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5 Simple, Delicious Ways To Spruce Up Your Basic Cup Of Hot Cocoa This Winter

Deck the halls—and your hot cocoa— this holiday season!

Emily_White_

Dec 05, 2020

The Narrative

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5 Simple, Delicious Ways To Spruce Up Your Basic Cup Of Hot Cocoa This Winter

@roxysvida

Some of my fondest memories have included hot cocoa. As soon as the temperature dropped below 70 (which is basically freezing in Florida), my little sister and I break out the saucepan and froth up some milk and cocoa. Somehow, I always manage to burn my tongue on the first sip, no matter how careful I try to be. Of course, this doesn't make the hot cocoa any less delicious.

I'm always experimenting with my hot cocoa by adding new spices and toppings. The holiday season is supposed to be a season of joy and wonder. After all, I'm a firm believer that a good chunk of that joy and wonder should be directed towards consumption of hot chocolate.

Read on to see how you can make your hot cocoa even more wonderful!

1. Experiment with peppermint hot cocoa.

white ceramic mug with chocolate and candy canePhoto by Pro Church Media on Unsplash

Try adding peppermint extract to your hot cocoa and topping it with whipped cream and crushed candy cane pieces. This combination is "mint" to be!

2. Try some extra chocolatey hot chocolate.

smoothies inside mug on white platePhoto by Klara Avsenik on Unsplash

For an extra chocolatey kick, add a few tablespoons of chocolate chips to your hot cocoa. Whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and serve. Not only will this add to the flavor of the cocoa, but it will also make your drink a little thicker and creamier since the chocolate will thicken the beverage.

3. Sip some cinnamon hot cocoa.

beige mug with hot chocolate near cinnamon sticks on surfacePhoto by Rachael Gorjestani on Unsplash

Adding cinnamon will give your cocoa a festive flair. Think of a chocolate gingerbread vibes. Experiment with other spices, too! A touch of chili powder along with cinnamon will give you Mexican hot chocolate flavors, whereas nutmeg will give you even more of a festive mug!

4. Go crazy with the toppings!

beige mug on gray trayPhoto by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

Marshmallows and whipped cream are a good start, but trying thinking outside the box so that as soon as your lips touch your mug, you can taste joy. Try salted caramel, chocolate drizzle, toffee bits, or M&Ms. Coat the rim of your mug with melted chocolate, and roll it in your favorite candies.

5. Give hot cocoa bombs a try.

hot cocoa bombs on a flat surface

https://cutsidedown.com/warning-hot-chocolate-bombs-explosive-flavor/

These are super fun, and they've blown up this year (no pun intended). It's a hollow ball of chocolate, typically filled with hot cocoa mix and mini marshmallows. Learn how to make your own here, or learn where to buy them here.

Happy hot cocoa-ing!

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5 Simple, Delicious Ways To Spruce Up Your Basic Cup Of Hot Cocoa This Winter

Deck the halls—and your hot cocoa— this holiday season!

1. Experiment with peppermint hot cocoa.

2. Try some extra chocolatey hot chocolate.

3. Sip some cinnamon hot cocoa.

4. Go crazy with the toppings!

5. Give hot cocoa bombs a try.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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