Hot Cocoa Toppers You’ll Want to Try This Winter

I love a good cup of hot chocolate once the weather turns chilly—only trouble is, here in Mississippi, that doesn’t usually happen until well after Christmas! I couldn’t wait any longer though, so I went ahead and stocked up on some fun hot cocoa toppers I found at Walmart, along with a jar of Salted Caramel Sugar I discovered at the Piggly Wiggly. Between the peppermint sprinkles, salted caramel, and French vanilla chocolate mix-ins, my kitchen feels a little more like winter already—and I’m not one bit sorry about it.

No Fancy Rules Here

I’m no hot cocoa purist — I go for convenience! But I do like to top mine off with a swirl of whipped cream, a handful of miniature marshmallows, and one of these tasty decorative toppers. And if it’s really cold, I’m not opposed to a dash of Fireball or a splash of Peppermint Schnapps. 😉

So what’s the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate, anyway?

Hot Chocolate or Hot Cocoa?

Turns out, there really is a difference between the two! Hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder, sugar, and milk — it’s lighter and a little sweeter. Hot chocolate, on the other hand, is made by melting real chocolate into warm milk, so it’s richer and creamier. Most of what we call hot chocolate these days is really cocoa, but honestly, I’ll answer to either one if there’s whipped cream involved. ☕️😉

Sweet Finds at Walmart

I couldn’t resist picking up a few of these Hot Cocoa Toppers at Walmart — they just looked too fun sitting there on the shelf! There were several varieties, but I went with Peppermint, Salted Caramel, and French Vanilla & Chocolate. Each one adds a little something special to an ordinary cup of cocoa. A light sprinkle on top of whipped cream, and suddenly it feels like something you’d order at a coffee shop — only cozier, because you’re still in your pajamas. ☕️💗

And while I was at it, I couldn’t pass up a jar of Salted Caramel Sugar I spotted at the Piggly Wiggly — it’s the perfect finishing touch for that sweet-salty flavor I love. 🍬

How I Make My Hot Cocoa

I’ll be honest — my hot cocoa starts with a packet. Either sugar-free Swiss Miss or sugar-free Best Choice, depending on what’s in the pantry. I love the convenience of using a K-cup, but those are harder to find, so I just get my 8 ounces of hot water from the Keurig and stir in a packet.

And honestly, I don’t know why I even bother saving a few calories with the sugar-free mix when I top it off with marshmallows, whipped cream, and a generous sprinkle of hot cocoa toppers. 😅

A Few Extra Touches

Sometimes I’ll stick a little peppermint candy cane in my mug and use it as a stir stick — it melts just enough to give the cocoa a minty kick. And on a recent Dollar Tree trip, I even found a pack of peppermint candy spoons that are almost too cute to use! It’s the little things like that that make an ordinary cup of cocoa feel just a little more special. ❤️☕️

My Kitchen Drive-Thru 😂

You’ll always find my little hot cocoa—hot chocolate—whatever you want to call it—bar tucked in a corner of the kitchen. When the grandchildren drop by, they usually want a “cup to go,” so I keep hot cups with lids ready to serve. Honestly, I don’t know why we didn’t just put a drive-through window on the house. ☕️😂

And of course, hot cocoa is the perfect beverage to enjoy with my Peppermint Popcorn with Dehydrated Marshmallows — you can find that recipe below. 🍿☕️

Peppermint Popcorn with Dehydrated Marshmallows