Get creative with hot chocolate.

I don’t care what temperature it is outside, I will fill my mugs with hot chocolate a few times during the Christmas season.

I’m not a hot chocolate snob — packs of Swiss Miss will do in a pinch when a craving pops up. Still, there’s something so celebratory and rich about melting down some actual chocolate for the drink.

There’s so much opportunity to play with hot chocolate as well. Get creative and change up the chocolate. I’m curious about mixing together dark chocolate and butterscotch chips.

Try some unusual ingredients such as cayenne pepper or salted caramel sauce. Sometimes those inclusions can result in some new, fantastic flavors.

Enjoy the following hot

chocolate recipes that go beyond the normal mix of milk and bittersweet chocolate. ■ Bacon Hot Chocolate

This decadent-sounding recipe is courtesy of Applegate, an organic meat brand. 3 tablespoons rendered Applegate Naturals1 Sunday Bacon Brand bacon fat, melted 1 ⁄2 teaspoons cornstarch 3 1⁄2 cups whole milk 1⁄2 cup cocoa powder 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar 3 ounces (about 1 ⁄2 cup) bittersweet chocolate chips 1. Whisk together the bacon fat and cornstarch in a medium heavy saucepan. 2. Whisk in the milk, cocoa powder, sugar, and 1⁄2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer over high heat, whisking, then simmer 1 minute

and remove from heat. 3. Stir in the chocolate chips until melted. ■ Hot Chocolate Stout

I love the addition of beer to hot chocolate — it gives the drink a little bitterness and some effervescence.

I grabbed a Guinness for my recipe, but don’t be afraid to go with a chocolate or even a peanut butter beer. Serving size: 1 ¾ cup half-and-half ¼ cup milk ¼ teaspoon vanilla ¼ heaping cup of semisweet chocolate chips (don’t be stingy!)

1⁄8 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ cup any stout beer

1. In a small saucepan, heat the half-andhalf, milk and vanilla until steaming over medium temperature.

2. Add chocolate chips and cinnamon to the liquid. Gently stir until the chocolate

melts.

3. Add the stout. Stir for 1 minute. Serve in a beer mug. ■ Mint Hot White Chocolate

The addition of mint to hot chocolate makes the drink taste more “light” (but don’t be fooled, it’s not light at all calorie-wise). ¾ cup half-and-half ¼ cup milk ¼ heaping cup of white chocolate chips ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract Whipped cream (optional) Mint leaves (optional)

1. In a small saucepan over medium temperature, heat the half-and-half and milk until steaming.

2. Add the chocolate chips and extracts to the liquid. Gently stir until the chocolate melts.

3. Serve with whipped cream and mint leaves on top.