By Kyla Mrazek - Goodwill Projects Manager, Goodwill Industries of Southeaster Wisconsin & Metropolitan Chicago
Who doesn’t love a good cup of hot cocoa after a day of playing in the snow? We love to get together with friends for an afternoon of sledding, tubing, making snowmen and having fun in the outdoors.
A great way to warm up is to provide a hot cocoa bar for your guests. Below is the basic hot cocoa recipe we use. It takes just a few simple ingredients to make, and it is always a hit! Then we provide several different add-ins and toppings. Here are just a few we’ve tried, but anything goes:
- Whipped Cream
- Marshmallows
- Sprinkles
- Mini-Chocolate Chips
- Candy Canes or Candy Sticks
- Toffee Pieces
If your party is for adults, you can always have different liqueurs on hand (coffee, raspberry, etc.) to add a little zip!
Winter can be a long season, especially in the Midwest, so invite some friends over, play in the snow, and have a hot cocoa bar to complete your fun!
Winter Hot Cocoa Recipe
Ingredients
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup boiling water
3-1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup half-and-half
Directions
Combine the cocoa, sugar, pinch of salt and cinnamon in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to a boil and then turn down to simmer, stirring frequently. Simmer for two-to-three minutes, then stir in 3-1/2 cups of milk and continue simmering until hot. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between four mugs and add toppings. Enjoy!
