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Hurley House (5512 Bellaire Dr. S. A, Fort Worth): Y’all! I don’t mean to shout my first suggestion but oh.my.goodness. the Hurley House hot chocolate is beyond good. It may be the chocolate, but, if I am honest with myself, it is good because of their homemade marshmallows. Yes, I said it . . . homemade marshmallows . . . it’s what dreams are made of. Speaking of dreams, can I get a homemade marshmallow pillow?
Panera (1700 University Dr., Fort Worth): You and your littles will swoon over Panera’s Signature Hot Chocolate with chocolate chip marshmallows . . . yes, I said chocolate chip marshmallows!
Brewed (801 W Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth): For a mom’s night out hot chocolate, Brewed is the place to be! You can enjoy a traditional hot cocoa with milk or dark chocolate and perfectly steamed milk. Or, if your hot chocolate needs a little something special, try The Grasshopper, which is hot chocolate mixed with house-made mint syrup. The moment you step into Brewed, you will become an immediate fan.
Casablanca Coffee (215 W 8th St., Fort Worth): A must on this chocolatey journey is Casablanca . . . . Go for the hot chocolate (and super smooth coffee) and stay for the banana and nutella sweet crepe. Also, for a limited time this fall, they have added a Spiced Hot Chocolate to the menu.
Buon Giorno Coffee (915 Florence St., Fort Worth): You can get your hot chocolate piping hot or frozen at Buon Giorno. If you’re game for something different, try the Frozen White Hot Chocolate . . . decadence and delight are two words that come to mind. But, if you are a cocoa traditionalist, the European Hot Chocolate will not disappoint. Whichever suits your taste, you want to be sure to pair your drink with a house-made pastry. Your sweet tooth will thank you.
Bread Winners Café & Bakery (3000 TX-114, Trophy Club): Coming late November or early December, Tarrant County will FINALLY get to enjoy brunch at Bread Winners. One of Dallas’ best is opening its first location outside of the Dallas bubble, and we Fort Worth moms are planning our girl’s nights and Sunday brunches already! Grab a Mexican hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun — you’ll thank me, I promise. My kids swooned over the pairing.If You Want to Make a Night of It . . . or a Morning
Cultivar Coffee (235 W Hickory St., Denton): My personal favorite on the great hot chocolate journey . . . maybe because you can get some of DFW’s best donuts right next door. The hot chocolate was the perfect temperature to take an immediate sip and not scald your tongue. The steamed milk art made my littles giggle with delight, and they were so proud to each hold a special cup filled with happiness.
If You Want to Stay Home
Try this recipe, and you may just have a line of people out your door because you now serve the best hot cocoa in town. ?
Ingredients:
- 6 Cups milk
- 1 1/2 Cups heavy cream
- One 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 Cups milk chocolate chips (you can use bittersweet or white, but I like milk chocolate best)
- 1 Tsp. vanilla
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a good size pot, and stir over low heat for 30 minutes or until chocolate is perfectly melted and incorporated. Simple and delicious but definitely NOT low cal. ?
This is the perfect treat for a fall or winter playdate. Have it warming on the stove or in the crock pot ready to go. To have some extra fun with this you can have toppings in bowls so each child (and parent) can top his or her cocoa just right. Or, you can set out white to-go cups along with markers, and all of the kiddos can design their own logo on the cup.
Finally, if you like hot chocolate but also like to work out . . .
On February 4, 2017, you can run the Hot Chocolate 15k and 5k. How fun is that?! I have a feeling that after running a 5k, that steaming cup of hot chocolate you get will taste amazing.
Do you have a favorite hot chocolate hot spot we missed? Let us know. ? We might just meet you there!