Hot Chocolate Vibes
That's just what this weather (and the news) ordered, isn't it? Let's talk simple sippers that require you slow down, lean into the cozy, and remember life is filled with little pleasures.
But first, an update about this weekend’s workshop…
My family experienced a loss this weekend as my father-in-law passed away. He was a great man - a farmer, a father, and a dedicated community member.
I debated canceling this Sunday’s yoga + food workshop but then realized this is exactly the point of TITRGL. We come together to celebrate, sure, but we also turn to each other in moments of sadness. I’m not the only one grieving something right now, so I really, really, really hope you’ll join me.
This won’t be a morning of tears, unless those tears are happy. Instead, we’ll come together to be reminded there is still beauty and good people in the world.
On the note of “good people”, could I ask a favor? If you’re so inspired, could you please bring a brunch-y dish to share? I will have muffins, a frittata, coffee and tea but won’t have the capacity to do a full meal. Can’t let that keep us from gathering though! (P.S. Don’t want to contribute food? No worries! Please join us anyway.)
I’m keeping the price the same as $30 goes towards FoodRight. Let’s do good while we find the good, okay?
And now, back to the show.
Once we get beyond the holidays, I am immediately ready for spring. IMHO, this cold, snowy weather is bullhockey. But in the spirit of trying to make the best of every moment we’re lucky enough to experience (blah, blah, blah…), I’m desperately clinging on to any positives of this season.
So far I’ve got wearable blankets, time spent reading or playing Uno, a gas fireplace, baking sourdough with Bread of Frankenstein, and peppermint hot chocolates on the list. Maybe I’ll do a sourdough edition sometime in the future, but today we’re focusing on my superstar of winter 2026 - the peppermint hot chocolate (PHC).
The fascination began during a Christmas time work session at Fiddlehead’s in Mequon. They use standard Morin syrups, but perhaps their hot chocolate mix is the magic? A special whipped cream? A whispered prayer from the barista?? IDK why, but I’m convinced theirs is worlds better than any other locally available chain. (If you must go elsewhere, Stone Creek’s version is also solid.)
In today’s edition, we’re going to recreate these PHC-sipping vibes at home. Here’s how:
Many, many moons ago I stumbled into Candy Is Magic by Jami Curl because I wanted to learn how to make candy. I did try the cherry Dreams Come Chews (AKA Starbursts). They were good, but not worth it when you can buy a bag for cheaper than the syrup.
What was worth it? Jami Curl’s base hot cocoa recipe, AKA Chocolate Magic Dust. It IS magic! I use 1 1/2ish tablespoons per mug of hot chocolate, but it’s also great to have around to make hot fudge. (Bonus, if you get the book, look up the chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting recipe. That uses this mix too and might be a top five cake of all time for me.)
Jami’s business is closed so I think it’s okay for me to reprint the recipe. If you can get your hands on a copy of the book though, it is absolutely worth it!
Chocolate Magic Dust
Ingredients
460g granulated sugar
116g cocoa powder
2g kosher salt
3g vanilla bean powder
2g cinnamon
Instructions
Pour the sugar into a large bowl. Sift together all other ingredients into the sugar. Whisk everything together until fully combined. Store in an airtight container. As long as the container is airtight and moisture-free, the magic dust will last for up to 12 months one hot chocolate season.
Notes
Vanilla bean powder can be tricky to find. I’ve made this without it and it works, but its not as magical. Find it at a local baking store or Amazon.
Five Things To Upgrade Your Hot Chocolate Game
The first step to a perfect PHC is to get the best hot chocolate mix. If you’re not up for making your own, I suggest Nestle’s Hot Cocoa in the red tub. My husband swears it’s better than even my mix for stirring into his mochas. He recently got a mix from Hollander Chocolate Company in Port Washington. I think it’s even better (and local!), but sometimes easiest wins out.
Sure, you could go grab any old hot chocolate, but why not dress it up with your favorite syrup? Peppermint is a good one because it it’s subtle enough to pair nicely with marshmallows for kids and Bailey’s Irish Cream for the grown-ups. You only need a few drops of this one for a bit of minty pizazz.
We aren’t doing anything serious while sipping a PHC. No work, no bills, no documentaries on the state of things. We are watching shows like Sweet Magnolias. We are flipping through print copies of home decor magazines. We are painting our or our children’s nails while having a little chat.
What do we wear to a PHC date? The snuggliest things. Snuggly slippers. Snuggly sweatshirts with high necks to sink into. The snuggliest pj pants I’ve found this side of the Mississippi River.
If we’re having a “stare off into the woods” kind of PHC moment, what are we listening to? My first vote goes to silence, but if that doesn’t do it for you, I listen to this Spotify playlist any time I need to chill my nervous system. Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me is a guaranteed, high brow laugh. Otherwise, do find a friend and let this be the perfect moment to catch up.
Extend Your Hot Chocolate Experience
My silliest new year’s resolution this year is to try a different snack mix every month. First up is this hot chocolate inspired puppy chow from Dang That’s Sweet.
I changed absolutely nothing about it so I don’t think it’s fair of me to repost. Just go to her site and try it yourself. (And then maybe also try her Buckeye Graham Crackers listed in the “looking for more no bake treats?” section. I feel like those would be amazing PHC dippers!!)
P.S. If you’ve got a snack mix for us to try, leave the recipe in the comments. THIS is what the internet should be used for. (As is the comment section of this Instagram post.)
Did I miss anything in the hot chocolate world? Goodness knows, winter is long and the days are short so please share anything that would keep this experimentation going!
I’m having teeth surgery (ew!) next week. The doctor said no eating hard foods and no exercise, including yoga. As a friend said, that’s pretty much all I do so we’ll see where the mood takes us. Maybe I’ll write it while still hopped up on laughing gas and extra strength Tylenol and we’ll see what’s really written on my heart.
Stay warm this weekend, Midwesterners! It’s going to be a doozy!