10 hot chocolate recipes so good you'll be hooked

Don't you just love sipping on a cup of hot beverage on a rainy day while sitting in a cafe with French windows, subsuming the sights and sounds of the city? No thanks to the pandemic, this monsoon, we have not been able to live that moment but hey, we are not (exactly) complaining, because we have just the recipes to ward off that cabin fever.

Take a look at some of our favourite sweet, rich and creamy hot chocolate recipes.

Creamy Hot Chocolate

Made with full-fat milk, cinnamon, dark chocolate and cocoa powder, this classic creamy hot chocolate is the perfect pick-me-up on a gloomy day. The milk is simmered with a cinnamon stick and the dark chocolate is whisked in after it comes to a boil. To make it more creamy, add butter.

Sea Salt Hot Chocolate

To take things up a notch, try this sea salt hot chocolate, which is made using unsweetened almond milk, sugar, dark chocolate, sea salt and vanilla extract. The sea salt cuts through the sweetness and adds a nice touch to the classic beverage.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

This variation of hot chocolate is more of a holiday favourite but there's no reason not to make it on a regular day either. The peppermint is a refreshing addition to the recipe that also calls for full-fat milk, heavy cream, peppermint oil, peppermint candy, chocolate chips and sugar, all tied together with a generous dollop of whipped cream.

Matcha White Hot Chocolate

Now we don't know what your thoughts on matcha are, but we recommend trying this matcha-flavoured hot chocolate regardless. You will need to boil water and dissolve the matcha powder. Pour the mixture in unsweetened almond milk along with white chocolate chips and let it all simmer. Enjoy it with your favourite cookie.

Masala Chai Hot Chocolate

We caught your attention with this one, didn't we? Yes, a masala chai hot chocolate is as good as it sounds. The recipe is extremely simple too. Brew an instant chai masala in water for a couple of minutes. Pour in chocolate ganache, milk and whisk it well. Finish it off by dusting cocoa powder and there, you have it.

Spiced Hot Chocolate

Most people don't mind their hot chocolate too sweet, but if you are somebody who does not, we have just the recipe. Our spiced hot chocolate is flavoured with nutmeg, cinnamon and cayenne pepper, along with a pinch of salt. Top it with whipped cream and your not-so-sweet hot chocolate is ready!

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Making salted caramel can prove to be tricky, but once you know how to, it is difficult to resist adding it to all things sweet. To make this hot chocolate, heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in the salted caramel, dark chocolate and sugar. Pour in a mug and serve with marshmallows.

Italian Hot Chocolate

Picture yourself in a cafe in Italy while sipping on this hot chocolate, also known as Cioccolata Calda. Its popularity can be attributed to the fact that it is as thick as a pudding and has a unique texture when made right. A slurry of cornstarch and water is added to the hot chocolate once it is boiled to ensure consistency, which is then served with whipped cream.

Irish Cream Hot Chocolate

This is a particularly boozy hot chocolate made with Irish liquor, white chocolate, full-fat milk, cinnamon powder and icing sugar. The Irish liquor comes flavoured with cream and cocoa, giving the hot chocolate a certain depth.

Raspberry Hot Chocolate

This variation of hot chocolate is by far the most unique in the sense that a raspberry coulis is added to the hot chocolate mixture and then boiled over for a few minutes. The sweetness and acidity of berries complement the chocolate well. Try it and let us know how it turned out!