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12 delicious hot chocolate recipes to warm you up all season long

Nutella, jalapeño and bourbon, oh my! We've rounded up the best homemade hot cocoa recipes.
Winter whipped cream hot coffee in a red mug with star shaped cookies and warm scarf - rural still life
No mug of hot chocolate is complete without a festive topping. Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Getty Images
/ Source: TODAY

Blustery weather isn't all bad news. After all, it can lead to many wonderful things, like snow days, sledding and the excuse to stay on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate.

And this year, when we are all forced to cozy up indoors whether it's cold outside or not, we can all appreciate a comforting (and delicious!) sip. Plus, the holiday season is always the perfect excuse to enjoy a rich and creamy drink.

To get in the spirit of settling in with a piping cup of cocoa and a classic Christmas movie, here are 12 recipes for endless sips of the sweet stuff. Trust us, many of these are so easy to make that you'll be saying so long to the boxed mixes in no time.

This perfectly chocolaty recipe from Martha Stewart is a great, simple recipe for classic cocoa to keep on hand. Use it as a base and then mix it up depending on your taste with add-ins like cayenne pepper, cinnamon and vanilla.

Hot Chocolate 'Bombs'

These chocolaty spheres hide a surprise inside. When you pour hot milk over them, the chocolate melts and magically releases marshmallows and hot chocolate mix, creating an incredible cup of hot cocoa.

Make this warming treat in less than five minutes. Just melt Nutella (or your favorite chocolate-hazelnut spread) with milk in the microwave. It's a totally decadent drink.

Spiked Hazelnut Hot Chocolate

Keep that jar of Nutella out on your bar cart. This recipe is one fit for happy hour by spiking it with your choice of bourbon, Frangelico, cacao rum or chocolate liqueur.

Gingerbread Hot Chocolate

Combine the rich creaminess of hot chocolate with the warm spices of gingerbread into one delicious drink. The spiciness matches perfectly with both creamy milk and earthy dark chocolate.

Andes mint fans will love the addition of creme de menthe in this recipe. Use your slow cooker to whip up the easiest hot chocolate ever, then top the mugs with dollops of whipped cream and crushed peppermint.

Spice up hot chocolate with a hit of fiery jalapeños, plus fragrant cinnamon and vanilla. This twist on a classic treat won't soon be forgotten by those who love a little something extra.

Almond Milk Hot Chocolate

Cacao is bursting with healthful antioxidant compounds, which may help prevent free radicals from developing into harmful cells. Almond milk is a great dairy-free alternative, but it still offers a rich flavor for this deliciously warm beverage.

Turtle Hot Chocolate Float

This over-the-top hot chocolate float can work as a decadent drink or wow-worthy dessert. And don't forget this wild hot chocolate trend: red wine hot chocolate — which is as easy as adding a splash of your favorite red wine to a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Yes, when it comes to wintertime drinks, you really can have it all.

Nutmeg Hot Chocolate

Enhance the smooth chocolate flavor of a classic with a dusting of spicy nutmeg. Adding a bit of rum turns a kid-friendly treat into a beverage adults will love to drink after dinner.

Unicorn White-Hot Chocolate

As if hot cocoa didn't make every child's snow day dreams come true, this recipe adds magic and color to the mix with a unicorn theme. It's also great to make in big batches for a winter birthday party.

Reindeer Tracks Hot Chocolate

Chopped pecans, crushed pretzels and chocolate trot along the top of this creamy brew. The reindeer may have left their tracks behind in this mug but your guests certainly won't. This recipe is so tasty, the mug will be licked clean!