Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate

This Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate is the ultimate beverage to warm you up on a chilly Winter evening! Made with easy pantry ingredients and the best spices. YUM! 

I couldn’t let Christmas go by without sharing a new hot chocolate recipe! 

Because really, is there anything better than a warm mug between your hands as you watch your favorite Christmas movies with the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree?! I think not. 

And y’all know how much I love hot chocolate! Spiced Chai Hot Chocolate… Coconut Hot Chocolate….but I especially love this particular flavor! 

Why You’ll Love This Hot Chocolate: 

If you aren’t sure what constitutes a Mexican Hot Chocolate – no worries! I used to work at a coffee shop and one of my favorite beverages was a Mexican Mocha – which consisted of chocolate sauce, cayenne, cinnamon and of course, espresso and milk! 

Now..this hot chocolate isn’t the exact same thing as it doesn’t contain espresso or the chocolate sauce but it is JUST as delicious, in my very humble opinion 😉 

Instead of chocolate sauce, for this recipe, we use unsweetened cocoa powder which really gives this a super rich cocoa flavor. 

I love this recipe because it’s also super versatile! You can make it as sweet or not as sweet as you’d like it. For example, I know my husband likes his *super* sweet but for me, I like more of the cocoa/spice flavor. 

You can also use granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey, agave or maple syrup. Whatever you might have in the pantry or fridge or your go-to sweetener works! 

I usually use granulated sugar though – I think it’s super delicious and has just enough sweetness for me. 

Oh and the spices! You can’t forget about that deliciousness. 

The main spice for this drink is ground cayenne powder. It’s *super* spicy so be careful with it! 

I also added cinnamon for extra coziness. The vanilla extract is the perfect addition!

Whisked together on the stovetop with any milk that you may choose – this hot chocolate is so quick to come together!

So let’s get into exactly what you need to make it – spoiler alert: it’s not much! 

Ingredients You Need: 

• Milk (of your choice – I used whole but you can use dairy free as well!) 
• Unsweetened cocoa powder 
• Sugar (I used white granulated sugar but you can use your preferred sweetener)
• Vanilla extract 
• Ground Cayenne 
• Cinnamon 
• Whipped cream or marshmallows on top

Best Hot Chocolate Making Tips: 

Get all of your ingredients out and ready to go on the counter.

To a small pot, add in the milk along with the cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla extract and cayenne, cinnamon and nutmeg. This should be on medium heat.

Whisk whisk whisk until all of these are fully combined together in a thick and delicious chocolatey dream! Taste now and adjust to your liking when it comes to sweet or spicy. 

And now it’s time to just let it warm on the stovetop!

It should take around 5 minutes or so. Once it’s warmed to your liking, pour it in your favorite festive mug! Add your garnishes (get ideas below)

Then, it’s time to enjoy! 

I love double cupping the mug with both hands for extra warmth….yes please!

Garnish Ideas: 

The best go to toppings for this Mexican Hot Chocolate are:

• Homemade whipped cream 
• Mini marshmallows 
• Pinch of salt and cayenne on top – SO good!

Whichever one you choose, add a copious amount to the mug and enjoy every delicious spicy sweet chocolatey sip! 

Did you enjoy this recipe? Here are a few others you might like: 

Vanilla Cinnamon Tea Latte

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies 

Baked Mexican Mocha Donuts 

Thank you so much for following along here, friends! Want to see more? Be sure to follow ourbalancedbowl on Instagram and tag me with your photo if you end up making a recipe! You can also post a photo of your recipe to the Our Balanced Bowl Facebook page! Like a recipe that you saw? Follow me on Pinterest here! I always love to see your re-creations! If you do make a recipe, it would make my whole day if you were to rate and comment so I can get your feedback! Lots of love! – Haylie