Most of the Northern hemisphere is smack dab in the middle of polar vortex-like weather {I myself am trudging through ankle-deep slush in NYC right now, yuck!} With no end to winter in sight, we decided we’re gonna try to warm ya’ll up! With more snow scheduled to hit the east coast this week, we thought it’d be the perfect time to relive those fabulous childhood memories of snow days. Remember when you got to play hookie and cozy up with a book and hot chocolate?? Awww, those were the days….

Oh, but back to that hot chocolate! We’ve got a recipe that is as far from your ordinary SwissMiss as you can get! To kick off our Warming Winter Cocktails series we’re sharing a decadent Spiked Hot Chocolate with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream!!

Spiked Hot Chocolate with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream 

Ingredients:  

For Whipped Cream:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tbl. Grand Marnier
1 tbl. sugar

For Hot Chocolate:
1 cup semisweet chocolate
3 cups Whole milk
⅓ cup Half and Half
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup Baileys

Directions:

Whip cream, sugar and Grand Mariner in mixer until soft peaks form. Set aside.

For the hot chocolate, heat milk and half and half in a pot on medium flame until simmering, whisking occasionally so the milk does not scald.

Take pot off stove and add chocolate. Whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk Baileys and vanilla into mixture until combined. Pour into your favorite mug. Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and orange peal for an extra-pretty garnish. Enjoy!

This hot chocolate is the perfect pick me up on a dreary day. It has all the not-so-healthy stuff which makes it oh so delicious. And we would not complain if we had to shovel snow, knowing that this warm winter cocktail was waiting for us at the finish line. Disclaimer: Limit one per week, especially if the gym is snowed in!

original photography for Apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // styling and art direction by Apartment 34 // original recipe created by Apartment 34