Put down the hot cocoa mix and warm up with Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate from scratch topped with homemade peanut butter whipped cream and chopped peanut butter cups.
I’m sitting here writing my last recipe for 2015 and looking at my notebook with my 2016 goals. I have accomplished so much this past year on my own.
I rarely toot my own horn, but it’s important we celebrate our own accomplishments even when nobody else notices.
Every penny I earned, every recipe I made, every photo I shot, every dish I washed has been all me.
I’m not in a relationship. There is no second income. There is no assistant helping me.
Those days where I don’t feel well and need to lay down? I still have to make dinner or I don’t eat.
Those days I want to play hooky? I push through and work because my money goes towards rent and bills, not a side vacation fund (yes I do go on trips but that’s after months of saving).
I make business decisions on a daily basis, remind myself to stay confident when negotiating, and have to pretend I know the ins and outs of taxes (luckily I hired an accountant for that last one).
I stand on my own two feet and want to take a minute to pat myself on the back because I’ve had a few naysayers who assumed I was living with my parents when I moved back to Pittsburgh or didn’t think it was possible to be single and freelance.
And even though I worked much harder than I have ever worked before at any job, I’ve never been happier either.
Now I know why people say “choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life”.
Let’s hope I can repeat this performance for next year.
Now that I tooted my horn, tell me about your accomplishments for 2015. What have you done that is worth celebrating?
Whatever it is, let’s celebrate together with Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate made from scratch (that means no premade cocoa mix!) then topped with homemade peanut butter whipped cream and chopped peanut butter cups.
If that’s not a hot chocolate worthy of celebrating, then I don’t know what is.
Do you prefer your hot chocolate with whipped cream or with marshmallows on top?
Normally I go for marshmallows first, but I couldn’t resist homemade peanut butter whipped cream for this.
I first premiered my peanut butter whipped cream with my peanut butter frozen hot chocolate over the summer.
It went over so well, I brought it back for my peanut butter hot chocolate.
After all, you can never have too much peanut butter in one drink, am I right?
Funny story – this is the third time I’ve shot this peanut butter hot chocolate.
I first made this back in March 2014 when my photography skills were subpar but never published it.
I shot it again January 2015 but after taking a photography workshop in March 2015, I decided I could do even better.
It wasn’t until now that I finally got a chance to reshoot and post it.
Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
Put down the boring instant hot cocoa mix and warm up with Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate from scratch topped with homemade peanut butter whipped cream and chopped peanut butter cups.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon chopped peanut butter cups
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- Homemade Peanut Butter Whipped Cream (get recipe here)
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat the milk until hot but not boiling.
- Whisk in the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and salt until smooth then whisk in the peanut butter and 1/2 cup peanut butter cups until melted and smooth.
- Bring to a boil. Boil, stirring often, for 1 minute or until it starts to thicken. Remove from the heat and cool while you make the whipped cream (get directions here).
- Divide hot chocolate between two mugs and top with whipped cream and remaining 1 tablespoon peanut butter cups.
More Hot Chocolate Recipes
Peanut Butter Frozen Hot Chocolate
Caramel Hot Chocolate
taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
AHHH!! Yum, I love peanut butter and with hot chocolate it’s like drinking a Reese’s buttercup! Who doesn’t love that experience?! I’m so making me some of this goodness!
Carla says
It really is! Liquid peanut butter cup FTW!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
Congrats on making it through! And I enjoy that you waited to post this recipe because you wanted to get better photos, especially after learning so much. I sometimes wish I had retaken photos for certain things and never regret when I do. Cause in situations like this one, oh no you have to drink more peanut butter hot cocoa…..
Carla says
You should see my first two attempts! My first one was horrible haha And yes, I had to drink more peanut butter hot chocolate. The horror ;)
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Since we are having a late breakfast for dinner complete with cinnamon rolls on Christmas Eve, I don’t think we will be wanting a big slice of cake or something for dessert. I think this hot chocolate might be a perfect idea with a cookie!
Carla says
I think this hot chocolate would be the perfect ending to your breakfast for dinner!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
I can’t decide what part of this drink is my favorite — the peanut butter cups, the hot cocoa or the peanut butter whipped cream. I love it all! And gorgeous photos, lady!
Carla says
Thank you!
annie says
You’re an amazing person, Carla! You should toot your own horn more often, especially since you kicked so much butt this year.
Peanut butter and chocolate are a great way to celebrate. If you knew me personally, you’d know that I’m not exaggerating when I say that I could eat that whole batch of PB whipped cream with just spoon.
Carla says
Thanks, Annie! I’m with you – it was so tempting to eat the whipped cream as is without the hot chocolate ;)
Lauren @ A Nerd Cooks says
Okay seriously. This hot chocolate recipe is bonkers awesome! The photos are so, so beautiful too. I saw that Yahoo Food shared your photo on Instagram earlier today, too. Congrats!!
Carla says
Thanks, Lauren! The Yahoo Food feature was a nice surprise indeed.
Jeff says
This looks so delicious. I’ll definitely give it a try. Thanks Carla – really looking forward to what you have in store in 2016!
gregory anderson says
Oh my yes, this in particular is a great recipe. Will do this again.
I’m looking forward to doing your other versions of hot chocolate; I’ll probably also be doing some with stout boiled coffee to wake up feeling beautiful on the inside and handsome on the outside.
Thank you so much. Also, great job on the pics.
Big Fan.
Carla says
Glad you enjoyed this peanut butter version!