Use any hot chocolate recipe, such as one here on wikiHow, and it's already delicious by itself -- but here is the way to pump-up any hot drink recipe to another level and enhance it -- so that it is awesome!
Ingredients
- Hot chocolate (any recipe/or instant chocolate mix)
- Whipped cream (topping)
- Candy mints
- A bar of milk chocolate/or dark semi-sweet chocolate
- Fresh mint leaves (optional)
- Candy canes of cinnamon or peppermint (optional)
- Coffee creamer<ref name="Make Creamy Hot Chocolate">http://www.wikihow.com/index.php?title=Make-Creamy-Hot-Chocolate&oldid=5324409</ref> (optional)
Steps
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Pour pre-made hot chocolate in your mug: Use any recipe.
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Put 10-20 small mints (or a few candy canes, optional) for each mug in a bag and smash the mints: You can roll over the bag with a rolling pin or glass bottle (such as a wine bottle) to crush mints.
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Add whipped cream, possibly from a can or tub: put some on top so it looks like it is in a spiral or swirl.
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Sprinkle the crushed mints all over the top of the chocolate: and a little on the drink mug rim and saucer -- but especially onto the whipped cream.
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Use a cheese grater or knife: grate or chop with scissors a bar of milk-chocolate or special dark over the mug, or grate/chop it first and sprinkle over it.
- Put a fresh green leaf off a mint plant on top, and one on the side for decoration, and to nibble (optional).
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Enjoy on a cold evening or night with a cookie, chips, or a sandwich -- try a leaf of fresh mint in the sandwich (optional).
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Try pouring a drizzle of chocolate syrup on the cocoa, but don't overdo it.
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Add as many marshmallows as you want to the hot chocolate!
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Try spicing it up! Experiment with spices such as cayenne pepper, chipotle, cinnamon, salt, or even your favorite dry rub. Add just enough spice to provide a subtle background flavor without giving away the identity of the secret ingredient. It can make the cocoa much more interesting and satisfying. If you like it, add more of the spice until you find a ratio that suits you well.
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Try adding a little bit of vanilla coffee creamer to your hot chocolate if you'd like. <ref name="Make Creamy Hot Chocolate"/>
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Finished.
Tips
- For an awesome yet simple improvement of your instant hot chocolate, stir it with a cinnamon or peppermint candy stick to give it a special taste and leave the candy cane in the cup.
- Candy canes (cinnamon or peppermint, etc.) will work instead of mints.
- Try this on any hot drink: such as cider, hot milk, coffee, tea, etc...
- The link for a recipe for creamy hot chocolate is under related wikiHows.
- Before adding the whipped cream, you may want to add a mint or candy cane to the mug for a new flavor boost.
Warnings
- Be careful when smashing the mints or candy canes and when grating the chocolate; your finger could end up being mashed or scratched/nicked.