How many variations of hot chocolate can you make?

Who doesn’t like hot chocolate?

I mean really, after a long cold day of walking all over campus bundled in your mittens and hats, I think everyone could use a nice hot cup of cocoa. Chocolate has been around for centuries.

When the Spanish came across the Atlantic Ocean and arrived in Mexico, they found many different plants they had never seen before, chocolate being one of them, according to the Discovery Channel.

The Aztecs used the cocoa plant to make different drinks. The Spanish later took the method over to Europe, where it became a huge success. Over the centuries, the drink has been modified into what we now consider hot chocolate.

However, you don’t have to settle for the generic powder mix you find in your average grocery store. There are so many different ways to concoct hot chocolate and here are just a few:

Basic Homemade Hot Chocolate

Serves 6

Ingredients

2 cups of milk

2 cups Half-and-half

1 cup Semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tablespoon sugar (optional)

1 “handful” of mini marshmallows (optional)

Warm the milk and half-and half in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, then stir in chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate chips are melted. If this concoction is too chocolaty for you, add more milk. If it isn’t sweet enough, add a tablespoon of sugar. Top with a “handful” of mini-marshmallow. I’ll leave it up to you to decide what a “handful” really means. Serve warm in your favorite mug.

Variations of this basic mixture:

Orange Hot Chocolate: For all of you citrus lovers out there, you can create your own unique concoction by adding 4 slices of orange rind as you warm the milk mixture. Add a splash of orange syrup if you have it, but it isn’t necessary. Continue with basic recipe.

Raspberry Hot Chocolate: For a different fruit variation, try adding 3 tablespoons of raspberry syrup (the kind you would find in a coffee shop) to the mixture after the chocolate chips are melted. Drop a couple of raspberries into each cup and continue following basic directions.

Mint Hot Chocolate: Drop 1 to 2 miniature peppermint patties (York would work) into each mug before adding hot chocolate. Stir to melt and enjoy the minty freshness of the hot cocoa. This would be my personal favorite.

Caramel Hot Chocolate

Serves 6

Ingredients

1/3 cups sugar

1/3 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cups water

6 milk-chocolate-covered round caramels

6 cups milk

A dollop whipped cream (optional)

Combine sugar, cocoa powder and water in a large saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Add caramel candies; cook and stir until melted. Stir in milk. Heat for about 5-7 minutes. Pour into mugs; add a dollop of whipped cream. I would make it a large dollop for this recipe.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 cups whole milk

1 1/3 cups (8 ounces) chocolate chips

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon chile powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients and 1 cup water over medium heat. Whisk mixture constantly until hot but not boiling for about 8 minutes, mixture should be smooth. Serve hot in mugs and enjoy this spicy blend of cocoa.

Creamy Vegan Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

3 tablespoons canned coconut milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons sugar

4 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder

1 dash ground cinnamon

1 cup boiling water

Stir together coconut milk, vanilla extract, sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon in a large mug. Add boiling water and stir until the sugar has dissolved. I know that some Vegans might stay away from hot chocolate, but this way they don’t have to. This is a unique and vegan-friendly way to make the tasty beverage.

These recipes are just a handful of the variations you can make with hot chocolate. These stuck out to me because I think almost everyone can find at least one of these they will just have to try. I have to say that the mint hot chocolate is absolutely mouth-watering. However, I encourage you to experiment with the basic hot chocolate recipe by adding your favorite flavors. You never know what you could discover. I would highly recommend garnishing any and all variations with whipped cream, marshmallows or chocolate shavings, and enjoy your unique cup of cocoa on a chilly winter day.