Now that the weather getting colder nothing beats a warm fire and a good book and a cup of delicious hot warm chocolate so i thought I would share my favourite hot chocolate recipes with you so I hope you enjoy these they are yummy to share by yourself or a Friend . .

Real hot chocolate

Preparation Time 2 minutes

Cooking Time 5 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)
1L (4 cups) milk
100g good-quality dark chocolate, finely chopped
Marshmallows, to serve


Method

Place the milk in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and set aside for 1 minute.
Place 20g of the chocolate in each of four heatproof serving glasses. Pour the hot milk over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate melts and is smooth. Top with marshmallows and sprinkle with the remaining chocolate. Serve immediately.
Notes & tips
White chocolate variation: Use 100g of good-quality white chocolate instead of the dark chocolate in this recipe

Hot Chili Chocolate

2L (8 cups) milk
3 x 100g pk ts Lindt Excellence Chili dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
Heat the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until just boiling. Remove from heat and add the chocolate. Use a metal spoon to stir until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth

Butterscotch hot chocolate

Preparation Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

55 minutes

Ingredients (serves 2)

500ml (2 cups) milk

100g good-quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

125ml (1/2 cup) butterscotch schnapps

Marshmallows, to serve

Method

Place the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes or until it almost boils. Remove from heat.

Divide the chocolate among 2 tall heatproof glasses. Pour over the hot milk and butterscotch schnapps. Top with marshmallows to serve

Cinnamon hot chocolate

Preparation Time

5 minutes

Cooking Time

15 minutes

Ingredients (serves 6)

1.5L (6 cups) milk

2 x 7cm cinnamon sticks

50g (1/2 cup) cocoa powder, sifted

150g good-quality dark cooking chocolate, coarsely chopped

Method

Place the milk and cinnamon in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Remove from heat and set aside for 10 minutes to develop the flavours.

Place the cocoa powder in a small heatproof bowl. Add 80ml (1/3 cup) of the warm milk mixture and stir until a smooth paste forms.

Remove the cinnamon sticks from the remaining milk mixture and place saucepan over low heat. Add the cocoa paste and chocolate, and use a wire balloon whisk to stir for 5 minutes or until chocolate melts and the mixture is well combined.

Transfer to a heatproof serving jug and pour into heatproof glasses to serve.

Peppermint hot chocolate

Ingredients (serves 2)

2 cups milk

125g peppermint dark chocolate, chopped

Method

Warm 2 cups milk over low heat. When it starts to simmer, add 125g chopped peppermint dark chocolate pieces. Stir constantly for 3-4 minutes or until chocolate is melted and well combined. Serve immediately with marshmallows, if desired

Hazelnut hot chocolate

Preparation Time

5 minutes

Cooking Time

15 minutes

Ingredients (serves 6)

45g (1/4 cup) hazelnuts

350g dark chocolate, finely chopped

1.5L (6 cups) milk

125ml (1/2 cup) Fabbri Nocciola hazelnut syrup

2 tsp vanilla bean paste

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Whipped cream, to serve

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C. Place the hazelnuts on a baking tray. Bake in oven for 5-8 minutes or until toasted. Place in a clean tea towel and rub to remove the skins. Coarsely chop the hazelnuts.

Divide the chocolate among six heatproof serving glasses.

Place the milk, syrup, vanilla and cinnamon in a large saucepan. Slowly bring to the boil over medium-low heat. Use a balloon whisk to whisk until combined and slightly frothy.

Ladle the milk mixture among glasses (the hot milk will melt the chocolate). Top with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle with the hazelnuts. Serve immediately

Honeycomb hot chocolate

Ingredients (serves 2)

2 cups milk

50g honeycomb bar, chopped

70g milk chocolate, chopped

Method

Warm 2 cups milk over low heat. When it starts to simmer, add a 50g chopped honeycomb bar and 70g chopped milk chocolate pieces. Stir constantly for 3-4 minutes or until chocolate is melted and well combined. Serve immediately with scoops of vanilla ice-cream, if desired.