12 Book and Hot Cocoa Pairings to Keep You Warm All Winter Long

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling and Butterbeer Hot Cocoa
Well, you knew that was coming, didn’t you? There are tons of butterbeer hot cocoa recipes and the combination of butterscotch chips and butterscotch sauce with warm chocolate is enough to make you feel like you’ve stumbled into Hogsmeade. Read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to taste the sweet town for the first time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione as you sip your butterbeer hot cocoa. Bonus points if you have a cauldron mug and your favorite Hogwarts house scarf around your neck. (Hufflepuff, obviously.)

A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett and Spiced Hot Cocoa
One of the best parts of A Little Princess is falling in love with India, and Sara’s stories. Bring India to life even more with a mug of spiced hot cocoa. There are many recipes for this, but if you have curry powder and cardamom, you’ve got the perfect ingredients to create an exotic, delicious hot cocoa. Sip it slowly and let Sara’s tales of India fill your entire home with warmth.

Cinnamon Baby, by Nicola Winstanley and Janice Nadeau and Cinnamon Hot Cocoa
Cinnamon is often forgotten when it comes to a hot cocoa bar, but reading Cinnamon Baby will make you want to shake the spice straight into your favorite hot chocolate. The story of Miriam’s cinnamon bread and all the connections it brings into her life is sweet enough, but with a dash of cinnamon in your hot chocolate, you will enjoy the story even more.

Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Christmas morning in Little House in the Big Woods leaves Laura, her sisters, and her cousins with sticks of peppermint candy in each of their stockings. What could be a better hot cocoa pairing? Grab some leftover candy canes or pick up a package of soft peppermint sticks to use as stirrers in your favorite hot chocolate recipe. If you appreciate more of an integrated taste, a dash of peppermint extract goes a long way, as do some crushed up peppermint candies.

Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White and Oreo Hot Chocolate
Mud, mud, and more mud. Wilbur is no stranger to mud, so pick up Charlotte’s Web with a cup of Oreo hot chocolate. Just crush up plenty of the cookies to make a muddy, dirty looking mug that’s also chocolatey-delicious.

Heidi, by Johanna Spyri and Classic Swiss Mix Hot Chocolate
Heidi is a classic tale of a little girl living with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps, so what goes better than a packet of the classic Swiss Mix hot chocolate? It tastes just like the Alps (So I assume) and I can only imagine that Heidi and her grandfather would give it a stamp of approval. (So would the mountain goats.)

The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats and Hot Cocoa with Extra Marshmallows
One of my favorite parts in The Snowy Day is when Peter watches the older kids throw snowballs and then saves one for himself in his coat pocket. Obviously, it doesn’t last, but snowballs aren’t supposed to; just like mini marshmallows. Grab your favorite hot cocoa and fill the mug with extra marshmallows to resemble the snowballs Peter loved (and lost). Watch them slowly melt like snow while giving you a creamy, yummy drink.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz and Espresso Hot Chocolate
When I have a bad day, the first thing I want is coffee. Poor Alexander, he probably feels the same way. In Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the kid could use a shot or two of espresso. I obviously don’t condone this for young kiddos (for your sake moreso than theirs), but an espresso hot chocolate just hits the spot when you’ve woken up with gum in your hair. You don’t even need to move to Australia when you have this cup.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg and Melted Candy Bar Hot Chocolate
Claudia loves to spend her money on sweets in From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, so why not take her obsession to a new level with melted candy bar hot chocolate? Make the richest, creamiest hot chocolate you can find and then throw in your favorite candies, as if they all melted into one mug. M&Ms, Kit Kat bars, even Sour Patch Kids and Skittles can give a fun, unique twist on a classic cup. Claudia would definitely approve.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, and Lois Ehlert and Coconut Hot Chocolate
Coconut and chocolate go together like . . . well. Like coconut and chocolate. Represent Chicka Chicka Boom Boom‘s coconut tree with a coconut hot chocolate. Whether you use coconut milk to make the drink or add shaved coconut or coconut extract to a traditional mug of hot chocolate, you’re sure to get a tropical twist on a favorite drink.

The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh, by A. A. Milne and Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate with Honey
You can’t forget Pooh’s love of honey when you read The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh, plus who could forget Tigger whipping up a peanut butter, marshmallow, and banana sandwich? Take peanut butter and honey and concoct a sweet, savory, nutty hot cocoa recipe. Your favorite Pooh characters would love it and, who knows, it could even help catch a Heffalump.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter and Hot Cocoa with Berries
Peter Rabbit is no stranger to adventure, but in The Tale of Peter Rabbit, his siblings are the good ones who pick blackberries and get to have berries for supper, while Peter almost gets eaten by Mr. McGregor. Take a page from the good bunnies’ book and make your favorite hot cocoa with the addition of your favorite berries, whether they’re raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries. Poor Peter won’t get a taste for being naughty, so you should probably have extra sips for him.