The Best Hot Chocolate Recipes of All Time, Hands Down

It all starts with buttery homemade caramel sauce, which later gets whipped into fresh cream.

If Christmas had a flavor, it’d be this sipper. You only need four ingredients, but we’re gonna make it five for the sake of adding crushed candy canes on top.

Full-fat coconut milk and chopped dark chocolate turn this cocoa extra rich and creamy. Take it over the top with a coconut whipped cream.

Fact: There’s no such thing as too many toasted mini marshmallows.

Instant coffee, cocoa and a dash of cinnamon give the bev a bitter, roasted backbone that holds its own against sweet cream and dark chocolate.

The Kahlua and bourbon are optional. But the pumpkin purée and pie spice are totally non-negotiable.

What’s the difference, you ask? French hot chocolate is made with dark European chocolate and heavy cream, meaning it’s super thick and decadent.

Thanks to coconut milk, almond milk and cocoa used in place of melted chocolate, this recipe is vegan and dairy-free.

A bit of fresh-grated or ground ginger goes a long way in the flavor department.

BRB, putting on the coziest pajamas we own.

We’re no stranger to the magical combination that is PB and flaky sea salt. But peanut butter whipped cream is a delicious surprise.

The recipe calls for soy eggnog and non-dairy milk, but feel free to substitute with the regular stuff. Add more cayenne for extra spice.

Use espresso in place of instant coffee and you’ve got yourself the richest, creamiest latte ever made.

We have no qualms about eating dessert alone. We’d rather not share this single-serve masterpiece anyway.

They’re topped with torched, four-ingredient marshmallow frosting. Need we say more?

The sweetness of this recipe is balanced by bitter cocoa powder, maple syrup and chopped chocolate.

Bourbon’s vanilla notes pair beautifully with semi-sweet chocolate and brown sugar.

A five-minute recipe that only has 100 calories per serving and 12 grams of natural sugar? Call it a Christmas miracle.

Matcha powder can be a little clumpy and hard to mix. Whipping the matcha and milk in a blender before putting them on the stove can help.

Nutmeg, cayenne and cinnamon are probably already in your spice rack. But chipotle powder is totally worth adding to your arsenal, even just for this recipe.

It’s as close to the Italian dessert as a drink can get, containing traditional ingredients like espresso, brandy and mascarpone cheese.

If you like your hot chocolate thick, cut back on the milk. The eggnog makes it creamy and rich all by itself.

If you only have chai tea at home instead of chai spice, don’t panic. Just steep the tea in the milk before making the hot chocolate.

If you’ve ever wondered what the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate is, this recipe will clear things up. It’s basically drinkable ganache.

If super rich hot chocolate isn’t your thing, give this balanced recipe a go. It stars homemade tart cherry syrup.

All it takes is a generous dose of spices like cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Might we suggest serving it with caramel-stuffed gingerbread crinkle cookies?

Because your kids definitely don’t consider this sweet treat seasonal.