Vanilla and Almond Hot Chocolate
Vanilla and Almond Hot Chocolate is a cozy, kicked-up version of my Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Recipe, but made quickly on the stovetop for instant comfort. It blends rich cocoa with warm almond aroma and deep vanilla sweetness, creating a mug that feels luxurious without requiring extra effort.
This vanilla hot cocoa with almond is perfect for chilly afternoons, quiet evenings, or holiday gatherings where something warm and inviting hits the spot. The optional marshmallows add a light, indulgent topping, making each mug feel cozy and special for any winter day.
When I’m sipping on a cup of this homemade almond hot chocolate, it instantly puts me in the holiday spirit. I love pairing it with a batch of Christmas Butter Cookies for an extra touch of sweetness. It also pairs beautifully with an Easy Santa Charcuterie Board for Christmas, making both treats feel festive and cozy together.
Of course, no cozy night is complete without holiday entertainment. I usually curl up with my blanket and watch My Top 5 Favorite Christmas Movies while enjoying every sip. These little moments are what make the season feel extra magical.
Vanilla and Almond Hot Chocolate
You might think making a delicious, gourmet hot chocolate at home is complicated, but this easy winter drink couldn’t be simpler! It tastes so good, you’ll swear you bought it at a fancy coffee shop! It takes less than 15 minutes to make and uses just one saucepan, which means almost no messy cleanup.
The secret to making this amazing hot cocoa is using high-quality ingredients. A premium unsweetened cocoa powder builds a deep, rich chocolate base. The pastes are essential because they deliver a concentrated, authentic flavor that liquid extracts just can’t touch. Plus, using the vanilla bean paste means you even get those beautiful vanilla specks!
Timesaving Tips and Variations
This easy hot chocolate recipe adapts well to flavor preferences, and a few quick tweaks let you shift the sweetness, richness, or seasonal notes without extra work. It also doubles easily for gatherings.
- Swap whole milk for half-and-half for a richer version.
- Substitute oat milk, almond milk, or even cashew milk for a plant-based drink.
- Add cinnamon or cardamom for a warm holiday spice.
- Melt in chocolate chips for deeper cocoa flavor.
- Stir in a splash of espresso for a mocha twist.
- Use whipped cream instead of marshmallows for a creamy finish.
These small changes ensure your hot chocolate is always creamy, flavorful, and just the way you like it.
What to Serve with Hot Chocolate
This tasty warm winter drink pairs beautifully with treats that complement its velvety chocolate base and soft almond-vanilla notes. It also works well on dessert platters.
- Cranberry Almond Biscotti
- Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake
- Perfect Banana Bread
- Easy Grinch Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Brownie Bites with Hershey Kisses
Whether you are serving this for the holidays, as an after-school treat, or an evening after-dinner drink, these sweet treats will be perfect to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can refrigerate it for up to a day and reheat gently on the stove. Whisk as it warms so the texture becomes smooth again. Add any toppings only when serving.
Yes, you absolutely can use regular extracts. The paste offers a thicker consistency and a more concentrated flavor, but use an equal amount of liquid extracts if that is what you have on hand. Always add any extract off the heat to prevent the alcohol from evaporating and diminishing the flavor.
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Tools You’ll Need to Make Vanilla Almond Hot Chocolate
Simple kitchen tools are needed for this recipe and you probably have everything you need already. I’m linking to some of my favorite items on Amazon.
Ninja Foodi NeverStick Professional 12-Piece Cookware Set, Hard-Anodized, Nonstick, Durable & Oven Safe to 500°F, Slate Grey, C39800
Sweese Porcelain Coffee Mugs – 16 Ounce – Set of 6, Cups for Latte, Hot Tea, Cappuccino, Mocha, Cocoa, WhiteOXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon WhiskStainless Steel Measuring Cups And Measuring Spoons 10-Piece Set, 5 Cups And 5 SpoonsAnchor Hocking Glass Measuring Cups, 3 Piece Set (1 Cup, 2 Cup, 4 Cup liquid measuring cups)
Ingredients for Vanilla and Almond Hot Chocolate
This homemade hot cocoa requires only a handful of common pantry staples, plus the special addition of paste extracts to deliver the signature flavor.
- Dry Ingredients: Unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Using high-quality cocoa powder is key to a deep, rich flavor, and the salt enhances the sweetness.
- Liquids: Milk and water. The milk provides creaminess and body, while the water helps dissolve the dry ingredients smoothly, preventing lumps.
- Flavor Extracts: Taylor & Colledge Vanilla Bean paste and Almond extract paste. These pastes define the drink, providing authentic, concentrated flavor and giving the drink a sophisticated, gourmet aroma.
How to Make This Vanilla Almond Hot Chocolate Recipe
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa, and salt. Stir in milk and water. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through. Remove from the heat; stir in extracts. Serve in mugs, with marshmallows if desired.
Making this Vanilla and Almond Hot Chocolate is a chance to slow down and savor a quiet moment. Taking the time to enjoy it fully reminds us that even the simplest recipes can offer a pause in the day worth cherishing.
For a fun twist, try a Vanilla Caramel Apple Latte alongside this drink. Its sweet, fruity flavor pairs perfectly with the rich cocoa.
Vanilla and Almond Hot Chocolate
Equipment
- large saucepan
Ingredients
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup Ghirardelli Premium Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- pinch of salt
- 4 cups milk
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 teaspoon Taylor and Colledge Vanilla Bean Paste (or vanilla extract)
- 1 teaspoon Taylor and Colledge Almond Paste (or almond extract)
- mini marshmallows, optional
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Whisk these dry ingredients together thoroughly until they are well-mixed.
- Slowly stir in the milk (4 cups) and water (⅓ cup) until the cocoa mixture is completely dissolved and no lumps remain.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir the mixture constantly using a whisk or wooden spoon until heated through and steaming, but do not allow it to boil.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat immediately. Stir in the 1 teaspoon of Taylor & Colledge Vanilla Bean paste and 1 teaspoon of Taylor & Colledge Almond extract paste.
- Serve immediately in your favorite mugs, topping each serving with a handful of mini marshmallows if desired.
Nutritional Disclaimer
“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Christmas Sweets Week
Join the fun for Christmas Sweets Week, where holiday treats take center stage. Hosted by Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures, dive into all the recipes and follow the hashtag on social media to keep up with every tasty creation.
- Cardamom Coffee Cake from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Oatmeal Glazed Breakfast Cake from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- No Bake Coconut Balls from Jen Around the World
- Welsh Cakes from Art of Natural Living
- Maple Walnut Tart from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Enjoy!
That is a lovely cup of comfort right there. Adding the almond flavoring is a wonderful idea.