Cold weather has arrived and there’s no better way to warm up than with a cup of hot chocolate. Switch things up with the flavors below!
Toffee and Butterscotch

Stir butterscotch chips into hot cocoa until melted, top with whipped cream, and then sprinkle with crushed toffee bar pieces (Heath bars are recommended).
Photo Credit: https://cookinginredsocks.com/2017/03/26/salted-butterscotch-hot-chocolate/
Cookies & Cream

You can’t go wrong with Oreos. Top your original hot cocoa with whipped cream, then sprinkle crushed Oreo cookies on top. Or dip whole Oreos into the cocoa to avoid a mess.
Chili & Orange Zest

If sugary add-ins are too sweet for you, try adding a pinch of chili powder, cayenne, and orange zest to your hot cocoa. Forget the caffeine—wake yourself up with a citrusy zing.
Photo Credit: https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/10-creative-mix-ins-for-the-best-hot-chocolate/
Maple Syrup

Adding maple syrup to your cocoa will give it a buttery, breakfast-friendly flavor. Top it with a dollop of whipped cream and fry up some pancakes to go on the side.
Peanut Butter

Peanut butter + chocolate is the king of all combos. Spoon in a dollop of peanut butter while your cocoa is still hot so that the peanut butter melts, turning your cocoa into a delightfully creamy mixture.
Photo Credit: https://joyfoodsunshine.com/peanut-butter-hot-chocolate/
Raspberry Jam

You don’t have to rely on artificial flavoring to create raspberry-flavored hot cocoa. Simply add a spoonful of your favorite raspberry jam. This pairs especially well with white hot chocolate.
Photo Credit: https://www.google.com/searchq=raspberry+white+hot+chocolate
Mix ‘n’ Match Spices

If you don’t have many ingredients on hand, just look through your spice cabinet. Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, and even cayenne make great hot cocoa add-ins. Try out different spice combos to see what you like. Some popular combos are:
- cinnamon and chili pepper (for a kick)
- ginger, cloves, and cinnamon (for a gingerbread flavor)
- vanilla, cayenne, and cinnamon
Photo Credit: https://www.thespicehouse.com/blogs/recipes/spicy-hot-chocolate-mix
Hot Tip: If you’re looking to keep the carb count lower on your holiday beverages, check out perkenergy.com for some creative, low-calorie drink flavorings.
Sources (Recipe Credit)
https://cafemom.com/lifestyle/112160-12_heavenly_ways_to_spice
https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/protein-bar-to-eat-based-on-your-favorite-chocolate-bar
https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/10-creative-mix-ins-for-the-best-hot-chocolate/