Winter can be a bit brutal sometimes — the chill in the air, the snow, and the seemingly endless gray sky days! The LIY Team recently took to the outdoors to fight back against the winter blues! We bundled up in our warmest winter gear, lit up a fire in the fire pit and breathed in the fresh air together! It was certainly chilly, but we warmed up with steamy mugs full of hot chocolate! This recipe is incredibly simple, super delicious and not too sweet. That is, until you add in some whipped vodka and top it off with a chocolate donut and a toasted marshmallow! If you want to step outside for a while, you can totally fill up the thermos and roast your mallows over an open fire just like we did! But honestly this recipe is just as good with a board full of topping options enjoyed from the comfort of your own couch while you catch up on all the drama of The Bachelor with your girlfriends [the most dramatic season EVER, describing every. single. season. ever.] No mittens necessary! And it works both as a boozy treat or sans alcohol too [see some of our favorite mocktails here!]. Whatever you choose, we do hope you give this hot cocoa a try and that it warms your heart during this cold winter season!

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Boozy Hot Chocolate

Servings 2

Ingredients

• 4 cups milk we used whole
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 8 oz dark chocolate broken into chunks
• 2 oz whipped vodka optional
• toppings such as marshmallows, chocolate chips, cookies, mini donuts, whipped cream, etc.

Instructions

1. To set up the cocoa toppings board, start with your largest items first, making little piles of each topping such as large marshmallows, donuts, etc. Then move to medium sized toppings like little cookies or medium sized marshmallows. Finish by filling in the gaps with your smallest toppings like mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and so on. Add more where necessary to fill any spaces and create a look of abundance.

2. To make the cocoa, combine the unsweetened cocoa, dark chocolate pieces, milk and cream in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until completely incorporated to ensure the chocolate does not burn. Then, continue to stir frequently.

3. If using vodka, add one ounce to each mug.

4. Once the cocoa s steaming hot [about 5-10 minutes], ladle into mugs. Serve with the tray of topping options.

Team LIY