Welcome to Blogmas Day Four!

We have this tradition in our house where we always watch Jack Frost on the first Tuesday in December. And I always make sure I have a delicious hot chocolate to hand before the viewing commences. Curling up on the sofa, watching a Christmas film and sipping a cup of hot cocoa is honestly the perfect night in for me. But I always wonder how much hot chocolates vary around the world. So I took to trusty Google to find out some of the best hot chocolates from around the globe…and here are my top 5!

ITALY: CIOCCOLATA CALDA

My first stop is Italy. I found this recipe on Delishably and is most likely not diet friendly…you’ve been warned! Take some double cream, heat it through, and melt in some dark chocolate. It’s then thickened with corn-starch, poured into a mug, and topped with some whipped cream (calories don’t count at Christmas anyway…). You can find the full recipe over at Brown Eyed Baker.

MEXICO: MAYAN HOT CHOCOLATE

We’re taking a trip to where the craze of drinking chocolate began – all the way back in 500BC. The Mayans would grind up chocolate beans, mix in spices and chilli peppers before drinking the beverage cold. So this hot chocolate is seriously a classic. This recipe by Favourite Family Recipes has been slightly adapted to make it the perfect drink to warm you up on a cold day and uses creamy, dark Mexican chocolate mixed with a little bit of chilli pepper, and a dollop of cream on top.

CANADA: DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MAPLE COCOA

Thank you VintageKitty for this tasty treat. It sounds insane. With 71% of the world’s maple syrup produced in Canada, it’s no surprise this recipe includes this syrupy goodness. Little disclaimer, this is not one to make your kids – it is a grown-up’s treat. Because this hot chocolate is not your run of the mill chocolate and milk with a dash of maple syrup – it goes the whole hog and includes Jim Beam Maple Bourbon Whiskey, Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur, finished with a rasher of candied bacon which has been dipped in melted chocolate. I feel like this is hot chocolate gone wild. But it sounds delicious.

ARGENTINA: EL SUBMARINO

I read about Argentina’s take on hot chocolate over at Fodor’s Travel. And it sounds pretty great if you ask me, I may have to give it a go. Making an El Submarino is a little different from your classic hot chocolate making process. Start by mixing your warm milk with some sugar, pour it into a mug, and then take a bar of your favourite chocolate (yes really, a bar) and simply stick it in. As the chocolate starts to melt, use a spoon to swirl it into the milk and you’ll end up with a smooth, tasty hot chocolate.

BELGIUM: BELGIAN HOT CHOCOLATE

Belgium is pretty famous for it’s chocolate. So it’s unsurprising that they do a pretty phenomenal hot chocolate too. Gently warmed whole milk, mixed with dark or milk chocolate (maybe even a combination if you’re feeling fancy) and finished with a dollop of whipped cream. It’s a classic hot chocolate which will never fail to please. Find the full recipe over on David Lebovitz’ website!

If these 5 tasty drinks haven’t quite satisfied your chocolate appetite, then make sure you head over to Delishably or Fodor’s Travel for some more hot chocolate ideas from around the world!

Charley x