This Is The Last Hot Chocolate Recipe You'll Ever Need

Before the cold weather seems to drag on and on, there is this blissful, fleeting moment where we embrace the chilly weather with joy.

This is the time of year to snuggle by a fire, put on your favorite seasonal movie, and indulge in a little something that will warm you from the inside out. And that indulgence should definitely be a perfect cup of chocolaty goodness, and we have the perfect hot chocolate recipe for you.

For many people, "preparing" hot chocolate consists of buying a premade brand, opening up a pouch or powder, pouring it into a cup of water, and putting it in the microwave. If you were really feeling ambitious, you could buy a brand that provided prepackaged marshmallows.

This may be the hot chocolate we grew up with and learned to love, but that doesn't mean it's the best way to make it. In fact, there are several ways you can make homemade hot chocolate and avoid the store bought brands all together.

Our hot chocolate recipe is rich, creamy, delicious, and super simple to make. This recipe includes half-and-half, sugar, vanilla, whole milk, and finally, real pieces of chocolate. These ingredients are cheap and easy to find in the grocery store, and if you're a true chocolate lover, they may already be lying around the house! Click here for the full recipe, along with step-by-step instructions on how to make it.

Now that you have sworn off store bought mixes for good, here are a couple of suggestions on how you can spice up your average cup of cocoa.

Interested in seeing the best and worst premade hot chocolate mixes? Check out our taste test.

The accompanying slideshow is provided by Jess Novak.​