With December fast-approaching, hats and scarves officially out the draws and sub-zero temperatures can only mean one thing. Winter is well and truly upon us. Here’s how you can get cosy on your Cornwall Christmas break with five fantastic, family-friendly hot chocolate recipes… and perhaps one just for mum and dad!
White Pumpkin Spice
This rich and creamy delight is bound to lighten up a dark winter’s evening and is the perfect combination of autumn and winter in one cup. This tipple rivals the specialities of Costa and Starbucks, and as well worth a try this holiday season:
- 250ml double cream
- 500ml milk
- 100g white chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon of pumpkin spice
Heat the cream and the milk together until gently simmering and then pour into a bowl of the chocolate chips. Stir the two until smooth when you can add the vanilla extract and pumpkin spice. A first-class homemade hot chocolate is as simple as that! Add cream, more pumpkin spice and any leftover chocolate chips for a formidable finish.
Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter
Are you and your family nuts for nuts? This delicious combination has been a classic crowd pleaser for generations, so it only makes sense to heat it up and pop it in a beverage. This winter warmer is easy to make and perfect after a long day out in the cold:
- 250ml milk
- 60ml cream
- 85g milk chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 85g mini marshmallows
Bring the milk and cream to simmer in a saucepan gently, DO NOT BOIL! When the milk begins to steam, add the chocolate chips and stir until melted. Repeat this for the peanut butter, and pour into a large mug remembering to leave room for your mini mallows! Sit back, feet up and reflect on your day as this nutty concoction warms you from the inside out.
Salted Caramel
For the slightly more adventurous in the kitchen, this salted caramel hot chocolate recipe is unrivalled and can save the day after an unexpected downpour leads to tears. A slightly more complex method, but this recipe serves 8 and prepares you for the whole holiday:
- 200g granulated sugar
- ¼ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1l milk
- 220g milk chocolate, finely chopped
- 50g dark chocolate, finely chopped
- Big pinch of salt
- Toppings as required
Rub together the sugar and lemon juice, and cook in a preheated pan stirring constantly until it liquefies and takes on an amber colouring. Add in the milk slowly and keep stirring until completely melted. Remove from the heat once simmering, and whisk in the chocolate until smooth. Add the salt and you have yourself one seriously delicious winter tipple for all the family to enjoy. Caramel themed chocolates make for fantastic toppings, along with sauce. You can keep this brew in the fridge for up to a week.
Simply Nutella
This hot chocolate is incredibly simple to make, perfect for those on holiday with limited supplies. Nutella proves to be a favourite amongst many, with some opting to skip the nonsense and eat straight from the jar! It works well in hot chocolate and the method is as follows:
- 2 table spoons Nutella
- 250ml milk
- Toppings as required
This recipe could not be any easier making it the perfect quick fix to the cold. Simply warm the milk on a low heat until steaming and stir in the Nutella. Whisk until completely dissolved and your hot chocolate is ready to serve. Get creative with your toppings and add whipped cream, sauce and your family’s favourite chocolatey treats.
Bailey’s
A treat for the adults now, a classic hot chocolate with a pleasing twist, this one is perfect to unwind with after a long family day out in the cold. The thick nature of Bailey’s makes this perfect for dessert, a pre-bed treat or any time with the dunking of biscuits. If making a batch for the whole family, the Irish cream can easily be added after serving an alcohol-free version to the kids.
- 250ml milk
- 100g of dark chocolate chunks
- 50ml of Bailey’s
Once again, gently heat the milk until simmering without bringing to boil. Stir in the chocolate chunks until smooth and it’s ready to serve. Base your mug with the shot of Bailey’s and top with heated mixture to create the ultimate hot chocolate heaven for adults.
Stay warm on your winter break in Cornwall this year with any of these tempting tipples to keep you cosy. Perfect to relax with after a long day of exploring the area and bracing the winds to create unforgettable memories. If you need reminding about why Cornwall is so great in the winter, check out all the reasons here.