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This Cinnamon Bun White Hot Chocolate is an unbelievable mix of white chocolate, lots of cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, candied pecans, whipped cream, and if you are feeling a little crazy – caramel drizzle! Yes, please!
I think I dreamed this cinnamon bun hot chocolate. I woke up one morning with the idea fully formed in my head. Was it divine inspiration? Crazy pregnancy cravings? My crafty husband whispering delicious things in my sleeping ear to plant them in my subconscious?*
*For the curious among you, Jason actually does talk in his sleep quite a bit, but it is usually either:
a) indecipherable
b) unbelievably boring and mundane and/or
c) about politics. (I wish I was kidding.)
I don’t know where this drink came from, but I’m so glad it’s here.
Never fear—no actual cinnamon buns were harmed in the making of this white hot chocolate. (Buns in beverages? That’s just crazy. What’s next, doughnuts in hot chocolate?!) What IS involved, however, is white chocolate, LOTS of cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, candied pecans, whipped cream, and if you’re extra crazy, a caramel drizzle. Diabetes medication not included.
This drink sounds deadly, and it’s definitely not an every day indulgence, but it’s not as heavy as you might think. It has a pretty low chocolate-to-milk ratio, and uses only milk (instead of cream or half and half) so it’s a bit more like drinking gussied-up milk than a thick, rich sipping chocolate.
The overwhelming flavor is cinnamon, with a nice vanilla undertone and a caramelized flavor from the brown sugar. It’s a fun change from regular hot chocolate, and if you happen to eat it with a cinnamon bun on the side, I won’t judge. It’s a pretty dreamy combination.
Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding
Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies
Cinnamon Bun White Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cinnamon sticks, coarsely broken
- 4 ounces white chocolate, good-quality, chopped
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, or vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional garnishes:
- 2 tablespoons lightly whipped cream
- 2 tablespoons toasted pecans or candied pecans, chopped
- 1 tablespoon caramel sauce
Instructions
- Combine the milk and the broken cinnamon sticks in a saucepan and bring the milk to a simmer. Once simmering, remove the pan from the heat, cover it with a lid, and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to infuse the milk with cinnamon flavor.
- After 30 minutes, remove the cinnamon sticks and return the saucepan of milk to medium heat. Add the chopped white chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla bean paste, salt, and ground cinnamon. Heat, whisking frequently, until the milk is hot and the white chocolate is completely melted.
- Pour into two mugs to serve. Garnish with your choice of whipped cream, additional cinnamon, toasted or candied pecans, or a drizzle of caramel sauce. (Or all of the above!)
MEASURING TIPS
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Click here to learn more about baking measurements and conversion.Nutrition
GET MORE HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPES
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OMG how rich and decadent! I must have!!
Yum! It’s supposed to be cold the first part of this week so I’m trying this!
This is a fantastic drink! As soon as I have a cheat day-I’m sooooo making this! It looks rich and truly soul warming!
Wow! So amazing!
I made these today and they tasted DIVINE! Must have it again! 😀
Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Awesome, I’m so glad you liked it!
It looks absolutely DELICIOUS!!!! I will try it very soon.
this looks amazing! I never make white hot chocolate but will definitely try this..maybe sprinkle a little chile pepper too.
This. Looks. So. Good. I cannot wait to purchase some white chocolate so I can enjoy this. Looks like I’ll have to get some girls over to share – as in, it’s too good to keep to myself. Wow.
This looks great. I saw the photo on Pinterest but it took me to another website.
I think someone took your pic and linked it to the wrong page. Lame since your watermark is clearly on it.
Love this site though. Glad I found you.
This is AMAZING! Just shared it on my FB page – I seriously love it and have made it twice this week!! Thanks for an awesome recipe 🙂
Thank you Christina! So glad you like it–it’s a huge favorite around my house too. Cheers!
Do we know the nutritional value for this? It looks so tasttyyy.
Hi Becca,
Off the top of my head, I would guess around 400 cal/serving, if whole milk was used and the toppings aren’t too extravagant. (a squirt of whipped cream, not a giant tower of cream, for instance.) Definitely on the high side, so you could either use a lower-calorie milk, or cut the serving size into 3 or 4 to reduce calories.
Thanks for visiting!
Right now, I am really craving to taste that! Yum.
We made this tonight and it was fantastic!!!! We doubled the recipe (for our family of 4). So easy and so delicious!
Thanks Jen! I’m so glad your family loved it!