Put a Twist on Your Hot Chocolate

Everyone loves the taste of hot chocolate. The smell, the steam and the feel of the warm mug between your hands-- everything about America's favorite treat is something that makes us feel better from the inside out, no matter what time of the day.

While plain hot chocolate is delicious by itself, adding a few variations on the original creates a whole new spin on this timeless beverage.

Try adding these items to change the taste of your mug of plain hot chocolate:

Coffee- Add a 1/2 cup of coffee to 1/2 cup of hot chocolate and you have the perfect mocha. This is a cheaper alternative to buying it at a coffee shop and you create instant gratification.

Whipped Cream- Who doesn't love old fashioned whipped cream? Plopping some on top of a steamy cup of hot chocolate is a sure treat!

Cinnamon- Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top of your drink to create a distinct cinnamon flavor to the undertones of chocolate.

White Chocolate- Add about a quarter of a cup of white chocolate morsels to your Hot Chocolate, this will really add a rounded flavor of white chocolate creaminess to your drink.

Ice Cream- By adding a scoop of your favorite ice cream, the taste possibilities are endless, try to avoid anything with nuts.

Marshmallows- Who doesn't love the fluffy taste of marshmallows in their hot chocolate? The bigger the better, but usually two marshmallows sweetens just fine.

Chocolate Syrup- Hershey's chocolate syrup is great in hot chocolate. Whether you enjoy a little or a lot -- you can easily taste test along the way until you reach the desired amount of chocolate flavor.

Hot Fudge- A jar of Smucker's hot fudge is a great indulgence to add to your hot Chocolate. This is perfect if you are looking for some intense, rich chocolate flavor.

Dash of Chili Powder- Sounds funky doesn't it? But the chocolate counteracts with the chili powder and creates a unique smooth, but spicy taste. Start off with a small dash and then add more to taste.

Heavy Cream or Milk- Add this just before serving your hot chocolate or you can substitute the cream and milk for the water. This adds another layer of creaminess to the drink, making it even more irresistible.

Chocolate Sprinkles- Try sprinkling a few chocolate sprinkles into your hot chocolate for a subtle hint of chocolate flavor.

Favorite Candy Bar- The sky is the limit here! Crumbled up snack sized candy bar pieces work best. Reese's peanut butter cups, Ande's mints, Milky Way and Heath bar are a few favorites.

Hard Candy- Take your favorite hard candy and drop it in -- butterscotch, red cinnamon, and Werther's originals will add a distinct flavor to your hot chocolate.

Liqueur- Brandy, coffee liqueur and Crème de Cacao are sinful indulgences to add when you are not going to be behind the wheel. These turn simple hot chocolate into a body warming mixed drink. Time to party!

Powdered and Creamed Coffee Flavorings- Take your favorite coffee creamer flavoring and add it to your hot chocolate -- this creates an array of variations you can implement into your plain hot chocolate.

Last but not least, here is a recipe for your basic homemade hot chocolate by Nestle:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup Nestle Toll House Baking Cocoa

4 cups of whole milk

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

Combine sugar and cocoa in medium saucepan; stir. Gradually stir in 1/3 of a cup of milk to make a smooth paste; stir in remaining milk.
Warm over medium heat, stirring constantly, until hot (do not boil). Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract.

Whether you make your own hot chocolate from scratch or just use an instant mix, adding additional ingredients to the basic recipe provides a unique taste experience.