Have you ever made hot chocolate from scratch?  If you haven't, you must this Fall/Winter seasons. Nothing beats the aroma of seasonal spices and enchanting richness of homemade hot chocolate on a cold day.  Plus, we have a secret ingredient you never thought would go in hot chocolate!

When you go to make your own hot chocolate there are a few little tricks that you need to know to take your coco to the next level.  Everyone's tastes are different, so we won't give an exact recipe here - that's what makes it so good! 

First start with whole milk in a sauce pan over medium heat, and be sure to gently stir continuously.  Once the milk is hot, add in 60% real baking chocolate (Use whatever brand you prefer - we like Ghirardelli).  Once the chocolate is sufficiently melted and mixed in you will need to add the following ingredients to taste: sugar, vanilla extract, fresh ground nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger ( you could add allspice or pumpkin spice in the place of all those spices).

 Now, are you ready for the secret ingredient?  Cayenne Pepper!  You read that right, cayenne pepper helps cuts the sweetness of the hot chocolate without affecting the taste and it gives a subtle little tingle to make the sip memorable.  Just be sure to only add a dash...

Hope this helps spice your holiday parties up a bit.  Share your secrets, tips, and holiday memories on our facebook page.  We would love to hear from you.

Cheers!