Our Most Decadent Hot Chocolate Recipes for the Holidays

From the Recipe Creator: Each winter in early February my friends and I gather for an outdoor show called Mittenfest. We skip the Bloody Marys and fill our thermoses with these hot cocoas instead.

From the Recipe Creator: These hot chocolate bombs are all the rage! Make them ahead of time as a holiday gift or to have on hand when you have a hot chocolate craving. — Rashanda Cobbins, Aurora, Colorado

From the Recipe Creator: Vanilla beans and a hazelnut liqueur like Frangelico lend a sophisticated flavor to this hot chocolate. With such rich taste, it could be served as a dessert. —Michael Compean, Fountain Hills, Arizona

From the Recipe Creator: This hot chocolate recipe is more than a warm-you-up—it's rich and thick decadence in a mug. —Cyndi Nistico, Palm Island, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: My husband and I like to enjoy this grown-up version of hot chocolate on a cold winter evening. It's even better made with honey-flavored bourbon if you can find that in your local store. —Andrea Harvath, Duncannon, Pennsylvania

From the Recipe Creator: Steaming mugs of these smooth beverages are a nice anytime treat with my husband, Ken.—Marie Hattrup, Sonoma, California

From the Recipe Creator: Change up ordinary hot cocoa by stirring some dark baking cocoa into vanilla almond milk. Top it off with a plain large marshmallow or berry marshmallow creme, if you like, and add your favorite pretty sprinkles. —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania

From the Recipe Creator: This is our daughter's favorite hot chocolate recipe. It may look like ordinary cocoa, but a touch of vanilla sets it apart from the rest. And the melted marshmallows give it a frothy body you won't get from a cocoa packet. —Jo Ann Schimcek, Weimar, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: Make spirits bright with a minty mocha to share under the mistletoe or around the piano. I’ve also stirred in coffee liqueur instead of peppermint. —Lauren Brien-Wooster, South Lake Tahoe, California

From the Recipe Creator: My soothing white hot chocolate is a great warm-up after a wintry day spent sledding or ice skating. Or include it as a festive addition to brunch or an afternoon tea party. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

From the Recipe Creator: My mom makes this hot chocolate with pumpkin, spices and white chocolate. We usually drink it on Halloween, but it’s delish at Christmas too. —Sasha King, Westlake Village, California

From the Recipe Creator: When we want a cup of hot chocolate, we prefer homemade over store mixes. A splash of Kahlúa adds a touch of fabulous. —Chung-Ah Rhee, Hollywood, California

From the Recipe Creator: You need just a few basic ingredients to stir up this spirit-warming sipper. The comforting beverage is smooth and not too sweet, making it just right for a cozy chilly night. —Flo Snodderly, North Vernon, Indiana

From the Recipe Creator: Are you in the Christmas spirit yet? If not, this special cocoa will do the trick. It’s like drinking a chocolate gingerbread cookie! —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, AZ

From the Recipe Creator: With or without a nip of rum, my hot chocolate recipe has been a Wisconsin winter warmer for years. When the toboggan hills are calling, I skip the whipped cream and take a thermos to go. It’s always a hit and it ensures nobody is left out in the cold! —Mark Phillips, Bayfield, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: Treat your family to this comforting, homemade cocoa as you decorate the tree or open holiday gifts. Vanilla and almond extracts make it taste even more special. —Vicki Holloway, Joelton, Tennessee

From the Recipe Creator: This delicious, not-too-sweet Mexican hot chocolate is richly flavored with cocoa and delicately seasoned with spices. The whole-stick cinnamon stirrers come in handy, as the old-fashioned chocolate mixture settles if not stirred before drinking. The blend of cinnamon and chocolate flavors is wonderful! —Kathy Young, Weatherford, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: A mug of steamy white hot chocolate will warm you up from the inside out on a snowy winter day. Our recipe heats milk, white chocolate chips, vanilla and salt on the stovetop in a matter of minutes. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan

From the Recipe Creator: Italian hot chocolate is thicker, creamier and chocolatier than your average, thanks to a bit of cornstarch and real chocolate. A dollop of whipped cream is the Italian equivalent of marshmallows. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: Peppermint hot chocolate is such an easy, festive drink to whip up on a whim when the night calls for it. The crushed candy canes on top complete it! —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: Hot chocolate already warms you up from the inside out–but the addition of Baileys makes it doubly so. A mug of Baileys hot chocolate can be served as a beverage after coming in from the cold, but also as a breakfast accompaniment to a wintery pastry or as a dessert to be enjoyed in front of the fire. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: Out of store-bought hot cocoa packets? Don't fret—you can make homemade hot cocoa mix with cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar, dry milk powder and a pinch of salt. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan

From the Recipe Creator: This cacao powder hot chocolate favors more wholesome and less processed ingredients. Raw cacao powder provides the bitter chocolate flavor, while natural maple syrup sweetens. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan

From the Recipe Creator: This copycat Dunkin' Oreo hot chocolate recipe is delicious and decadent—and a breeze to make! —Susan Bronson, Rhinelander, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: I gave this away at our neighborhood Christmas party in cutie-patootie gift bags and was thrilled that I was able to give something to everyone. But the next week I started getting calls from the neighbors who had tried it, and I was blown away at the response. Everyone loves this! The white chocolate makes it extra creamy. —Mandy Rivers, Lexington, South Carolina