It’s the most hot-chocolatey tiiiiime of the year…..isn’t that how the song goes? Well, maybe it should. As I was in the middle of making this Nutella hot chocolate a few weeks ago, I got to thinking, “Man, I bet gingerbread hot chocolate would be great too.” Turns out, I was right! After a little digging, I found that it seems to work best if you make a gingerbread syrup first and add that to your milk. (Maybe because all those spices don’t dissolve as well as some other things?) So that’s the route that I went. I added a little more variety of spices to my mix, and I think it gives it a bigger flavor profile.
Gingerbread Syrup, makes about 3/4 cup.
1 cup water
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Hot Chocolate, serves 2
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons gingerbread syrup
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
4 teaspoons sugar
For the syrup, combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan, mix well, and bring to a light boil over medium heat. Turn the mixture down to low-medium heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes. It should thicken over time and become like a maple syrup consistency.
When the syrup is done, warm the milk over low heat and add in the sugar, cocoa powder, and syrup. Pour into a mug and top with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired. Refrigerate any leftover syrup in an airtight container.
You can vary the amount of cocoa powder, sugar, and syrup levels to your particular liking. You could also use this syrup in a latte or a cocktail as well. Last weekend I had a few friends over, and we made my husband’s family Christmas cookie recipe and drank Nutella hot chocolate, but oh man, this would have been a great choice too! It’s recipes like this that keep my chin up through the cold winters here in Missouri. Hope you’ll give it a try! xo. Laura
Credits // Author: Laura Gummerman, Photography: Laura Gummerman and Janae Hardy. Photos edited with Stella from The Signature Collection.
Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 cups milk
- 3 tablespoons gingerbread syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 teaspoons sugar
Instructions
-
For the syrup, combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan, mix well, and bring to a light boil over medium heat. Turn the mixture down to low-medium heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes. It should thicken over time and become like a maple syrup consistency.
-
When the syrup is done, warm the milk over low heat and add in the sugar, cocoa powder, and syrup. Pour into a mug and top with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired. Refrigerate any leftover syrup in an airtight container.
36 Comments
Haha, I’m actually sitting here drinking a regular hot chocolate and now all I can think about is how great it would be if it was this gingerbread recipe! The Nutella one you guys posted a few weeks ago is one of my favorite ABM recipes so far, so I’m definitely giving this a try.
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
those gingerbread men are beyond cute…
http://wideseanoanchor.com/
It’s not related to this awesome recipe but… are you guys going to share a summary of the feedback you received on your survey? 🙂
Gingerbread hot chocolate sounds amazing! Those cookies are such a cute touch. I must make this gingerbread syrup immediately! I’m imagining it in a latte right now.. oh my gosh!
Great pictures for the story!!
Greatz
Willem
OMG – this looks so good. I’ll take a cup now please! 😉
Hmmm, I bet this syrup would be amazing for infusing so many things: whipped cream, lattes, ice cream??! The possibilities are endless!
xx Kathryn
http://www.throughthethicket.ca
a) I got kind of (REALLY) into nutella hot chocolate… So this could be dangerous. I may need to revisit your healthy smoothie recipes after the holidays…
b) Laughed out loud at your ramen Instagram. You’re the best!!
Looks soooo tasty!!
Best from Germany!
Ani xoxo
http://www.ani-hearts.blogspot.com
This sounds incredible! I’ll definitely be trying this!
Looks delicious Laura! I’m sure gonna to try! Thanks for the tip 😉
xo
http://www.everything713.blogspot.com.br
Love Ginger bread mans!
My son took the recipy last week from his english class
He wants me to do them with him… ; )
http://www.mykitschworld.blogspot.com.es
Gingerbread is my favourite treat during Xmas and this gingerbread chocolate well seems -and I’m sure it is- DELICIOUS!!!
Oh yay! I love the Nutella one too 🙂
Laura
It’s Kate Spade Saturday 🙂
Laura
Thanks! Yeah, you can see how I go back and forth between healthy and…not…so…healthy. Life’s a balance!
Laura 🙂
Homemade hot chocolate is the best and the fact that this has gingerbread is amazing.
absolutely looks yum!!
this looks yum..
xo
Hems
agoldentulip.blogspot.com
Gingerbread cookies are not usually my favorite but oh my.. those gingerbread cookies look DELISH! Hope you are planning on sharing that recipe!
looks delicious!
Fashion latte with vanilla
Oh this looks amazing! I live on hot chocolate all winter. I love that the syrup will last me more than just one cup!
Looks so good, might need to go make some cocoa now!! Your little Gingerbread men are super cute too!
That looks very delicious!
X Willemijn Sofie
Amsterdam So Fashion
Oooh I’m so gonna have to try this! I’m not very adventurous when it comes to hot chocolate, so I’m definitely gonna have to push the boat out and try this! love love looove this. 🙂
That looks so good
Looks great! What a lovely post, these look adorable!
<3 http://thoughtsintiffanyblue.blogspot.com/
Funny, I posted my recipe for gingerbread syrup yesterday! I’ve just been adding it to coffee in the morning though, why have I not though of this?
I did a whole week of gingerbread on my blog during the first week of December and I made a gingerbread hot chocolate using a gingerbread syrup too. I also made gingerbread cookies, gingerbread syrup (with grated fresh ginger), gingerbread cocktail (which I named “the tipsy gingerbread man”), and a gingerbread cafe au lait. The cocktail was probably my favorite! http://racheerachheats.blogspot.com/2014/12/gingerbread-cocktail-tipsy-gingerbread.html
yummy! and i love that mug!
xx nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
So fun!
Laura 🙂
YUM. What a great idea! I love these two flavors together.
Yum looks delicious!
This sounds good. I made your Nutella hot chocolate the other night and it was a big party hit!
Oh my goodness! This is such a genius and delicious idea. <3
Thank you so much for this recipe. It was so simple, and all things I have in my cupboard after I finally got a spice rack sorted out this year (at the age of 37!). I’ve had the syrup in a latte and your hot chocolate recipe and they’re both delicious.