Chilly afternoons are just meant for mugs of steaming hot chocolate. It’s time to rescue all those instant hot chocolate packets wedged in the back of the cupboard! If you’ve got the time and ingredients to make home made hot chocolate by all means do so. But there’s no shame in going instant, especially if you're a broke college kid like me. Jazz it up with different flavors!

Just follow the package instructions for making the hot chocolate, and then try one of these twists – topped off with marshmallows orwhipped cream, of course.

1. Warm caramel

Dropping in a warm dollop of caramel will make the first sip of your hot chocolate even better.

2. Ice cream

It may sound weird to put something cold in your hot cocoa, but a scoop of ice cream makes it really creamy and thick. Make sure your hot chocolate is as hot as you can get it without allowing it to boil, and pop in a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

3. Cinnamon, Nutmeg or Vanilla extract

Any of these will add an excitingly different flavor

4. Orange Zest

Carve three 2-inch long strips of orange rind (the skin) and let them steep in your drink for a while before tasting. That citrus flavor is a delight.

5. Expresso or coffee

You can either add a tablespoon of fresh brewed fee or espresso, or you can use the instant stuff.

6. Peppermint Stick

Drop a peppermint stick. It adds great flavor, and a great smell. This version is nice if you’ve got a cold.

7. Dark or white chocolate shavings

Find a Hershey bar and grab a grater. Sprinkling a few shreds of the real deal into your drink – or on the whipped cream on top of it – can only make things more heavenly.

8. Peanut Butter

If you're a peanutbutter freak like me this one is amazing. So creamy and delicious!

9. Habanero pepper or a Shot of Hot Sauce

Got a hankering for something hot and spicy? A dash of your favorite hot sauce kicks a hot chocolate into high gear. You can even drop in 2 fresh slices of a fresh Habanero pepper into your cocoa and stir the flavor in.

10. Cherries

Drop two or three teaspoons of the juice into your drink, along with a cherry. Tastes like drinking a chocolate cordial.