‘Tis the season for warm drinks and an excuse to consume a lot of marshmallows. Hot chocolate is a staple of winter life and is one of our go-to pick-me-ups. It’s something we’ll never tire of, but sometimes it is fun to get creative by adding additions to your favorite drink to make it just right. Here are five hot chocolate recipes with a twist that are sure to make your mouth water! 

1. Chai Hot Chocolate

- With a mortar and pestle, grind 1 Ibarra brand hot chocolate tablet, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 pinch of allspice, 4-5 cloves, and 1 star anise.

- In a large pot over medium heat, warm 1 ½ cups of milk.

- Add one large chunk of peeled ginger to the pot.

- Stir in the ground ingredients.

- Add 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract and 1 cup of chai tea. Let brew.

- Strain and serve.

2. Spiked Hot Chocolate

- Over medium heat, warm two cups of whole milk and stir using a hot cocoa spoon of your choice. Reduce to low heat.

- Add in a dark chocolate hot chocolate bomb of your choice. Stir until melted.

- As an optional step, rim your drinking glass with chocolate frosting and cinnamon sugar.

- Pour the hot chocolate into your glass and add the following: 1 shot of Amaretto, 1 shot of Baileys, and 1 shot of RumChata.

- Stir and enjoy.

3. Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate

- Heat up 2 tablespoons of water in a mug in the microwave.

- Plop in two oreos and stir until dissolved.

- In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm 1 cup of milk.

- Combine milk and oreo mixture in a mug.

- Stir in one hot chocolate packet of your choice.

- Add marshmallows and enjoy.

4. Matcha Hot Chocolate

- Pour 1 cup of warm milk into a measuring cup and add 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder. Stir until dissolved.

- Add a few drops of vanilla extract and whisk.

- In a separate glass, pour two tablespoons of hot water and stir in 1 teaspoon of a matcha powder of your choice until dissolved.

- Pour the hot chocolate mixture from the measuring cup into the glass with the matcha. Stir until combined.

- Add toppings of your choice and enjoy.

5. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

- In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of ground ginger, 1 ½ teaspoons of ground nutmeg, 1 ½ teaspoons of allspice, and ½ teaspoon of ground cloves. Set aside.

- Put 25g of white chocolate into a mug.

- In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm milk until hot.

- Pour the hot milk into your mug and stir until the chocolate is melted.

- Stir in 2 teaspoons of your spice mix.

- Add toppings of your choice, and package up the rest of the spice mix to save for later!