresso Powder or Instant Coffee

The simplest way to accentuate the chocolate flavor in your baked goods is to add a teaspoon or so of espresso powder or instant coffee granules.

A drop of hazelnut or almond extract can take your hot chocolate to gourmet levels. These nutty flavors complement the chocolate beautifully, giving your beverage a sophisticated twist. Hazelnut imparts a rich, slightly toasted flavor, while almond extract adds a subtle sweetness.

How to make hot cocoa taste richer? ›

The most important part of a good mug of hot chocolate is flavor, and I want mine to taste like rich chocolate. To get that flavor, I combined bittersweet chocolate and cocoa powder for a deep chocolatey flavor. A pinch of salt helps balance the sweetness and some vanilla adds just a hint of floral aroma.

That said, to cool down the temperature of your hot chocolate quickly (especially if the mug of hot chocolate is for a child), use about an ounce or two less hot milk when adding it to the mix, and pour in the same amount of cold milk at the end to cool it down.

Hot chocolate in the afternoon is the perfect excuse for an afternoon snack: an understated cookie, a hearty scone, a slice of tea bread – all wonderful sides for your mid-day cocoa! Cocoa and cookies are a dynamite combo, and shortbread may be the ultimate hot chocolate/cookie pairing.

Extra-small chunks Almond Butter Crunch were the most popular toppings of choice. Chocolate chips, finely chopped nuts, crushed graham crackers, and candy cane pieces, also make great options! To create the ultimate hot chocolate bar, we think, the more topping the better!

Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.

Marshmallows: The Unsung Hero

Believe it or not, the secret ingredient in gourmet hot chocolate is none other than marshmallows. These fluffy, sweet confections are the unsung heroes of the hot chocolate world, adding a delightful creaminess and hint of sweetness that takes the drink to a whole new level.

You can use any flavored creamer you have to whip up a creamy, flavored hot chocolate. My favorites have been using vanilla or hazelnut creamer. Or you can even get creative and mix creamer flavors to make unique flavor combos…a very good idea.

Rum: Dark or spiced rum can give your hot chocolate an exciting Caribbean twist. Rum's natural sweetness and spicy undertones complement the rich cocoa beautifully, creating a blend that is smooth, warming and deeply comforting. Brandy: A shot of brandy can lend an enticing depth of flavour to your hot chocolate.