First things first: There is a difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa. The former (also known as drinking chocolate) is made from solid semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate; sometimes with an addition of cocoa powder, milk, and heavy cream, with perhaps a little sugar or vanilla extract. The latter is made from cocoa powder, sugar, and hot milk or water. Start with a master recipe for rich and chocolatey hot chocolate, and then add a few of our favorite indulgent upgrades—all of which are as easy to make as they are deliciously decadent. Because life is too short to settle for a lukewarm mug of microwaved pre-made cocoa mix. RELATED: How To Make a Classic Amaretto Sour
