Hot, Hot, Hot, We Got It! Nog Hot Chocolate

Here we only have one rule; never, ever let it cool!……………

Who’s all aboard for some hot chocolate? Great, cause, I don’t know if you can tell, but I’m so excited to share it with you!

In case you missed the last few posts this week, I’ve been doing recipes inspired by our favorite Christmas movies. Today, of course, is inspired by Polar Express! Come on, who doesn’t love the hot chocolate scene, it’s one of the best parts!

I know that since the movie came out, there have probably been a bazillion recipes inspired by it, but I think this one is pretty unique. I put a lot of thought into how I wanted to make this, and obviously there is no mention of eggnog being in the famous, steaming pots of thick hot chocolate on the movie, but who’s to say there wasn’t some eggnog involved.

Here’s my logic (which is not always that logical but I think this time it makes sense), those super sophisticated chefs on the Polar Express would have had some big tricks up their sleeve for making a hot chocolate unlike any other. After all, they work for the big guy so it had to taste amazing, like liquified Christmas, and what’s a more Christmasy ingredient than nog?

Okay, and I also added just a tiny touch of coffee because, first of all, I can’t help myself. And second of all, I thought Hanks’ character of the train ghost would be proud. Don’t worry if the kids hate coffee, it’s not enough to even detect, but it adds a depth that makes this cocoa extra yummy! However, if you want to leave it out you can try using two different brands of cocoa and adding an extra few tablespoons instead.

The whole recipe is fast and easy so it makes the perfect last-minute holiday treat. I did make my own nog but I’ve also tried various kinds and they all have their merits.

So now all you need to do is go get your whip cream or marshmallows (or BOTH!) ready, put on your fuzzy jammies, whip up some of this goodness, and put in Polar Express! Oh, and possibly bake some quick cookies to go with. You know that’s what you really want to do tonight!

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Hot, Hot, Hot, We Got It! Eggnog Hot Chocolate

Nothing makes the Winter more cozy than a hot cup of cocoa topped with all the whipped cream!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

Hot Chocolate:

• 1 quart non-dairy nog almond, coconut, soy, etc.
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 1/2 tablespoons black coffee
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Non-dairy whipped cream or gelatin free marshmallows for topping

Instructions

1. Pour 1 quart of nog into a medium saucepan and place over low heat until simmering hot but do not boil. While nog is warming up, mix together cocoa, sugar, and salt in a small bowl.
2. When eggnog is warm, scoop a few large spoonfuls of mixture into cocoa/brown sugar bowl while whisking and stir until smooth. Scrape mixture into eggnog and add the coffee and vanilla and simmer until it begins to thicken. Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired.