Winter Spiced Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon
A cozy hot chocolate infused with warming spices and topped with whipped cream. This recipe, ready in about 10 minutes, brings together whole milk, cocoa powder, granulated sugar for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 2, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whipped cream
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 2 cups whole milk, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar over medium heat.
- Step 2: Add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, stirring continuously until the mixture is hot but not boiling, about 5 minutes, until fragrant and smooth.
- Step 3: Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for a rich aroma.
- Step 4: Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top each with a generous 1/4 cup whipped cream.
- Step 5: Optionally, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top before serving to echo the wintry spice.
