7 suggestions for divine hot chocolate

The winter months are a special time of year for many people. It''s a time when they indulge in frolics in the snow and, at least for a little while, return to the carefree years of their childhood. A time of holidays, peace, good wishes and a pervasive sense of family togetherness. A time when it seems that miracles might actually be possible... But for all those with a sweet tooth, winter is special for another reason - it''s also the time for hot chocolate! Even though it seems virtually impossible to go wrong with hot chocolate and even the worst hot chocolate is still delicious, we''ve put together some tips to make your hot chocolate that little bit better, as impossible as that may sound...

1. Try a combination of hot chocolate and ice cream.

The adage that opposites attract is certainly true in the case of ice cream and hot chocolate. The hot-cold combination will get your taste buds going, making the flavour even more intense. The flavour of the ice cream can be any way you like, but we would like to suggest that we particularly liked the combination with bourbon vanilla. If you don''t want the ice cream to melt completely, it is important to start immediately and as quickly as possible. We trust that you won''t have any particular problems with this, but don''t worry about the ice cream melting anyway. This will make the hot chocolate a little more creamy and delicious.

2. Add peanut butter to the hot chocolate.

The peanut butter added to the hot chocolate has two functions. The first is to enrich the flavour and the second is to thicken it. You don''t need to go overboard with the quantity, as it is important not to cover the basic taste of the chocolate completely - just a spoonful of peanut butter will be enough, and you can add a few peanuts chopped into small pieces if you like.

3. Make your hot chocolate with coconut milk instead of regular milk.

The use of plant milk in hot chocolate is not limited to those who, for various reasons, do not consume animal milk. In fact, when combined with plant milk, hot chocolate can take on a whole new dimension of flavour that many people like even better. Hot chocolate made with coconut milk is particularly popular and can be made quite easily yourself, making hot chocolate not only extremely tasty, but also as natural and healthy as possible.

4. Use cornstarch to thicken the hot chocolate.

For those of you who prefer the basic taste of hot chocolate and don''t want to use additives, but would still like a thicker texture, cornstarch is a good solution - just the tip of a knife stirred into the milk before adding the chocolate will do. This way, the hot chocolate will retain its characteristic taste, which some call ''the taste of pure pleasure''.

5. Hot chocolate is excellent in combination with orange flavour.

It could be said that there is a special kind of love affair between citrus fruits, which include oranges, and (hot) chocolate. It may not be love at first sight, but it is a slightly more complex relationship. The sour-sweet combination does not suit all tastes, and many people need a few tries before they are enchanted by the slightly exotic touch of this subtle harmony of flavours. To get started, we suggest you make your hot chocolate in the usual way, and then grate in a little orange zest (make sure you only use organic oranges whose peel has not been exposed to toxic substances). Leave it for a few minutes for the flavours to mingle, and then just enjoy...

6. Hot chocolate for a good morning ...

What''s worse than mornings when, after only a few hours'' sleep, you''re woken up by the loud and annoying ringing of your alarm clock, reminding you that you have a myriad of commitments to attend to. Possibly to find that someone has used up all the hot water and you have no fresh clothes. However bleak the situation may seem, we assure you that if you have a hot chocolate and coffee for breakfast, you will definitely have a much more optimistic outlook on life. It''s easy to prepare - just use your favourite coffee instead of milk. This combination will wake you up and prepare you for the challenges ahead, while satisfying your sweet tooth. And let''s remind you that chocolate increases levels of serotonin, also known as the ''happiness hormone''.

7. Hot chocolate with chilli - dare?

The last tip is for the bravest of the brave who are not afraid to experiment a little. Believe it or not, hot chocolate can go perfectly with chilli. Of course, you need to be careful not to overdo it - just a pinch of this spicy spice will add an interesting twist to the usual flavour, but the easiest way to do this is to buy a ready-made hot chocolate mix with chilli, where the quantities are precisely measured. And hot chocolate prepared in this way is sure to warm you up even more...