Without too much extra effort, a glass of homemade hot cocoa will have a unique and satisfying taste you will embrace.

Admittedly, crafting your own hot cocoa is slightly more work than popping open a can of powder and mixing it with hot milk (or worse... water).

But it is so worth the effort. If nothing else, at least doctor the powdered stuff with a dash of cinnamon, a spoonful of marshmallow Fluff, a spoonful of whipped cream or a quick grate of nutmeg (or even better, all of them).

If you are willing to go to a bit extra trouble, there are numerous ways to crank out a fantastic cocoa that will still have you snuggled in front of the fire in no time.