Homemade Hot Chocolate

I'm a total sucker for a piping hot mug of rich hot chocolate on a chilly evening. And homemade hot chocolate?!? Seriously, there are few things better!

If I'm being toooootally honest with you, I'm a bit of a Hot Chocolate snob. Ok, maybe not a snob, but I know what I like and I know what I don't like. And what I don't like, is hot chocolate from a packet that is made with water. Now, I've got nothing against the packets!! They are great for when I want some hot chocolate and I want it NOW! I just do not like the taste or consistency when they are made with water. Some like it that way, and that's ok. But I am not one of them. 

What I do like, no, what I absolutely love is homemade hot chocolate. You control the ingredients and the flavor. Yes yes yessss!

And really, homemade hot chocolate isn't hard to make. Like, at all! It's pretty simple and once you've done it a few times, it goes almost as quickly as using a packet. 

There's a whole bunch of recipes for homemade hot chocolate out there, and I'll bet most are fantastic! This is the one that I stick with tho. It's my favorite!

This makes about 8 cups. It doubles, or even triples, nicely. Which is great for get togethers. 

• 7 cups milk (I use whole milk, you use what you like) 
• 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
• 0.5 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 0.25 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.5 tsp vanilla extract

1. Place cocoa powder, sugar, and cinnamon into a large pot. Whisk everything together to combine. Turn heat onto medium. 
2. Slowly whisk in the milk and heavy whipping cream. Whisk it really well. You might think it's never going to combine, but I promise you, it will! Keep whisking it frequently. 
3. Heat till very warm but NOT boiling! Add in your chocolate chips and whisk till fully melted and mixed in. (Did I mention that this is also a great arm workout?)
4. Whisk in the vanilla. 
5. Serve it up!

I enjoy mine the most with some whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top. Cuz why not, right? But I also sometimes enjoy marshmallows in there, too. Especially the little crunchy ones like you find in cereal. Mmmmm!!!

I hope you enjoy my homemade hot chocolate!! What's your favorite hot chocolate add in? Marshmallows? Whipped cream? Peppermint? Tell me below!