5 Easy Gourmet Hot Chocolate Recipes
With the holidays in full swing and the cold chilly weather outside, nothing beats a nice cup of hot chocolate. Here is a list of my 5 personal favorite recipes for hot chocolate.
The coffeehouse price for a small cup of gourmet hot chocolate is almost $4!
Now you can make your own gourmet hot chocolate at home with easy to find ingredients for a fraction of the cost. Here are my 5 easy recipes. Enjoy!
Traditional Gourmet Hot Chocolate
This sweet, chocolatey drink will warm you right up after a day of sledding (or shopping!)
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup of milk 12 oz (Whole, 2%, skim, soy, or almond, your choice)
2 Tbsp of Half & Half (Regular, lite or fat free is fine, makes the drink taste richer and creamier)
3 Tbsp Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate
Whipped Cream
Cocoa powder for dusting, optional
Directions:
1. Add milk and Half & Half to microwave safe cup.
2. Microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds or until steaming.
3. Stir in Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate until well mixed and melted.
4. This step is optional, but if you have an Aerolatte you can add some delightful foam to your hot chocolate!
5. Add whipped cream and lightly dust with cocoa powder or more ground chocolate.
6. Enjoy!
Get the Aerolatte for your hot chocolate!
 | Aerolatte 005 Milk Foamer, The Original Steam-Free Frother, 8.5-Inch, Satin Finish Aerolatte’s Original Steam-Free Milk Frother with a Satin Finish aerates milk into a thick, rich foamy beverage anywhere. Frothed milk is fun and easy to make with very little e... Aero / |
 | Aerolatte Handheld Milk Frother with Stand, Black Aerolatte’s Original Steam-Free Milk Frother aerates milk into a thick, rich foamy beverage in a jiff without the need for electricity. The matching Counter Stand stores the Fro... Aero / |
Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
Here is my (easy) take on a Starbucks favorite.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup of milk 12 oz (Whole, 2%, skim, soy, or almond, your choice)
2 Tbsp of Half & Half (Regular, lite or fat free is fine, makes the drink taste richer and creamier)
3 Tbsp Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate
2 Tbsp of caramel sundae topping (Example: Smuckers, or La Lechera caramel)
Whipped Cream (Redi Whip is what I use!)
A small pinch of sea salt for sprinkling on top
Caramel for drizzling, optional
Directions:
1. Add milk and Half & Half to microwave safe cup.
2. Microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds or until steaming.
3. Stir in Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate until well mixed and melted. Add caramel and stir until combined.
4. This step is optional, but if you have an Aerolatte you can add some delightful foam to your hot chocolate!
5. Add whipped cream and a sprinkle of sea salt. Drizzle with extra caramel.
6. Enjoy!
My favorite chocolate to use for hot chocolate is Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate.
It has a mixture of good quality cocoa powder and real Ghirardelli ground chocolate. Mmmmm
 | Ghirardelli Chocolate Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa Beverage Mix, 48 oz Canister Ghirardelli's Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Mix offers a wonderfully rich and complex chocolate flavor. Serve as a hot or cold beverage, or use in your favorite recipes for a... Ghirardelli / |
 | Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Pouch, 10.5 Ounce Ground Chocolate Ghirardelli / |
 | Ghirardelli - Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa Gourmet Powder 3 lbs - with Exclusive Measuring Spoon GHIRARDELLI HERITAGE, SINCE 1852 In 1849, during the California Gold Rush, Italian-born Domingo Ghirardelli moved to America and opened a store in a mining camp. After discoveri... Ghirardelli / Only $24.99 |
| Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa Powder, 30 Pound Excellent for your hot beverage & dessert needs: White Mochas, Lattes, Hot Cocoa, Blondie Brownies & Muffins. Ghirardelli Professional (Grocery) / Only $93.79 |
Mexican hot chocolate
A different take on an old favorite. A yummy and slightly spicy hot chocolate.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup of milk 12 oz (Whole, 2%, skim, soy, or almond, your choice)
2 Tbsp of Half & Half (Regular, lite or fat free is fine, makes the drink taste richer and creamier)
3 Tbsp Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate
1/4 tsp cinnamon ( If you can get Mexican cinnamon, that would be even better!)
1 Tbsp brown sugar
Whipped Cream
Cocoa powder for dusting and a cinnamon stick for garnish, optional
Directions:
1. Add milk and Half & Half to microwave safe cup.
2. Microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds or until steaming.
3. Stir in Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate, cinnamon, and brown sugar until well mixed and melted.
4. This step is optional, but if you have an Aerolatte you can add some delightful foam to your hot chocolate!
5. Add whipped cream and lightly dust with cocoa powder or more ground chocolate and add cinnamon stick for garnish.
6. Enjoy!
What's your favorite hot drink during winter?
White Hot Chocolate
A decadent treat for a cold winter day.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup of milk 12 oz (Whole, 2%, skim, soy, or almond, your choice)
2 Tbsp of Half & Half (Regular, lite or fat free is fine, makes the drink taste richer and creamier)
3 Tbsp Ghirardelli Sweet Ground White Chocolate
Whipped Cream
White chocolate shavings for garnish, optional
Directions:
1. Add milk and Half & Half to microwave safe cup.
2. Microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds or until steaming.
3. Stir in Ghirardelli Sweet Ground White Chocolate until well mixed and melted.
4. This step is optional, but if you have an Aerolatte you can add some delightful foam to your hot chocolate!
5. Add whipped cream and white chocolate shavings if desired.
6. Enjoy!
Yummy Ghirardelli Sweet Ground White Chocolate makes White Hot chocolate easy and delicious!
 | Ghirardelli Sweet Ground White Chocolate Flavor Powder, 3.12 lbs. Ghirardelli's Sweet Ground White Chocolate Flavor Mix offers a wonderfully delicate and creamy white chocolate flavor. Scoop a little into your favorite milkshake recipe or serv... Ghirardelli Chocolate / Only $21.84 |
 | Ghirardelli Sweet Ground White Chocolate Flavored Beverage Mix, 10-Pound Package The mix offers a rich and complex white chocolate flavor perfect for white mochas or white hot chocolates. Simply combine with espresso and steamed milk for a white café mocha, ... Ghirardelli / Only $46.00 |
 | Ghirardelli Chocolate Sweet Ground White Chocolate Flavor Beverage Mix, 50 Ounce Canister Ghirardelli's Sweet Ground White Chocolate flavor mix offers a wonderfully rich and complex white chocolate flavor. Serve as a hot or cold beverage, or use in your favorite reci... Ghirardelli / |
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Perfect for the holiday season or if you love peppermint as much as I do, all year round!
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup of milk 12 oz (Whole, 2%, skim, soy, or almond, your choice)
2 Tbsp of Half & Half (Regular, lite or fat free is fine, makes the drink taste richer and creamier)
3 Tbsp Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate
Half a candy cane, crushed finely (You can also use 2 round peppermint candies, crushed finely)
Whipped Cream
Candy cane for stirring and garnish, optional
Directions:
1. Add milk and Half & Half to microwave safe cup.
2. Microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds or until steaming.
3. Stir in Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and crushed candy cane or crushed peppermint candy until well mixed and melted.
4. This step is optional, but if you have an Aerolatte you can add some delightful foam to your hot chocolate!
5. Add whipped cream and garnish with candy cane.
6. Enjoy!
Make sure to try these recipes, you won't be disappointed and you'll save a lot of money!
Hope these recipes are useful to you and hope you love them a much as I do. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
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Leave a comment and tell me what's your favorite hot chocolate recipe?
That's one of my favorites too Alex. Thanks for stopping by! :)
My favorite hot chocolate recipe is the one for Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, gonna be trying that one today, thanks!