For many of us, Christmas is a blend of past and present experiences. The sights, sounds, smells and memories of the season often trigger an avalanche of emotions that take you back to the Christmases of yesteryear.
For some it’s the aroma of those special cookies baking, you know the recipe I mean, the one that’s been part of your holiday since childhood! For others, it may be the smell of freshly cut cedar or the careful unwrapping of that special ornament that has been in your family for generations.
We recall decorating that “beautiful” tree, whispered holiday secrets, and hanging the stockings by the chimney with care…or when I was little, clothespinning the stockings to the kitchen drawer handles with care!
There is no doubt that tradition has played a huge role in my family’s holiday celebration. One of my favourite traditions began on Christmas Eve when our kids were just tiny. This tradition is so special, that even though my kids are no longer little, we still continue it to this day!
Every Christmas Eve, just before bedtime, we gather around the tree with steaming mugs of delicious homemade hot chocolate and recite from memory, (okay…I recite and they listen and occasionally join in…lol) Clement Clark Moore’s, The Night Before Christmas.
For me, snuggled with my family, sipping homemade hot chocolate while reciting this epic story, is by far, the best gift ever given or received. For me this is Christmas!
Be sure to check out this super cute Christmas video from Dairy Farmers of Canada!
I am including my old-fashioned recipe for homemade hot chocolate. It’s really easy to whip up! What makes it so unbelievably good is lots and lots of fresh Canadian Quality Milk which is delicious and refreshing, and a delectable part of the holiday season.
I love how this recipe for hot chocolate contains only wholesome ingredients — delicious and nutritious!
We all know Canadians love the taste of milk—whether it’s to start their day, for lunch, to enjoy with their evening meal or with some cookies as they wait for Santa to arrive, milk is a versatile drink that deserves to play a leading role over the holidays.
- HOT CHOCOLATE
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅓ cup boiling water
- 3½ cups whole milk
- ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup coffee cream (18% Milk Fat)
- WHIPPED CREAM
- ½ cup of whipping (heavy) cream (35% Milk Fat)
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- GARNISH (optional)
- shaved semisweet chocolate
- HOT CHOCOLATE
- Combine the cocoa, sugar, and pinch of salt in a saucepan.
- Stir in the boiling water and continue stirring to thoroughly combine.
- Bring this mixture to a light boil while you stir.
- Simmer and stir continually for about 2 minutes. (Chocolate burns easily, so adjust the heat and watch that it doesn’t scorch)
- Stir in the 3½ cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil!
- Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs.
- Add the coffee cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it and top with a dollop of real whipped cream.
- WHIPPED CREAM
- Place mixer bowl and whisk in the freezer for at least 20 minutes to chill.
- Pour heavy whipping cream, sugar and vanilla into the cold bowl and whisk on high speed until medium to stiff peaks form — about 1 minute. (You can also do this with a hand mixer or a hand whisk...it may just take a couple minutes instead of one minute)
- GARNISH
- Top whipped cream with a sprinkle of shaved semisweet chocolate
PIN IT — This homemade hot chocolate is nutritious and delicious!
While I was writing this post, I was thinking a lot about family traditions. What I realized was, although customs may vary from one family to another, milk is often a central part of the Christmas season. From leaving a glass of cold milk for Santa to using milk as a staple ingredient in holiday baking, Canadian quality milk plays a meaningful role for many Canadians throughout the holiday season!
Be sure to visit the Dairy Farmers of Canada YouTube page to learn more about their commitment to making milk so delicious and refreshing, and for new ideas on how to incorporate milk throughout the holidays.
To keep up to date with all the great things happening with Dairy Farmers of Canada, be sure to follow along on their social media channels:
TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ INSTAGRAM ~ YOUTUBE ~ HASHTAG #QualityMilk
Disclosure: This post is sponsored in partnership with Dairy Farmers of Canada. As always, all opinions are our own.
Oh my goodness, this sounds SO GOOD. I’m putting that on my list of must-do things for December! I really want to make this!
It is really delicious, Heather!
Homemade hot chocolate sounds like a great tradition! I’ve really been craving a great cup of hot chocolate lately. This weekend is going to be pretty laid back for me, so I’m thibking hot chocolate and Christmas movies!
Hot Chocolate and Christmas movies are. a great combination!
Oh YUM! I’ve stubbornly tried to make homemade hot chocolate on my own (no Googling, lol) without much success. I LOVE this recipe though and can’t wait to test it out once I have all the ingredients. I like cinnamon in my hot chocolate, but can’t decide if I want to add it to the drink itself, or sprinkle it on top of the whipped cream. OR BOTH. #ToughDecisions
Thanks for the inspiration! :)
Hmmmm…Aeryn, now you have me wanting to try hot chocolate with cinnamon!
My kids thing hot cocoa only comes from packets. I need to prove them wrong with this recipe
I have tried packets too…but there is really no comparison to homemade, Tara!
I love a good homemade hot chocolate. My kids would have it all week if it was up to them. I tend to to make it in the weekends only. Now I want to go make some.
It’s a great treat, Ericka!
We ran out of the pre-made hot chocolate powder and I have unsweetened cocoa powder, so I tried to make it “from scratch.” I missed the vanilla!
From scratch is the best, Lindsay, with or without the vanilla!
I remember my dad making us kids homemade hot chocolate! So good! Have to tell you I just said “darn” I keep forgetting that I am out of Cocoa haha Great reminder
Winter is here, time o grab some cocoa!
That is an amazing hot chocolate recipe! I will need to try this one time this year! I agree with you dairy and Canadian milk is a big part of the holiday season.
Isn’t it remarkable how much milk is part of Christmas!
I love homemade hot chocolate! This recipe looks insanely delicious, can’t wait to try it.
It is so incredibly delicious, Ali!
Without hot chocolate Christmas is not happening in our tiny home it’s our tradition! This is great hot chocolate recipe that I would love to try. I do believe also quality milk is big important ingredient for super delicious hot chocolate!
I love how important these seemingly “small” traditions become, Soonjoo!
Ooh this is something I need to make soon. I love homemade hot chocolate.
Isn’t homemade the best, Sheena!
Is it really Christmas if there’s no hot chocolate? It’s always been a personal favorite. Some baked goods and a hot cup of cocoa makes me melt during the cooler months.
I agree, Fatima, without homemade hot chocolate, it wouldn’t really be Christmas!
I love hot chocolate! and i love it even more when it has whipped cream! i love it when we are all watching a movie together and having a cuppa. Such a nice tradition
There is something so cozy about snuggling together with mugs of hot chocolate and a movie!
Hot chocolate is so amazing when it’s chilly outside. This looks like it would be so amazing!
I agree, Bobbi, homemade hot chocolate is three perfect way to warm up on a chilly day!
Homemade hot chocolate is so delicious. It is my favorite way to warm up after a day outside in the winter. I will have to give this recipe a try.
There is nothing quite like coming home to a mug of homemade hot chocolate after playing in the snow!
This hot chocolate looks amazing! I would love to make my own instead of buying it from the grocery store.
This is exactly how I make hot chocolate. Milk is a must! Yum!
I agree, Kim, milk makes all the difference!
I am not a coffee lover and my Mom is not allowed to drink coffee so our morning drink is hot chocolate. This will be perfect for us, looks so delicious!
OMG this looks amazing. Pile on the whipped cream! I make mine with whole milk too – it just tastes better.
I love a good hot chocolate recipe. This one sounds amazing. I never make my hot chocolate with anything other than milk. So delicious.
Hot chocolate with whip cream is perfect especially on a cold weather of holidays! Kids loved this and they enjoyed the whip cream so much!
Nothing better than hot chocolate on a cold day!!! This looks like such a good recipe