Cocktail of the Day · Cocktails · Holiday Kitchen · Nightcaps · Winter Holidays

Inspiration: National Hot Cocoa Day

mrspillar

December 13. Midway through the month, less than ten days away from the Winter Solstice. I can’t think of a better day than this for National Hot Cocoa Day.

There is nothing better than a cozy day inside, watching fat snowflakes floating to the earth from a frosty window. Fire burning, lights twinkling on the tree, gifts wrapped, and a hot mug of molten chocolate in your hand.

-chocolate inspiration-

There are many different types of hot cocoa flavors on the market to try and I am finding new ones all the time. With so many to choose from, it’s hard to decide! Obviously, you have seen the displays around, so there probably is no need to list a bunch of different varieties here for you, as you, like me, probably already have your go-to favorites. Here, I am going share a basic scratch Hot Cocoa recipe, and give you a few ideas on how to make it even more fabulous. By fabulous, of course, I mean… boozy.

Basic Hot Cocoa

You will need:

  • 1/2 cup Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Baking Cocoa
  • 1/3 cup hot water
  • 4 cups milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • dash of salt

Combine sugar, cocoa, vanilla and salt in a saucepan, add water, heat to boiling. Slowly stir in milk, heat to serving temperature. DO NOT BOIL. Remove from heat, and whisk til frothy. Serve.

-Inspiration- (1)

The Brandy Bean

Inspired by my favorite German treat, Asbach “Brandy Beans”

  • 1 ounce brandy
  • 1/8 ounce Buttershots
  • hot cocoa

combine all ingredients, enjoy hot

Chocolate Luck (bomb style ‘shot’)

  • 3/4 ounce Irish Whiskey
  • 1 ounce hot cocoa (cooled to room temp)
  • dash of Bailey’s
  • Irish Stout
  • 2 oz shot glass and pint glass

Combine whiskey and cocoa in shot glass and top with Bailey’s. Fill pint glass half way with stout. Drop the shot glass into your pint glass and drink it down.

The Hot Russian

  • 1 ounce vodka
  • 1 ounce coffee liqueur
  • hot cocoa
  • Bailey’s whipped cream**
  • hazelnuts (for garnish)

Combine vodka, coffee liqueur and hot cocoa in a hot cocktail mug, top with Bailey’s whipped cream. Garnish with a couple hazelnuts.

**You can find a recipe for Bailey’s spiked whipped cream HERE.

The French Kiss

  • 1/2 ounce vodka infused with lavender
  • 1/2 ounce Saint Germain
  • hot cocoa
  • raspberries (for garnish)

Combine all ingredients in a hot cocktail mug, garnish with a raspberry.

I hope you got inspired to make your cocoa a little less ordinary! Happy Hot Cocoa Day, stay warm!

Thanks for reading.

-inspiration-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published by mrspillar

Stay at home wife getting through life one cocktail at a time.

13 thoughts on “Inspiration: National Hot Cocoa Day”

    1. It really is simple. Only thing you really have to make sure you do right is the second heating after the milk goes in, if you heat it too fast or bring it to a boil by accident, it can scorch the milk, so careful with that. Otherwise it’s a walk in the park!

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    1. While I definitely go for powdered cocoa mix sometimes, there really is nothing like homemade hot cocoa. It is really the only way to go if you are going to make cocktails out of it! I am so glad you found some inspiration here! Thanks for reading hun! ❤

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  4. I’ve never actually had a go at making hot choco from scratch myself before! I do love it though, its so relaxing to drink in the evenings, I’ve tried hot chocolate and Bailey’s before but not tried it with vodka!

    Chloe Chats xx

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    1. My favorite will always be brandy with cocoa. I tend to drink a lot of brandy in winter though, so I pretty much put it in everything this time of year. ❤ Thanks for reading!

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    1. Yes! And mother nature is really giving us the perfect cocoa weather as of late! Especially where I am in the Midwestern US. Thanks for reading!

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