The worst of the season has come upon us again. The weather after a huge snowstorm is gloomy, grey, wet, and all-around depressing. During this terrible wintertime, we seek out the most comforting things, no matter how detrimental they could be to our calorie count. While there’s a wide variety of foods that’ll warm you down to your bones, there’s not a single person in the world that doesn’t like hot chocolate. Or if you’re fancy, hot cocoa.

Anyone can appreciate those hot chocolate powder packets that come in a variety of flavors, or mixing some milk and chocolate syrup if you’re seven. As almost-grown adults, it’s about time we make some fancier versions of hot chocolate that, even if they take a little longer to make, pay off in dividends. All of these are going to be stovetop recipes, for that simply is the superior way to create hot chocolate.

Simplicity in a recipe is something to appreciate. And for this first hot chocolate, it is just that. The most basic recipe of hot chocolate out there only involves cocoa powder, whole milk, and sugar. If you have vanilla and marshmallows on hand too, don’t be afraid to bring those out. All you need to do is combine the cocoa, sugar, and half a cup of whole milk. When it’s just about to boil, pour in another half cup of milk. If you want it to be smoother, pour in a fourth of a cup more milk. Add your optional vanilla, then serve! That’s one of the more basic recipes out there, but it’s miles better than any Hot Chocolate K-Cup pods.

Let’s spice it up a little! Create deeper flavors! It’s going to require heavy cream, whole milk, powdered sugar, espresso powder, and dark chocolate. In a small saucepan, you’ll add the heavy cream, whole milk, powdered sugar, and espresso powder, and mix that till it’s just hot. Don’t let it boil, so turn it down and add your dark chocolate and an optional splash of vanilla. Serve just like that. It’s super rich and its flavors are more complex with the added espresso. If you’re not a coffee fan, no need to worry; it’s just there to build character. No coffee flavor either.

Let’s pamper ourselves with the best hot chocolate that chefs have to offer. We want to taste something so extraordinary and indulgent that we can barely afford the ingredients for it. Grind some dark chocolate chips in a food processor. Then, move to the stove, where you’re going to combine milk, heavy cream, and vanilla together to just warm it. Add the ground chocolate chips, vanilla extract, maple syrup, nutmeg, and just the smallest amount of ginger powder. Smallest amount. Once it’s all mixed, find your fanciest glass mug and pour, and make some fresh whipped cream while you’re at it.

Delicious hot chocolate is not hard to come by, but it’s all about what recipe is particular to you. Hot chocolate is made to be personal, and hopefully, these recipes will give you some inspiration to create your own.