Make your holidays a little more festive with this hot chocolate flight! You'll get four different types of cocoa so tasty you won't want to pick a favorite.
How to Make a Hot Chocolate Flight for an Extra Cozy Night
Published on Dec. 19, 2024
The only thing better than a warm cup of hot chocolate is four warm cups of hot chocolate, each with its own fancy flavor and topping!
Enter the hot chocolate flight. It’s perfect for people like me who can never decide what to drink so they always want to try a little bit of everything. It also makes a great treat for a snowy day or a countdown to Christmas movie night. Gather your family or friends and start a new tradition this holiday season. From a classic cup with Nutella whipped cream to a spicy, salted version, you’re going to wonder why you haven’t tried this before.
What is a hot chocolate flight?
A hot chocolate flight is the same concept as a flight of beer or a wine tasting, but instead of boozy beverages, you’ll get several different types of hot chocolate. One will likely be a classic hot chocolate and the others will be variations. You might even find a new favorite in the process.
How to Make a Hot Chocolate Flight
Ingredients
- Sugar: The sweet cane sugar balances out the baking cocoa, which is bitter on its own.
- Baking cocoa: Use your favorite baking cocoa for these hot chocolates.
- Salt: Both kosher salt and flaky sea salt are used here. A little goes a long way to counter the sweetness of the sugar and the bitterness of the cocoa.
- Hot water: Hot water and milk are mixed with the cocoa and sugar to make this hot chocolate base.
- Milk: Use whole milk for the creamiest version, or low-fat or skim for a lighter version.
- Vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla rounds out this hot chocolate.
- Heavy whipping cream: Use heavy whipping cream to make a nutella-infused whipped cream topping.
- Nutella: Nutella adds a nutty component that pairs perfectly with the chocolate.
- Spices: Ground cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne will spice up the different hot chocolates.
- Optional toppings: Top your cocoas with miniature marshmallows, sweetened whipped cream or even sprinkles.
Directions
Step 1: Make the hot cocoa base
To make the hot cocoa, combine the sugar, baking cocoa and salt in a saucepan. Add the water and bring it to a boil. Cook and stir for two minutes as it warms. Stir in the milk and heat to serving temperature without letting it come to a boil. As soon as it’s warmed through, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Whisk the hot cocoa until it’s frothy.
Step 2: Make different flavors
The first serving of classic hot cocoa can be served as is. Prepare the remaining flavors as outlined below.
- Hot chocolate with Nutella whipped cream: Make a Nutella-infused whipped cream for this play on a classic hot chocolate. Whisk the whipping cream until it’s at a soft peak. Add a heaping tablespoon of Nutella, then continue whipping until you’ve reached a firm peak. Serve a big dollop over a cup of classic hot chocolate.
- Cardamom-ginger hot chocolate: This version includes warming spices of cardamom and ginger. Place a pinch each of ground cardamom and ground ginger in the cup of hot chocolate. Mix well until the spices have dissolved and the flavors have melded.
- Cayenne and sea salt hot chocolate: Place a pinch of cayenne in the cup of hot chocolate and stir well. Then, top it with a sprinkle of cinnamon and flaky sea salt.
Step 3: Garnish and serve
If desired, garnish with homemade marshmallows (or store-bought), whipped cream or even sprinkles. I also like to put a cinnamon stick in the cayenne and sea salt hot chocolate, since it’s topped with a dash of ground cinnamon.
How to Serve the Flight
To properly serve a hot chocolate flight, you’ll want to get four of the same glasses, preferably actual glassware with little handles, as opposed to ceramic mugs. That way, you can see the creamy, chocolaty cocoa and all the toppings from the outside. Irish coffee glasses would be perfect if you have them!
You can serve the four glasses in a line on a wooden board like you see at restaurants and pubs. Otherwise, simply plate them on the table, with the classic cocoa first. If you want to make them extra cute, add little signs or make a menu describing each flavor.
