Name: White Chocolate and Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 13.5 ounces light coconut milk ((1 can)); 3-4 ounces Ghirardelli (or another brand of real chocolate) white chocolate (chopped); Ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

White Chocolate and Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

I have nothing – I repeat – NOTHING against the packets of hot chocolate that you can combine with milk or water and pop right into the microwave, but making your own hot chocolate is way too easy and way too delicious to not experience at least once. This white chocolate and cinnamon hot chocolate recipe takes less than 10 minutes to make and yields two outstandingly creamy, soul-warming cups of hot cocoa.

Ingredients you’ll need

Pantry & Baking Items

Light coconut milk
Real white chocolate (we used Ghiradelli brand)
Ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks

Equipment you’ll need

Small saucepan or pot
Whisk
Mugs, thermos, etc.

chopped white chocolate — It doesn’t have to be pretty – just get things into pieces that will melt at about the same time.
(**Image Credit: Lena Bullock | Mobile Soul**)

Substitutions and variations for your hot chocolate

Feel free to make it a full dairy cup of hot chocolate by substituting coconut milk for regular whole milk.
Make it a matcha hot chocolate. Start by mixing 2 Tbsp of matcha powder and 2 Tbsp of coconut milk together into a paste before adding the rest of the milk and the chocolate.
Use milk or dark chocolate instead of white chocolate. You can still use the cinnamon and it will still be delicious and warm.
Add a sprinkle of nutmeg for another layer of warming spice.

Tips and tricks to consider

Use a whisk. This will help break up those melting pieces of chocolate even faster.
Cinnamon sticks can be used as a spoon of sorts and to add flavor.
Be careful not to scorch the milk. Keep the heat under medium – at medium low, ideally – to avoid burning the milk before the chocolate gets a chance to melt completely.
Use real chocolate. Those chocolate chips you use for baking won’t melt the way you need for hot chocolate. They are usually coated in substances to keep them from melting and sticking to one another. Use one of those bars of chocolate instead.
Add marshmallows. We like the jumbo ones, but they all melt and add to the overall lusciousness of the drink.
Pair with these cinnamon roll cookies. These butter cookie variations can be dunked in the cocoa to soak up a little of the flavor without falling apart.