4 Fun and Easy “Hot” Cocoa Recipes for your Mini Chef

Every time I cook or bake with my daughter, we have lots of fun. It is a moment for the two of us, and it is a moment to connect and strengthen our mom and daughter bond. Not to mention how much she learns in terms of quantity, ingredients, flavors, organization, patience and team work!

With kid #2 we have not been enjoying each others’ company at the kitchen very often, so when there is a chance, I just grab it!

Sophia loves chocolate milk, and isn’t it the season? I just thought: how cool it would be if we “created” more than one way to prepare her favorite seasonal drink…

To keep her interested and focused, I just decided to prepare our usual “hot” cocoa (none of my kids like hot drinks, but we warm it enough) and add a few things here and there.

Now, if you love to spend time with your kid in the kitchen, choose one of the following recipes and let your kid make it on her/his own. I promise, you will be one proud mom!

Recipies:

1) Hot Cocoa with a Candy Stick (it can be a peppermint stick, pretzel covered with sprinkles stick, chocolate waffle stick, cinnamon stick)

Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
3-4 tablespoon of chocolate powder
1 candy stick

Directions:
Add milk and chocolate powder in one small/medium pan. Mix slowly for at least 1 minute ( room temperature). Pour chocolate milk into a mug, stir it with your candy stick for about 2-3 minutes.

2) Hot Cocoa with Marshmallows

Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
3-4 tablespoon of chocolate powder
12 mini marshmallow or 6 big ones

Directions:
Add milk and chocolate powder in one small/medium pan. Stir them for at least 1 minute (room temperature). Pour mix into a mug, add marshmallows. Pour chocolate powder on top as desired.

3) Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream (this is a favorite!)

Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
3-4 tablespoon of chocolate milk
Whipped cream as desired
Sprinkles (any kind)

Directions:
Add milk and chocolate powder in one small/medium pan. Stir slowly for at least 1 minute (room temperature). Pour mix into a mug, add whipped cream (6 loops are good enough), add sprinkles for extra fun!

4) Hot Cocoa with espresso (mom’s hot cocoa for God sake!)

Ingredients:
1 cup of milk
3-4 tablespoon of chocolate powder
1 cup of espresso (= small cup of coffee)

Directions:
Add milk and chocolate powder in one small/medium pan. Stir slowly for at least 1 minute (room temperature). Pour mix into a mug, add your coffee mama, and enjoy your drink with your kid!

I really thought it was worth it and we had some fun. Sophia really wanted to do the whole thing, and she had a blast. Best part, adding whipped cream as well as all marshmallows. We laughed, we sang and we had our drinks close to our Christmas tree.

Just one other way to enjoy each other’s company and making sure we were there in body, heart and soul.

To me, the simpler the better! It’s when I can have the most of my kids. Letting them be, letting them create, lead, coordinate and have a great moment.

Happy Holidays mamas!