I prefer serving hot chocolate that’s decadently thick.
Hot chocolate for Fall calls upon the classic cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove notes that imbibe Fall spices in their traditional cups of cocoa.
It feels like I spend half the time playing with different ingredients to make the perfect fall hot chocolate.
However, my favorite combo is dark chocolate with a pinch of pumpkin spice.
The bitterness of the dark chocolate finds the perfect match in the nutty, sweet-spicy notes of the pumpkin spice. Slate Whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Or shaved chocolate: my fall hot chocolate is not just an object to consume. It is something to sip, probably accompanied by a blanket, in front of a fire, watching the leaves changing colours across the horizon. It is a hug in a mug. It is the perfect companion for a night in. It is fall.
The 14 Best fall hot chocolate and recipes
1. Pumpkin Spice Fall Hot Chocolate
What is better than decadent, creamy chocolate swirled with the spicy notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove?
It’s fall in a cup to me, a flawless beverage to enjoy on a chilly evening around the fire.
Pumpkin Spice Fall Hot Chocolate Recipe:
Ingredients
2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon sugar (or sweetener of choice)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
In a small saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until warm.
Whisk in cocoa powder, pumpkin puree, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to blend all ingredients until the mixture is hot (but not boiling): –Back to Top– Tonga Room’s Mai Tai Recipe by Jared Richardson (Food Editor / Oakland Magazine).
Reprinted with permission. For other recipes by Jared, visit OaklandMagazine.com.
Pour the hot chocolate into mugs. Optionally, top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, if desired.
2. Maple Cinnamon Fall Hot Chocolate
I don’t know what it is about a drink that makes you think of the season – even if it is sweetened with maple syrup and spiced with cinnamon, I always feel all snug and nostalgic when I drink it in the fall.
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
In a small saucepan, combine the milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and ground cinnamon.
Beat over medium heat to incorporated and until it’s just hot while all the dry and sweet ingredients dissolve and amalgamated.
Once the hot chocolate is hot but not boiling, remove it from heat.
Pour the hot chocolate into mugs.
Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired, and serve immediately.
3. Caramel Apple Fall Hot Chocolate
The combination of caramel and apple always feels like a bit of a godsend around this time of year, but add them to a luxuriously bitter chocolate, and you’ve got a hot chocolate that’s worth rooting for.
You get the sweetness of caramel and the crunch of apple, but at the same time, it’s utterly warming.
Settle down by a fire and get a blanket, or go for a brisk walk among the falling leaves – it’s a great way to enjoy autumn either way.
Caramel Apple Fall Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
2 tablespoons caramel sauce
1 apple, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons hot chocolate mix
Whipped cream (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
:
Scald the Milk: Scald the milk in a saucepan over a medium heat, until it begins to steam.
Caramel And Apple: Stir the caramel sauce and chopped apple into the milk, letting the apples soften.
Add Hot Chocolate: Add the hot chocolate to the saucepan and whisk until fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
Simmer: Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes, so as to let all the aromas blend together.
Serve: Pour your hot chocolate into mugs, top with whipped cream if you’d like, and drizzle with some more caramel sauce for a beautiful top layer.
Enjoy!
4. Spiced Chai Fall Hot Chocolate
I love this drink as a reward for myself, as something to savor and nurture my sweet tooth.
It also satisfies my craving for something spiced, something that makes me feel like I’m burrowing under a blanket. If I’m seeking a respite from all of my fall chores, this is my cup of tea.
Ingredients
2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp sugar or sweetener of choice
1 spiced chai tea bag
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
Take off the heat, and drop in the spiced chai tea bag.
Let stand for 5 minutes.
Then squeeze the tea bag and whisk in the cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Bring the saucepan back to a gentle simmer and warm through until hot but not boiling.
Pour into mugs and optionally top with whipped cream or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
5. Hazelnut Fall Hot Chocolate
I decided to mix up an at-home version of my favorite seasonal secret weapon: a chocolate hazelnut hot chocolate, a perfectly rich treat that evokes all of fall’s best moments – curling up by the fire, reading a good book and looking out at the changing color of the leaves, all while enjoying the aroma of a freshly brewed cup of afavorite fall drink.
Hazelnut Fall Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
Whipped cream (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Warm the Milk: In a medium saucepan, place the full-fat milk over medium-low heat and warm until slightly warm but not boiling.
Add Hazelnut Spread: Stir until melted and combined with the milk. 1 tbsp Hazelnut Spread 2 cups Oat Milk Garnish with a cinnamon stick, and serve warm.
Add Cocoa Powder: Whisk in the cocoa powder and then stir until well blended.
Sweeten (Optional): Add sugar to taste if you prefer a sweeter hot chocolate.
To Serve and Garnish: Pour the hot chocolate into mugs, top with whipped cream if desired, and serve immediately.
6. Salted Caramel Fall Hot Chocolate
I can almost taste it: salted caramel hot chocolate.
My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The bittersweet cocoa, mixed with the decadent caramel and sprinkled with a little sea salt to cut the sweetness.
It’s hard to imagine anything better on a crisp autumn night, but I’ll give this one a try the next time the weather turns.
When I say ‘this’, I mean ‘it’, and by ‘it’, I mean ‘salted caramel hot chocolate’.
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons caramel sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until warm but not boiling.
Whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar until fully dissolved.
Stir in the caramel sauce until well combined.
Add a pinch of sea salt and stir gently.
Pour into mugs, optionally topping with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
7. Toasted Marshmallow Fall Hot Chocolate
The luxurious, velvety mouth feel of the hot chocolate melding with the sweet and slightly smoky taste of toasted marshmallow is a perfect treat to go with the falling leaves or to read by.
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp cocoa powder
Marshmallows (for topping)
Instructions
Scale the milk and heavy cream until it is half a litre (2 cups), then put it in a saucepan and warm it on medium heat until tepid, but not boiling.
Whisk in the cocoa powder and chocolate chips until melted and smooth.
Pour the hot chocolate into mugs.
Skewer marshmallows and toast them over an open flame until golden brown.
Place the toasted marshmallows on top of the hot chocolate and serve immediately.
8. Gingerbread Fall Hot Chocolate
Top of my list is a dark, velvety hot chocolate, necessarily spiked with gingerbread flavor.
I infantilize the drink by associating it with my newborn son: If something is good enough for Cruz, it’s good enough for me. It feels like a big hug in a cup.
Gingerbread Fall Hot Chocolate:
Ingredients
2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp gingerbread syrup (store-bought or homemade)
Whipped cream (for topping)
Ground nutmeg or cinnamon (for garnish)
Instructions
Bring the milk to just below boiling point in a saucepan over a medium heat.
Whisk in the cocoa powder until fully dissolved.
Stir in the gingerbread syrup and mix well.
Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top with whipped cream.
Sprinkle a pinch of ground nutmeg or cinnamon on top for garnish.
9. Nutmeg Fall Hot Chocolate
If there were ever a drink to embody this time of year, this combination of cocoa and spice would be it. Every sip, a symphony of fall.
Peace and relaxation is part of its beauty, yes, but it’s doesn’t make me sleepy.
No, it makes me smile; it’s the perfect drink for reading a book or sitting around a campfire with friends.
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Put the chocolate flakes and sugar in a bowl.
2.Heat the milk in a saucepan over a medium heat until it’s very warm but not boiling.
3. Pour the milk over the chocolate and sugar.
4.Make the mixture creamy by using a stick blender.
5. Put the chocolate mixture in a container and leave in the fridge overnight.
6.Take it out of the fridge the next day and stir.
7. Put the mixture in the blender and blend at low speed for a few minutes, then increase to a high speed for two to three minutes.
8.Put the mixture back to the fridge to cool.
9. When it cooled sufficiently take it out of the fridge and serve.
Whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar until fully dissolved and smooth.
Stir in the ground nutmeg and continue to heat for another 2-3 minutes.
Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract, stirring well.
Pour into cups and serve hot, with a dollop of whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg if you like.
10. Apple Cider Fall Hot Chocolate
There is nothing better than tasting a warm drink in cold weather. Mixing the sweet and spices of apple cider with the creamy taste of hot chocolate is one of my favorite way to prepare myself for the fall.
The mixture is a warm and tasty beverage that I usually enjoy with friends or by the fire place.
Apple Cider Fall Hot Chocolate Recipe:
Ingredients
2 cups apple cider
1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
4 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Whipped cream (optional, for topping)
Instructions
Warm the apple cider and milk in a saucepan on the stove over medium heat until just warm, but not at a rolling boil.
Put the chopped chocolate into the pan, stirring until it has melted and is smooth.
Stir in the ground cinnamon until fully incorporated.
Pour the hot chocolate into mugs.
Top with whipped cream, if desired, and serve immediately.
11. Pecan Praline Fall Hot Chocolate
One of my favorite drinks this time of year is a chocolate-praline blend; a rich velvety chocolate base with sweet praline pecan accents.
The nostalgic aroma of comfort food aligns with the nostalgic visuals of fallen leaves, trees turned crimson and gold, and the briskness of the chill in the air. I enjoy sipping this beverage by a fireplace.
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
3 oz dark chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp pecan praline syrup
Whipped cream, for topping
Chopped pecans, for garnish
Instructions
Bring the milk to the boil in a saucepan over a medium heat.
Add the chopped dark chocolate and whisk until fully melted and smooth.
Stir in the pecan praline syrup until well combined.
Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top with whipped cream.
Garnish with chopped pecans and serve immediately.
12. Cinnamon Roll Fall Hot Chocolate
It’s a high bar to meet: a hybrid of hot chocolate and cinnamon roll, my particular fall favorite delivers a prismatic flavor experience that conjures up the full sensory goodness of a cinnamon bun – moist, rich, decadent and slightly sugary – in a milky, steamy beverage that just happens to be served at the perfect temperature for a warm hug in a mug.
Warm enough to fully enjoy with your feet curled up in autumnal bed sock mode but not so hot that you have to sip through a straw. A winning combination when you’re engrossed in a fabulous new book or when friends suddenly swing by for a chat and a nosh.
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Whipped cream and a cinnamon roll for garnish
Instructions
Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until warm but not boiling.
Whisk in cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon until fully dissolved.
Continue to heat, stirring occasionally, until the hot chocolate is heated through.
Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream.
A side of cinnamon roll (or crumbles!).
13. Cranberry Orange Fall Hot Chocolate
With the tart cranberries and the fresh, citrusy zest of oranges, this cozy warm drink is a fun twist on traditional hot chocolate. I like the fresh, citrusy flavors and deep, creamy chocolate working together with the bit of zing you get from cranberries.
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
Zest of 1 orange
Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
Warm the Milk and Juice: In a medium saucepan, warm the whole milk and cranberry juice over medium heat until warm but not boiling.
Add White Chocolate: Stir in the white chocolate chips until completely melted and smooth.
Orange Zest: Add the orange zest and stir to combine. Make sure the zest is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Simmer: Turn heat to low; simmer for a few more minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pour: Pour into mugs, top with whipped cream, if you like, and scrape more orange zest over top or add a few fresh cranberries, and serve hot.
14. Brown Butter Fall Hot Chocolate
I adore this luxuriously fragrant, browned-butter-laced hot chocolate. The nuttiness of the browned butter and depth of the cocoa make for a drink that could warm anyone up.
Brown Butter Fall Hot Chocolate:
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Whipped cream (for topping)
Instructions
:Melt the butter in a heavy-based saucepan over a medium flame until tinged with nuttiness and golden brown.
Add the whole milk to the saucepan and heat until warm but not boiling.
Stir in the cocoa powder and maple syrup until fully combined and smooth.
Pour the hot chocolate into mugs.
Top with whipped cream and serve immediately.
