The Perfect Christmas Hot Chocolate

One should learn the rules before breaking them. That’s why the flavour ideas you’re about to see are built on traditional ingredients and foundations, but have unexpected lashings of deliciousness that add a distinctly Christmas spirit.   

The grown-ups in your house can look forward to an extra little kick on Christmas morning. In a saucepan on a stovetop, start by combining milk, cocoa powder and dark chocolate. Stir with a whisk until the chocolate has melted.

When ready, turn off the heat and stir in a half-shot of Baileys Irish Cream, peppermint schnapps or bourbon. Add sugar to taste. Top with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, then sit back and enjoy the warming complexity and richness of both your drink and your family.

Adding extra toppings to a favourite food is classic kid behaviour, so let yours enjoy the same kind of freedom at Christmas time. Start them off with a warm mug of the same delish milk/choc/cocoa base as the adult hot chocolate above, then let them customise their hot cocoas with a selection of festive extras: mini-marshmallows, green & red sprinkles, striped candy canes, coloured straws, and anything else your little ones would love to add to show the world it’s Christmas.

The perfect finishing touch to a great Christmas hot chocolate is serving it up in your favourite mug.

There are plenty of options to fall in love with in Royal Doulton’s beautiful range of simple porcelain and colourful ceramic coffee mugs.

And for the littluns, the cups from the Bunnykins collection are sure to be lifetime favourites right from Day 1.

For more inspiration, find a mug that matches your personality.