The best boozy hot chocolate recipe

On these chilly winter nights, there’s nothing like a steamy mug of rich hot chocolate to get you feeling cosy - and if you really want to up the ante, why not add a shot of your favourite liqueur?

A wonderfully warming way to enjoy a night in with pals, and a cosy alternative to a chilled cocktail, a spiked hot chocolate is one of our favourite winter beverages - here’s a recipe for Team Hood’s top choice, a rich hot chocolate with a delicious drop of amaretto…

Amaretto Spiked Hot Chocolate (serves 4)

Ingredients

• 700ml semi-skimmed milk (or non-dairy milk, we think soya or almond is best)

• 300ml single cream (or a non-dairy soya alternative)

• 125g good quality dark chocolate, at least 70% cocoa

• 100ml amaretto

• 25g vanilla white chocolate

• Cocoa powder, to serve

• Whipped cream, to serve (optional)

Method

• Prepare the chocolate: finely grate the dark chocolate, and grate the white chocolate

• Pour the milk and cream into a pan, and heat to the point where it’s near-boiling, but not quite

• Divide the dark chocolate between four heatproof glasses, adding 25ml of amaretto into each glass

• Divide the hot milk mixture between the four glasses

• Stir to melt the chocolate, then sprinkle white chocolate and cocoa over the top before serving - add your whipped cream here if you wish