Hot Cocoa Recipe Hacks

Published: Jan 31, 2024

Hot cocoa warms hands and hearts, and is the perfect cozy beverage all winter long. And with Hershey staples you have at home, you can make café-worthy hot chocolate in eight unique, flavorful ways.

9 Ways to Make Hot Cocoa

The beauty of hot chocolate is that it pairs nicely with a variety of other flavors. Every mug you make is a moment for a little magic. We’ve gathered some of our best hot cocoa recipes, so which one will you taste first?

Classic “Perfectly Chocolate” Hot Cocoa

We’ve perfected our hot chocolate for just the right amount of sweetness, richness and creaminess. The result is a recipe that has become a tradition for generations. Once you've mastered this cocoa, it can serve as the base for our many variations in this blog!

Secret ingredient: vanilla extract
Perfect topping: marshmallows
Pairs well with: HERSHEY’S Classic Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mexican Spiced Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

Though we think of hot chocolate as a simple chocolate drink, hot cocoa originates from Mayan and Aztec cultures where it was enjoyed with a little bit of spice. To give your hot cocoa a kick and depth of flavor, add 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon chipotle or chili powder. Trust us — it will be a memorable mug to enjoy!

Secret ingredient: chipotle or chili powder
Perfect topping: cinnamon stick
Pairs well with: Cinnamon Chip Apple Turnovers

mugs of hot chocolate mocha topped with chocolate syrup

Hot Cocoa Mocha

Whip up this afternoon pick-me-up at home when you don’t have time to swing by your favorite café. You might just end up loving your concoction even better! Just substitute half the milk in the classic recipe above with a hot coffee of your choice, then top with whipped cream and a drizzle of HERSHEY’S Chocolate Syrup.

Secret ingredient: hot coffee
Perfect topping: chocolate drizzle
Pairs well with: Chocolate Turnovers

Orange Hot Chocolate

Does your family associate oranges with Christmas? Maybe you look forward to finding one in the bottom of your stocking. One reason oranges are tied to Christmas is that they were considered a luxury before cold transport existed. Thus, it was quite the exotic gift if you’re thousands of miles from an orange tree! Tap into the nostalgic taste of chocolate and orange when you add 1/2 teaspoon orange extract or 2-3 tablespoons orange liqueur to your mug.

Secret ingredient: orange extract
Perfect topping: whipped cream and orange zest
Pairs well with: Mini Chocolate Orange Muffins

mug of mint chocolate hot cocoa topped with whipped cream

Holiday Mint Hot Chocolate

Chocolate and mint is a hugely popular flavor combination, especially at the holidays! And refreshing mint is always welcome in any mug of hot cocoa. This variation has three flavor options depending on what you’ve got on hand. Or try them all and choose a favorite, but it’ll be a tough call! You can: (1) Add 1/2 teaspoon mint extract; (2) add 3 tablespoons crushed hard peppermint candy; or (3) add 2-3 tablespoons white creme de menthe.

Secret ingredient: mint extract
Perfect topping: KIT KAT^® DUOS Mint and Dark Chocolate Candy Bar
Pairs well with: Winter Wonderland Surprise Cupcakes

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Pumpkin spice has become a beloved symbol of autumn’s arrival. But why limit it to lattes? Capture the essence of fall by adding a dash of pumpkin spice to your hot chocolate. The warm notes of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg blend beautifully with rich cocoa, creating a comforting and indulgent drink that embodies the cozy flavors of the season. For an extra layer of sweetness, drizzle caramel over the top and let it melt to bring your autumn treat to a whole new level of comfort.

Secret ingredient: pumpkin spice
Perfect topping: caramel drizzle
Pairs well with: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

two mugs of Swiss mocha hot cocoa topped with whipped cream

Swiss Mocha Hot Chocolate

You’ll never wait in a drive-thru again once you try this homemade Swiss mocha hot chocolate: When you’re making our classic cocoa for one, add 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder. For best results, add your dry ingredients to a mug first (cocoa powder, sugar, salt and instant coffee) and pour warm milk over until it forms a smooth paste. Then stir in the rest of your milk. Switch up your Swiss mocha with different instant coffee flavor variations for an instantly delicious variation.

Secret ingredient: instant coffee powder
Perfect topping: whipped cream and chocolate shavings
Pairs well with: HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chip Scones

Café Au Lait Hot Chocolate

This one is fancy to say but simple to make! Just like a warm brownie, your cup of cocoa is just begging for a scoop of ice cream. Make a mug of classic hot cocoa, but replace your marshmallows and whipped cream with 2 tablespoons vanilla ice cream. Melting starts immediately, so serve right away! Change up your drink with any flavor ice cream you have on hand, like chocolate, mint chocolate chip, or cookies and cream!

Secret ingredient: ice cream
Perfect topping: chocolate chips or sprinkles
Pairs well with: Deep Dish Brownies

Morning Maple Hot Chocolate

This hot cocoa recipe is the epitome of cozy — because it guest stars maple, the flavor you know from breakfast and all things fall! You’d think the key ingredient would be maple syrup but you’re actually going to want to use 1/2 teaspoon of maple extract. It’ll give you a pure flavor but won’t affect the consistency of your hot cocoa.

Secret ingredient: maple extract
Perfect topping: whipped cream and caramel chips
Pairs well with: Fluffy Flavored Pancakes

Holiday Hot Cocoa Hacks for a Crowd

Have a house full of hot chocolate hopefuls? You can level up any of the recipes above using this six-serving HERSHEY’S Perfectly Chocolate Hot Cocoa as your base. Then increase your add-ins times six! Everyone can enjoy something unique during holiday movie night.

If you’ve got a lot of creative types around, set up a DIY Hot Chocolate Bar and let them mix and match flavor pairings and toppings. Think of it like a holiday gift card to get the exact thing they wanted!