National Hot Chocolate Day is on Jan. 31, and what better way to celebrate making it through the first month of the new year than with a steaming cup of cocoa?
Last year we spilled the details on all the crazy cocoa concoctions you can find around Delaware, and this year we’re going back to the basics with plenty of classic hot chocolate offerings. But don’t fret, there are still some fun surprises in here.
Whether you prefer to hold the whip or douse it in marshmallows, one of these Delaware spots mixing up a steaming (or freezing!) cup of hot chocolate is sure to crack your cocoa code.
Turning Point, Christiana
Located in the Christiana Fashion Center, Turning Point has a few Heavenly Hot Chocolate options on their menu that add something extra to this classic winter drink.
The Cookie Explosion flavor is topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle before being sprinkled with chocolate chips and Oreo cookie pieces.
The S’mores hot chocolate is made with toasted marshmallow syrup, whipped cream and crushed graham crackers. Peppermint adds a punch with peppermint syrup, whipped cream and crushed peppermint on top. They also serve a traditional hot chocolate with a simple whipped cream topping.
If drinking your hot chocolate isn’t enough, Turning Point makes peppermint hot chocolate cakes. The dish features hot cocoa cakes topped with crushed peppermint, marshmallows, and a mint and chocolate cream drizzle.
3204 Fashion Center Blvd., Christiana, (302) 738-4326; turningpointrestaurants.com/christiana
Sweet Dreams Confections Co., Middletown
A cup of hot cocoa already sounds amazing, but what if you could watch the flavor explode into your favorite mug right in front of you?
Sweet Dreams Confections Co. in Middletown is a chocolate shop that sells hot cocoa bombs. The base of the bomb is made from high-quality chocolate and is filled with marshmallows and a dash of sprinkles. The result is a rich and silky flow of chocolate, no matter what milk or milk-alternative is your go-to.
Hot cocoa bombs are available in milk, dark and white chocolate flavors, and sometimes come in seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice, peppermint and raspberry.
For Valentine’s Day, the shop will feature a heart-shaped chocolate strawberry bomb, just one of the many creations they’ve crafted for special occasions.
Their chocolate bombs can be dyed fun colors or customized for special occasions including Christmas tree ornament-style bombs for the holidays and filled with blue or pink marshmallows for gender reveals.
1 Shallcross Place, Middletown, (302) 696-2506; sweetdreamsconfectionsco.com
Sleeping Bird Coffee, Wilmington
Wilmington’s Sleeping Bird Coffee offers an icy twist on cocoa with their Andes Mint Hot Chocolate, made from a mix of melted dark chocolate and Andes mints.
Sleeping Bird also sells a Black and White hot chocolate, made with white and dark chocolate mixed together. If you like to keep it simple, they have regular hot chocolate on the menu, too.
Other drinks offered include a homemade brown sugar chai and a Cookie Butter Latte.
3111 Miller Road, Wilmington, (302) 570-7358; sleepingbirdcoffee.com
Bing’s Bake & Brew, Newark
Bing’s Bake & Brew in Newark has a wide variety of unique drink options, one of which being the Caramel Pecan Hot Chocolate.
This drink uses hot chocolate base mixed with caramel pecan syrup. Customers can add their choice of steamed milk before the drink gets topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce drizzle and a piece of chocolate.
You can also find regular hot chocolate and a Hot Chocolate Freeze at Bing’s, along with a Frosted Gingerbread White Mocha and a Peppermint White Mocha, among other drinks.
57 S. Main St., Suite 101, Newark, (302) 751-3177; bingsbakeandbrew.com
The Sugar Factory, Dover Downs
The Sugar Factory is known for its out-of-this-world drinks, and we’re not just talking cocktails.
On the menu, you can find three flavors of hot chocolate that are sure to have you questioning if a drink is supposed to taste as good as dessert.
The s’mores flavor is made with milk chocolate and toasted marshmallows and is topped with homemade whipped cream, Hershey’s chocolate pieces and graham cracker crumbs with a marshmallow rim.
The Pink Unicorn Hot Chocolate is made with white chocolate chips melted in pink milk, topped with whipped cream and finished with colorful marshmallows and rainbow star sprinkles.
The Classic Hot Chocolate uses milk chocolate and is topped with mini marshmallows and chocolate curls.
1131 N. Du Pont Highway, Dover, (302) 857-3252; sugarfactory.com/location/dover-downs
Eggspectation, Stanton
In Stanton, Eggspectation offers a Nutella Hot Chocolate and the signature Eggspectation Hot Chocolate.
Both drinks use whole milk (or your choice of a milk alternative) and rich chocolate, but the Nutella option takes it a step further by mixing the trademark spread into the drink before steaming it in a milk frothing pitcher.
For toppings, both drinks receive a healthy dose of whipped cream and mini chocolate chips. If you want something extra, you can request a drizzle of caramel sauce and mini marshmallows.
507 Stanton Christiana Road North, (302) 842-2515; eggspectation.com/christiana
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