Hot Chocolate base with add in's

Made 2 varieties for Christmas. 10 total hot chocolate flavors possible with this recipe. Will update if I try more flavors.

Serves 4 ish - didn't actually measure.  And the original didn't give an amount.

Base Ingredients:

• 4 cups half and half
• 7 oz 70% cacao dark chocolate (chips or cut into small pieces for easy melting)
• 2 oz milk chocolate (chips or cut into small pieces)
• a dash of salt

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, heat the half and half over medium heat until it bubbles around the sides of the pain (do not boil).
2. Whisk in the chocolate and salt. Stir until melted.
3. Add in your choice of add in's from below. Stir. When fully heated and mixed, serve.

Chili-orange (I have made)

• 2 tsp grated orange zest
• 1/4 tsp chili powder 
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 

*The orange zest did clump, so stir really well.  Or even strain.  If you heat it for a little while so the orange flavor has melded into the chocolate, the flavor should still be good.

Nutmeg (I have made)

• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

*I didn't get to try some, but my family told me it was delicious. 

Chai 

• Steep 3 chai tea bags in the simmering half and half for 5 min.  Discard before stirring in chocolate. 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Top with a dash of cinnamon

Biscoff

• 1/3 cup Biscoff creamy cookie spread
• Garnish with a Biscoff cookie

Creamy White

• INSTEAD of the dark and milk chocolate, use 1 1/2 cups white baking chips 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Hazelnut Mocha

• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 1/4 cup hazelnut liqueur
• 3 TBSP espresso powder

Peppermint Red Velvet

• INSTEAD of dark chocolate, use 7 oz chopped white baking chocolate.
• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/4 tsp red food coloring

Pumpkin Spice

• 2/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Salted Caramel and Banana

• 2 pureed bananas
• 1/3 cup salted caramel topping

Snickerdoodle (I have made, it's delish)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 cardamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp allspice

Remade from Taste of Home magazine