Mommy and Daddy's Special Holiday Hot Chocolate

So it’s the end of the year, we’ve made it through another holiday season. The toys have been torn from the wrapping and packaging and now are strewn across the floor. The kidlings are playing with the treasure troves. But you’re almost ready to leave the holiday behind. The leftover ham is still really good, but getting repetitive. The Christmas lights have started to lose their luster. And there’s nothing... I say NOTHING on TV.

We’re all burned out and ready for a long winter’s nap, or at least a long recline on the couch in a pair of sweats with a blanket over your legs while you watch the snowflakes gently fall past the window pane. It’s time to make mommy and daddy to make some special hot chocolate that’ll make their tummies get all tingly.

Yes, alcoholic hot chocolate. It can be really good at the right time, a time when you can enjoy a little buzz. I like to send the kids over to Gramdma’s house for a sleepover, serve a romantic hearty meal for Liz, serve up some great light dessert, and then finish the night sipping this drink while watching both a movie in a darkened living room and the snow as it falls.

Now that’s the premium setup... You could also do this on a Saturday afternoon for one of the parents while the other plays defense. Either way, it tastes really good.

Since it’s the holidays, we have a few different selections for the liquor, so use whatever you would prefer.

‘Special’ Holiday Hot Chocolate
Makes one 12 oz. serving, double or triple it up as you need to

Whipping Cream
1/8 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Hot Chocolate
10 oz warm milk
¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 shot of any of the following liquors
For Candy Cane Hot Chocolate: 1 shot peppermint schnapps
For Orange Stick Hot Chocolate: 1 shot Orange Liqueur
For Raspberry Stick Hot Chocolate: 1 shot Chamboard or other raspberry liqueur

For the whipping cream, place the sugar, milk and vanilla into a bowl and beat quickly with a hand mixer until thick.

For the hot chocolate, warm the milk in a small saucepan to a simmer. Add the chocolate chips and stir until they’re completely melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes (if it’s over 170 degrees, the alcohol will evaporate a little). Once it has cooled to below 170, add the shot of your choice and stir. Pour into a tall coffee mug. Drop a large dollop of whipping cream on the top and sprinkle any kind of decoration you have left over from the holidays (small candy cane pieces, cookie sprinkles, shaved chocolate pieces, etc)

So take a load off, relax and take one last swig of holiday magic before you start thinking about New Year resolutions.