cdkitchen > cooking experts > pamela chester
This year I’ve vowed to take the holidays a bit easier, really enjoying the season and making lasting memories with friends and family. Rather than last year’s rush, rush, rush, right up until the very end late on Christmas Eve putting together a train table, I have tried to get all the shopping and preparation out of the way so we can move on to more leisurely pursuits.
Last night we had a bit of a Norman Rockwell moment, enjoying the old fashioned Christmas parade in our town. We walked around from business to business, enjoying drinks and cookies, and listening to carolers on each corner. It was the perfect start to the holiday season…. except it was too cold for my son to drink his hot chocolate while we were at the festivities. He didn’t want to leave his mittens off!
But as all parents know, preschoolers have minds like elephants, and once you promise a treat, they do not forget. On the way home, we heard his voice pipe up from the backseat, “Where’s my hot chocolate?!” So upon our arrival at home we shared a small cup before bedtime. Luckily he was tired enough to not get too wired like he usually does from chocolate!
Since the holiday season means colder weather for many people, warm drinks go hand in hand with gatherings and celebrations. They can also provide a bit of peace during the hectic holiday rush. Drinking a cup of hot tea is one of my favorite ways to relax and I just recently discovered the wonderful varieties of holiday hot teas that are available. Gingerbread, candy cane, and sugar cookie – sampling these warming (and caffeine free) treats has become our new evening holiday ritual to wind down after busy days. Plus you and your kids can make it a nightly indulgence because unlike cocoa or cookies, they aren’t filled with sugary empty calories!
But what would childhood be without a cup of hot chocolate sometimes? And who can forget coming inside to mom’s hot cocoa after playing in the first freshly fallen snow? Even if you live in Florida, your kids can enjoy some hot cocoa on a chilly winter evening. Last year, I read about a cool idea for a hot cocoa bar and have stored it away in my files as a new treat to try on Christmas Eve.
A festive hot chocolate station is an easy treat to set up for your kids and friends with little work. All you need are carafes or a slow cooker full of piping hot cocoa and assorted goodies and condiments like whipped cream, mini marshmallows, cinnamon disks, nutmeg, caramel bits, and chocolate shavings. You can offer a little Irish cream or other liqueur for the adults to add – some weary parents will surely appreciate the Christmas cheer!
Everyone can pick and choose his or her favorite toppings and add-ins to mix their perfect cup of cocoa. Peppermint sticks are a great addition and can serve as stirrers. You can make it as elaborate or simple as you like!
During this hectic season it’s important to remember that the simplest things can create the most indelible memories. When all is quiet and still at the end of a busy day shopping, wrapping, cooking, and cleaning, enjoy some quiet time together with your cherished loved ones and some warming holiday drinks!
©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/pamela-chester/1111-warm-holiday-drinks/
A Warming Holiday Tradition
This year I’ve vowed to take the holidays a bit easier, really enjoying the season and making lasting memories with friends and family. Rather than last year’s rush, rush, rush, right up until the very end late on Christmas Eve putting together a train table, I have tried to get all the shopping and preparation out of the way so we can move on to more leisurely pursuits.
Last night we had a bit of a Norman Rockwell moment, enjoying the old fashioned Christmas parade in our town. We walked around from business to business, enjoying drinks and cookies, and listening to carolers on each corner. It was the perfect start to the holiday season…. except it was too cold for my son to drink his hot chocolate while we were at the festivities. He didn’t want to leave his mittens off!
But as all parents know, preschoolers have minds like elephants, and once you promise a treat, they do not forget. On the way home, we heard his voice pipe up from the backseat, “Where’s my hot chocolate?!” So upon our arrival at home we shared a small cup before bedtime. Luckily he was tired enough to not get too wired like he usually does from chocolate!
Since the holiday season means colder weather for many people, warm drinks go hand in hand with gatherings and celebrations. They can also provide a bit of peace during the hectic holiday rush. Drinking a cup of hot tea is one of my favorite ways to relax and I just recently discovered the wonderful varieties of holiday hot teas that are available. Gingerbread, candy cane, and sugar cookie – sampling these warming (and caffeine free) treats has become our new evening holiday ritual to wind down after busy days. Plus you and your kids can make it a nightly indulgence because unlike cocoa or cookies, they aren’t filled with sugary empty calories!
But what would childhood be without a cup of hot chocolate sometimes? And who can forget coming inside to mom’s hot cocoa after playing in the first freshly fallen snow? Even if you live in Florida, your kids can enjoy some hot cocoa on a chilly winter evening. Last year, I read about a cool idea for a hot cocoa bar and have stored it away in my files as a new treat to try on Christmas Eve.
A festive hot chocolate station is an easy treat to set up for your kids and friends with little work. All you need are carafes or a slow cooker full of piping hot cocoa and assorted goodies and condiments like whipped cream, mini marshmallows, cinnamon disks, nutmeg, caramel bits, and chocolate shavings. You can offer a little Irish cream or other liqueur for the adults to add – some weary parents will surely appreciate the Christmas cheer!
Everyone can pick and choose his or her favorite toppings and add-ins to mix their perfect cup of cocoa. Peppermint sticks are a great addition and can serve as stirrers. You can make it as elaborate or simple as you like!
During this hectic season it’s important to remember that the simplest things can create the most indelible memories. When all is quiet and still at the end of a busy day shopping, wrapping, cooking, and cleaning, enjoy some quiet time together with your cherished loved ones and some warming holiday drinks!
Serves/Makes: 92
- 3 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 1/4 cups cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon salt
- whole milk, for serving
Combine the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a bowl, and whisk to combine well. Store the mixture in an airtight container.
For individual servings, pour 1 cup whole milk into a microwave-safe mug, and microwave on high just until hot. Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa mix, and stir to dissolve.
For a larger batch of cocoa, warm the milk in a saucepan set over medium-low heat, taking care not to let the milk boil; as it warms, stir in 2 tablespoons of mix for each cup of milk.
share this article:
related articles
Write a comment:
©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/pamela-chester/1111-warm-holiday-drinks/