14 Hot Chocolate Variations for Cozy Evenings

Hot chocolate can be simple or creative, classic or unexpected. It warms you up on a chilly evening and can also double as a flavor adventure. With different bases, mix-ins, spices, or even a splash of something extra, you can turn one basic drink into dozens of delicious variations. Below are ideas for cozy, festive, and inventive hot chocolates, each offering a different vibe.

S’mores Hot Chocolate

A glass mug of hot chocolate topped with toasted marshmallows and a crushed graham cracker rim sits on a plaid cloth. — S’mores Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

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Rich chocolate melts into warm milk, matched with graham‑cracker crumbs for a subtle crunch, and topped with marshmallows that melt into soft pockets of sweetness. It tastes like the campfire treat in a mug, sweet, cozy, and nostalgic.
Get the Recipe: S’mores Hot Chocolate

Spanish Hot Chocolate

A white mug filled with hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, placed on a light surface. Chocolate chips are scattered in the background. — Spanish Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

This style uses real chocolate melted into milk, creating a thick, smooth, deeply chocolatey drink. It’s richer and more intense than standard cocoa, with fewer added sugars and a focus on the chocolate flavor itself. Best enjoyed slowly, with no fuss over candy or extras.
Get the Recipe: Spanish Hot Chocolate

Banana Nut Protein Hot Chocolate

A hand holds a glass mug filled with a frothy drink topped with cocoa powder; a container labeled “Superfood” is partially visible on the side. — Banana Nut Protein Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Chocolate plus a hint of banana flavor blends with milk (or milk‑alternative) and a scoop of protein powder for a rich, filling drink. Add a few chopped nuts or a swirl of nut butter on top for crunch and a nutty finish. It works as a quick cold‑weather treat or a post‑workout cozy drink.
Get the Recipe: Banana Nut Protein Hot Chocolate

Lemon Lavender Hot Chocolate

A ceramic mug filled with a brown beverage topped with dried lavender, next to cocoa powder and two lemon halves on a light surface. — Lemon Lavender Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Dark or milk chocolate warms with milk, then gets a subtle lift from lavender and a touch of lemon zest or lemon flavor. The result is soft and slightly floral with a clean citrus finish, a twist on traditional cocoa. Light, gentle, and a little unexpected for cocoa lovers.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Lavender Hot Chocolate

Festive Holiday Hot Chocolate – Grinch Green

A green beverage in a mason jar, topped with mini marshmallows and red sprinkles, sits on a white table with red decorations and another similar drink in the background. — Festive Holiday Hot Chocolate – Grinch Green. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Start with a white‑chocolate base melted into milk, then tint it green with food coloring for a fun, festive look. Sweet, creamy, and cheerful, a perfect treat for holiday parties or winter celebrations.
Get the Recipe: Festive Holiday Hot Chocolate – Grinch Green

Boozy Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

A glass mug filled with a frothy coffee drink topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and crumbled cookies sits on a wooden surface. — Boozy Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Chocolate and peanut butter melt together in milk or cream, seasoned with a pinch of salt, then finished with a splash of rum, bourbon, or whiskey. The peanut butter adds richness and depth, the booze gives warmth and a grown-up edge.
Get the Recipe: Boozy Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Ruby Hot Chocolate

A clear glass mug filled with a creamy beverage topped with whipped cream and pink sprinkles, with a straw inserted and small pink candies scattered nearby. — Ruby Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Made with ruby chocolate, this drink brings a slightly berry‑like sweetness and lighter chocolate flavor. The rosy color makes it pretty to serve, and the taste stays smooth and mellow, not overly sweet or heavy.
Get the Recipe: Ruby Hot Chocolate

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

A white mug filled with a whipped cream-topped drink, garnished with crushed peppermint, sits wrapped in a red knitted cozy. — Peppermint Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Classic cocoa gets boosted with a dash of peppermint flavor or crushed mint candies stirred in. The mint cuts through the sweetness and refreshes the chocolate, making each sip cool and chocolatey. Top with whipped cream or marshmallows if you want extra indulgence.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Espresso Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Start with chocolate and milk, add a shot of espresso or strong coffee, then swirl in peppermint for a mocha‑mint vibe. The bitterness from the coffee balances the sweetness, while peppermint lifts the finish.
Get the Recipe: Espresso Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Healthy Pumpkin Hot Chocolate Recipe

A mug filled with hot chocolate sits on a blue surface, with a spoon inside the mug and an orange object on the table nearby. — Healthy Pumpkin Hot Chocolate Recipe. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Pumpkin puree or pumpkin‑spice mix melts into chocolate and milk for a drink that blends cozy autumn flavors with cocoa richness. Warm spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe a pinch of clove, deepen the profile while pumpkin adds smoothness.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Pumpkin Hot Chocolate Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

This hot chocolate mixes cocoa with warm pumpkin‑pie spices and either pumpkin puree or pumpkin‑spice flavoring. The result is sweet, spicy, and deeply comforting, like hot cocoa meets pumpkin dessert.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Mexican Hot Chocolate

A mug of hot chocolate topped with mini marshmallows sits on a wooden surface, surrounded by cinnamon sticks, a spoon, and a knit scarf. — Mexican Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Rich cocoa or chopped bittersweet chocolate mixes with milk and gets spiced with cinnamon and a touch of chili or cayenne for warmth and depth. The drink is creamier and more complex than a basic cocoa, with a subtle kick from the spice.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate

Tart Cherry Hot Chocolate

Chocolate combines with milk and tart cherry flavor or syrup for a bright contrast to the sweetness. The cherry adds a gentle tang that highlights the cocoa depth and brings a fresh twist. It’s a cozy drink but lighter than ultra‑rich cocoa.
Get the Recipe: Tart Cherry Hot Chocolate

Oat Milk Hot Chocolate

A white mug filled with hot chocolate topped with marshmallows, placed on a light-colored surface with a few marshmallows scattered around. — Oat Milk Hot Chocolate. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Using oat milk instead of dairy gives the drink a creamy, slightly grainy sweetness that pairs well with cocoa. It’s smooth, comforting, and dairy‑free, great if you want something lighter or plant‑based.
Get the Recipe: Oat Milk Hot Chocolate