The best homemade hot chocolate recipes are simple to make, have lots of chocolate chips or chocolate chunks, and nostalgically remind you why you love hot chocolate in the first place. By those standards, this easy recipe combines everything you love, with a twist. Chocolate and red wine are a perfect pairing, and a dry wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon brings just enough body to the recipe without overwhelming it with an acidic wine taste. You don't have to use a particularly good wine—whatever you have on hand is perfect for this recipe. It's a beautifully smooth sip.
Videos by Wide Open Country
As for the heat, we used both a dash of cayenne and a dash of chili powder for a smoky, spicy twist that compliments the rich chocolate flavor. When it comes to simple recipes, it's hard to get simpler than this. Simply melt chocolate in a double boiler on your stovetop on medium heat, and add the ingredients. While we used milk chocolate chips for our hot cocoa recipe, feel free to swap in any additions you'd like. Maybe you'd prefer dark chocolate chunks or a dash of cinnamon from fresh cinnamon sticks.
If you don't prefer the spicy twist, you can certainly nix it from your own recipe. While this is typically a winter drink, it's really more for when you need a comfort drink to soothe you after a bad day. Make this with your loved one and have a nice reconnecting conversation as the dark chocolate chips melt down. Take the time to really enjoy making this drink because few things in life are as soothing as a chocolate wine. Of course, don't forget the marshmallows for topping.
Make this recipe at home? Rate it on our Pinterest and share your photos with us on Instagram! Let us know how you made it your own. This recipe sure beats pumpkin spice lattes any day of the week, and all of your holiday parties should have this recipe in the rotation. For the full recipe, click below.
