Winter has arrived, and you know what that means: Time to break out the cozy sweaters, snuggle up next to a warm fireplace and admire the beauty of a fresh snowfall. Another all-ages winter favorite: hot chocolate! A cup of piping-hot, chocolaty cocoa warms you from tip to toe and gives you that brief reprieve from winter’s chill.

If you’re looking for some new recipes for hot cocoa, we have you covered from the stovetop to the slow cooker. Or if you’re short on time, don’t be afraid to use store-bought hot chocolate as your base. Wherever you begin, this rich and creamy experience comes to life by adding the mix-ins we’ve included below.

Classic Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa Serves: 4 to 6 Prep time: 5 minutes Cost: $ Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients 1½ cups whipping cream 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 6 cups milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 16 ounces milk chocolate chips Mini marshmallows

Instructions

Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally When mixture is hot and all chocolate chips are melted, ladle cocoa into a mug and top with a mountain of marshmallows Serve. Drink. Smile

A tried-and-true classic milk chocolate cocoa is always a hit, while toppings like peppermint or pumpkin can add some new flavors to the mix. Here are a few more ideas to try:

Add crushed peppermint candy and top with large marshmallows and a candy cane.

Or add pumpkin pie filling and top with pumpkin spice.

Or stir in melted caramel and top with coarse sea salt.

Or stir in coconut milk and top with store-bought whipped cream, cocoa powder and coconut flakes.

There’s no limit to the ways you can spice up this winter staple, so use your imagination when dreaming up new toppings. When you’re finished sipping, rinse out mugs and add a few drops of Dawn Platinum Dish Soap. It can help remove sticky marshmallow, leftover chocolate and other toppings in seconds!