Winter is finally here! Which means it’s time to switch your iced oat milk latte to a tasty hot beverage. Although you may be familiar with a generic recipe for hot chocolate or have gotten accustomed to just plain old Swiss Miss with milk or water, there are many other recipes that are far more worth your while. Here are some hot cocoa recipes that you can enjoy all cozied up by the fireplace.

For something refreshing, try a peppermint hot cocoa recipe courtesy of Jackie Riley of the Food Network. You simply start with 1 ½ cups of heavy cream, 1 ½ cups of milk, ¼ cup of sugar, and ⅛ teaspoon of salt. Then, mix all ingredients together in a saucepan over the stove on medium-low heat. Once the cream mixture begins to steam, add in 6 ounces of chopped-up bittersweet chocolate (or milk chocolate if you prefer) and wait for it to melt. Once all the chocolate has melted, add 3 drops of peppermint oil (a little goes a long way!). Add whipped cream, and if you’d like, some chocolate shavings or crushed candy cane on top for a little extra flavor. This recipe only takes five minutes to cook and is super easy, refreshing, and delicious!

Don’t worry it doesn’t stop there! Of course, everyone has different taste buds and prefers different flavors over others. So, if you’re a dark chocolate lover, here’s a recipe for you from Martha Stewart! This recipe calls for 2 cups of whole milk, 1 cup of heavy cream, about one cup of bittersweet chocolate (chopped up), ¼ of Dutch-process cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar, and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg. Simply warm the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat, and once it is sufficiently heated, add in the cocoa powder and chocolate and whisk together. Once it is all melted in, add the sugar and nutmeg, and if you prefer your hot chocolate thicker, wait five more minutes before taking the saucepan off of the stove. This drink is ready to warm you up on a cold, rainy winter day!

If you’re a white chocolate enthusiast, and that last recipe made you lose your appetite, here’s one to help you regain it! This is an effortless, three-step process to a unique, yet tasteful hot chocolate. Purely heat up 3 cups of milk, 1 cup of Ghirardelli white chocolate chips, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Once the chocolate is melted and the milk is warm enough to your liking, it is ready to enjoy, just like a winter wonderland in a mug!

If you like something more rich and creamy, here’s a mouth-watering french hot cocoa or le chocolat chaud recipe based on Café Angelina’s in Paris to try out. This recipe calls for 1 ½ cups of whole milk, ½ cup of heavy cream, 2 teaspoons of powdered sugar, and 8 ounces of any chopped-up good-quality chocolate such as Guittard, Ghirardelli, or Godiva. And an additional ½ teaspoon of espresso powder if you want to intensify the chocolate flavor. Over medium heat, whisk together the whole milk, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and espresso powder (optional) until small bubbles appear around the edges. You must not allow the mixture to boil or else it’ll ruin the creamy texture. Remove the saucepan from the stove, and while the mixture is still hot, add in the chopped chocolate and mix until dissolved completely. When you’re all done you have a splendid mug of velvety hot chocolate that can be paired with a delicious croissant!

For dairy-free and vegan girls or anyone who doesn’t want all of that cream and prefers something lighter, here’s an alternative-milk hot chocolate recipe. The ingredients necessary for this recipe are 1 ½ cup of nut milk or oat milk and ½ coconut milk for a nice texture. In a large saucepan, warm the milk over medium heat. Then add ½ of dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, and 2-3 tablespoons of sugar and whisk together until fully mixed in. That’s it! A simple way to partake in the festivities of the holiday season without a stomach ache or breaking your diet!

And lastly, for those who don’t want to let go of the traditions of the autumn season quite yet, here’s a recipe for a pumpkin spice-flavored hot cocoa to get the best of both seasons! First, whisk ½ cup milk, ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream, ¼ cup milk chocolate chips, and 1 teaspoon cocoa powder together in a saucepan over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, stir in 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin puree and ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice until fully mixed in. Lastly, sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over the whipped cream for an extra pinch of fall flavor.

Happy holidays, Sailors, and best of luck to all of you who attempt these recipes, they are most definitely worth your time!