In a city filled with nonstop happy hours, it’s easy to prioritize Christmas cocktails over cocoas. During the week of National Cocoa Day, however, it’s time to change that. HungryLobbyist.com partnered with four made-in-DC sweet treats (as well as bottles of bourbon cream, straight bourbon and coconut rum) to bring you the magic of quasi-cocktail cocoa concoctions. ‘Tis the season to shop local, drink up and be merry!
Cookie Dough Cocoa (Topped Two Ways!)
When we made this cookie dough cocoa, the butter and brown sugar had us worried we wouldn’t fit into our Christmas pajamas. That’s why we’re glad Washington has A Better Batch cookies and Slender Seven cookie dough to make us feel a little healthier.
THL discovered A Better Batch at a D.C. VegFest preview and I’ve been obsessed ever since. A Better Batch’s vegan chocolate chip cookies – which taste just like regular cookies – are a terrific topper and dipper for your cookie dough cocoa. Soft, chewy, chocolatey – it’s everything we love about the holidays!
If you’re feeling a little doughier when it comes to your toppings, Slender Seven is for you. We ran into them at the Emporiyum and were blown away by their achievement of the seemingly impossible – scrumptious, healthy and eggless cookie dough. Made with seven all-natural ingredients, Slender’s choco-chick cookie dough (made with chick-peas!) gives you the taste of Tollhouse with far less guilt. Of course, the absolute best way to eat it is in the form of Choc-y the Doughman – duh.
After making the cookie dough cocoa, top with mini marshmallows, hot fudge sauce, crumbled cookies and holiday sprinkles. Also, since you’re being healthy with vegan cookies and eggless cookie dough, a splash of bourbon cream is well deserved.
Double Fudge Cocoa
If the chocolate chips in those toppings just aren’t cutting it, we’ve devised a solution for the insatiable chocolate lover. Instead of these flavors, opt for A Better Batch’s mocha oatmeal cookies and Slender Seven’s choco-fudge cookie dough (made with organic black beans!).
Start with this double fudge hot cocoa (made with chocolate pudding!) and top with a generous handful of mini mallows. Scoop the choco-fudge cookie dough onto a mocha oatmeal cookie, then top with another cookie. Place the cookie sandwich on the marshmallow layer and drizzle hot fudge and salted caramel sauce. Top it off with holiday sprinkles (and maybe spike the cocoa with bourbon, like I did) and ta-da! The most chocolatey hot cocoa in the history of cocoa.
Salted Caramel Cocoa
Even the most devout consumers of sweets sometimes need a pinch of salty. If you can relate, this salted caramel hot cocoa is the answer to your palate’s prayers. After making the cocoa (or just grabbing one of Shake Shack’s amazing salted caramel cocoas), top with mini mallows and drizzle with salted caramel sauce. I prefer mine with an extra salty kick and that’s why I love chocolate pretzel rods from The Capital Candy Jar. One of Wasington’s most beloved candy companies, TCC’s holiday canister comes with festive white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate dipped pretzel rods. Stick a few in your cocoa, crumble some pretzels on top and then slurp up that mug of sweet, salty and caramel-y goodness.
Cocoa-Nut (Coconut Hot Cocoa!)
Another recipe for lovers of salty and sweet, this has a cocoa-nutty kick from Royal Popcorn Factory’s Captain Choco-nut Popcorn – a kettle corn drizzled with chocolate and toasted coconut. Royal Popcorn is the salty division of Scoops 2 U, D.C.’s full service ice cream distributor and catering company. We love ice cream, but ‘tis the season for chocolaty toppings from local businesses like Royal Popcorn.
I recommend this coconut hot cocoa recipe, which uses coconut milk (and I added a splash of coconut rum, of course). Top with mini marshmallows and a handful of Captain Choco-Nut popcorn. Drizzle with hot fudge sauce and holiday sprinkles, then put the rest of the popcorn into a bowl and curl up with a Christmas movie. In my case, I curled up with my favorite Christmas book. If you keep your mug full of this cocoa, you’ll never have a Grinchy holiday moment.
Washington is lucky to have so many fantastic local products that are tasty, make great cocoa toppings and are perfect stocking stuffers. Everything can be ordered online and The Capital Candy Jar can be found at the Downtown Holiday Market. Whether it’s on National Cocoa Day, or any day this season, take full advantage of these made-in-DC goodies to celebrate your holiday the Washington way.
A Better Batch: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Order for Christmas
The Capital Candy Jar: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Order for Christmas
Royal Popcorn Factory: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Order for Christmas
Slender Seven: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Order for Christmas