Best hot chocolate recipes to warm you up this winter: 5 easy ways to whip up a delicious mug of warm cocoa

1 Heat the milk in a heavy saucepan until bubbles form around the edge of the pan. Do not boil the milk. 
2 Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whip the cream and fold in 1 tsp of the crushed candy canes.
3 Whisk the chocolate into the milk until smooth. Remove saucepan from heat.
4 Add peppermint extract and stir.
5 Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream.
6 Sprinkle remaining candy cane mix onto the cream and serve.
Via: tasteofhome.com

Christmas cakes made easy: 6 hacks to sweeten up your holiday season

2 cups whole milk
130g of the best dark chocolate you can afford
sugar to taste

1 Break the chocolate into blocks. 
2 Gently warm the milk in a saucepan. Do not let it boil. 
3 When it gets hot enough, take the saucepan off the stove and whisk in the chocolate.
4 Return the chocolate to the stove to let it heat up again.
5 Stir the mixture until it just begins to boil. 
6 Remove from the heat and pour into a mug. Add sugar if needed and serve.
Via: davidlebovitz.com

2 cups milk
¾ cup of dark chocolate chopped into smaller pieces
1 tsp honey
2 tsp brown sugar
¼ tsp vanilla extract
1 cinnamon stick

1 Using a a double boiler or thick-bottomed saucepan, bring the milk to boil.
2 Add the chocolate and stir to melt.
3 Once chocolate is melted, add honey and cinnamon.
4 Turn down the heat, and stir constantly until the mixture thickens.
5 When it starts to boil, turn off the heat.
6 Remove cinnamon stick, pour into mugs and serve.
Via: spiceyourlife.com

11 winter hacks to keep you warm as we reach "omg I can't feel my face!" temperatures

1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tbsp granulated sugar
1½ tsp cornstarch
128g dark chocolate, finely chopped
whipped cream 
chocolate curls

This is only for those with cooking experience. 
1 In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk ¾ of 2 cups of milk with cream and sugar. Heat on medium, whisking occasionally until bubbles form.
2 Put the cornflour into a cup, and add the remaining cold milk. Stir until well mixed.
3 As soon as the heated mixture bubbles, add the cornstarch mix and whisk for about a minute.
4 Reduce heat to medium low, then add chocolate and whisk until completely smooth.
5 Remove from the heat and pour into two mugs.
6 Decorate with cream and chocolate curls.
Via: Cleobuttera.com

½ cup of dark chocolate, chopped
2 cups milk
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
1 red chilli pepper, split in half, seeds removed
1-4 tbsp coconut sugar, to taste

1 Warm up a little of the milk and melt the chocolate into it over a medium heat.
2 Once the mixture is smooth, slowly add the rest of the milk, whisking as you go to avoid lumps.
3 Whisk in the cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
4 Add the chilli and heat the mixture until it is about to boil. Remove from the heat.
5 Allow the mixture to rest for 10 minutes, then remove the chilli.
6 Return to a low heat, whisk in the sugar to taste. Pour into mugs and serve.

Note: The spice level of your drink depends on the type of chilli you use, and the length of time you leave it to sit in the mixture.
Via: theendlessmeal.com