Winter-Spiced Hot Chocolate with Whipped Vanilla Cream
A rich hot chocolate infused with warming winter spices and topped with a luscious whipped vanilla cream, perfect for cozy evenings. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 15 minutes, brings together Whole milk, Dark chocolate chips, Ground cinnamon 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 320 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
- 4 oz Dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Heavy cream
- 2 tbsp Powdered sugar
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm 2 cups whole milk until it begins to steam, about 3 minutes.
- Step 2: Add 4 oz dark chocolate chips, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg to the milk, whisking continuously until the chocolate is fully melted and the mixture is smooth and thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Step 3: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract.
- Step 4: In a separate chilled bowl, whisk 1/2 cup heavy cream with 2 tbsp powdered sugar until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes.
- Step 5: Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top each with a generous dollop of the whipped vanilla cream.
- Step 6: Optionally, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top before serving immediately.







