By Haniya Ghazi
Nothing is better than drinking the perfect cup of hot chocolate with a dollop of sweet whipped cream on a cold winter day or some delicious eggnog this holiday season! Here are some ways to spice up these favorite winter and holiday drinks when you get tired of the plain old versions.
1. Cinnamon or Nutmeg
Adding one-fourth teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to your hot chocolate or eggnog probably doesn’t sound like it does much, but it works wonders in adding just the right amount of variety to these drinks. Spice up your hot chocolate or eggnog (literally) by including one or both of these spices next time you cozy up by the fire.
2. Candy Cane
This unique peppermint twist is a must-try this winter. The delicious addition of a candy cane stirred in is the perfect way to add some minty-ness to your eggnog or hot chocolate. The result is an overall amazing flavor, as well as a well-deserved nod to the holiday season.
3. Nutella
Who doesn’t love the smooth, nutty, chocolatey flavor of Nutella? By simply melting a teaspoon of the hazelnut cream into hot milk, you can create a new and improved version of hot chocolate or eggnog. This variation is definitely one to try.
4. Salted Caramel
Salted caramel anything is delicious, but adding the flavor to your hot chocolate or eggnog just puts it over the top! Trust me, you will not regret letting some caramel sauce simmer in your steaming hot chocolate or eggnog, drizzling it over the top of the whipped cream and topping it all off with a few sprinkles of sea salt. Yum!
5. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is the ideal ingredient to stir into any hot chocolate or eggnog to make it have an entirely different but still amazing flavor. Simply mix in melted peanut butter to make any hot chocolate or eggnog into an incredible new holiday and winter drink.
6. Chai
Chai tea lattes have recently become the new craze, so why not add the delicious flavor of chai to your hot chocolate or eggnog? Just by sprinkling in dashes of spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg and allspice, you can turn any simple eggnog or hot chocolate into a wonderland of flavor.
The Spread 