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Small tweaks, major flavour! 15 hot chocolate hacks for happy winter sipping

What's better than a silky, soothing cup of hot chocolate when it's cold? Nothing, that's what 😉! We love it classic but also appreciate a clever tweak to make it even more delicious. That's why we rounded up a whole slew of creative ways to upgrade your next cup, from our chocolate-loving community. Buckle up, it's gonna be a delectable winter of warm beverages.

1. Tall, dark and handsome
Add milk and dark chocolate to a pot and simmer over a medium heat for a few minutes — be sure to whisk regularly. Pour into a mug, top with shavings of white chocolate, a few marshmallows, a dollop of whipped cream, a pinch of cinnamon and finish with a little orange zest.
— Tidi C.

2. Peppermint twist
Add a few pieces of chocolate into a mug, pour in hot milk and stir. Top with whipped cream and some crushed chocolate pieces. And now for the twist — take a peppermint crisp chocolate and bite the off both the bottom and top, pop in your cup and sip through the peppermint crisp like a straw. Delish!

3. Triple threat
My husband has a sweet tooth, so I melt milk chocolate, white chocolate and one or two dark chocolate pieces together. Add a little hot full cream milk, 2.5 ml of vanilla extract and top it off with white marshmallows! Take your hot chocolate, put on your mittens and cover yourself with a blanket. Get your hubby to make a nice fire, surround yourself with good company, and there you go!
— Elzaan H.

4. Peanut butter bomb
Boil one litre of milk and remove from the heat. Add 240g of dark chocolate, chopped finely, and a ¼ cup of peanut butter. Finish it off with white marshmallows and stir the hot chocolate with a whisk. The peanut butter and marshmallow combo gives this hot chocolate an extra level of comfort!
— Lisa G.

5. Spiked hot chocolate My classic hot chocolate recipe is three heaped teaspoons of hot chocolate, 250 ml hot milk, one espresso, one tot of Amarula cream and a pinch of cinnamon.
— Aletia D.

6. Salt flake city
Melt 70% Lindt chocolate into a mug, fill with hot milk and add a dollop of fresh cream on top. Take it to the next level with a generous helping of Maldon sea salt sprinkled on top.
— Nandi C.

7. I’ll have s’more Bruléed marshmallows or marshmallow fluff on top of the hot chocolate is my secret. It’s the perfect combination of roasting marshmallows around a fire on a cold night and a cup of decadence!
— Lindsay J.

8. Got a little captain in you?
My version of hot chocolate is definitely for adults only. A few years ago a friend was moving and I was helping her pack up her house. At the end of the night, we felt like an Irish coffee. There was no whisky or coffee in the house, but there was, however, Captain Morgan rum and hot chocolate. We thought, “What the hell!” and so the “Drunk Pirate” was born. Warm your milk with a little water, add heaped spoons of hot chocolate (the more, the merrier), then add a captain's share of rum. Enjoy!
— Larrinae B.

9. The mexican way
Mexican hot chocolate is just the best. Over a medium heat, combine milk, water, almond butter, cocoa powder and cinnamon into a saucepan, whisking frequently until smooth and the liquid comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in almond extract and sugar to taste. P.S it goes really well with a splash of brandy!
— Natalie A.

10. Nuts about hot chocolate
A spoonful of hazelnut syrup and a few toasted marshmallows on top of the hot chocolate, is a delicious twist. I also like to add a spoon of peanut butter and some chopped, salted peanuts on top. Yum!
— Susan C.

11. Amaretto-tally glorious!
NoMU hot chocolate is fantastic, but to take it to the next level, add a tot of Amaretto and an amaretti biscotti.
— Lynne H.

12. For a 25 hour day
I melt a Bar-One chocolate and mix it with one spoon of Horlicks, followed by boiling, hot milk. Finish it off with a sprinkle of marshmallows on top. Divine!
— Bev C.

13. Crowd pleaser with a bit of heat
This hot chocolate recipe is super easy and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Bring 2 litres of milk to just below boiling point in a large pot, add chunks of Lindt dark chocolate and 2 slabs of Lindt dark chilli chocolate. Allow it to melt away gently while stirring. When you’re sure the chocolate has melted completely, pour the warm hot chocolate into your favourite winter mugs, top with a dollop of warm, frothy cream and a sprinkle of chilli flakes. Enjoy!
— Julinda A.

14. Local is lekker!
Hot chocolate, a bit of coconut milk, a shot of Amarula, and some marshmallows on top. Then you take a chef’s torch and toast the top of the marshmallows. Magic!
— Darryn v. d. W.

15. A little cardamom goes a long way
Nomu’s decadent hot chocolate, plus warm milk is the best. Those dark chocolate chunks melt into a smooth, not too sweet, hot chocolate and the taste is enhanced by a twist of orange peel or a tip of a teaspoon of cardamom.
— Heide G.

Good luck choosing which to try first! They're all dangerously delicious and easy — exactly the kind of silver lining a long winter's day needs.

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