I’ll admit it: I’m a proud hot chocolate fanatic. Every year, I stock up on as many unique mixes and ingredients as I can get my hands on. Flavored marshmallows? Yes, please! But who can blame me? Making hot chocolate is an art, and the quest to craft the perfect cup is all too rewarding. There’s always the great debate: water or milk? Throw in a smattering of flavored cocoa mixes and limitless add-ins—cinnamon powder and strawberry flavoring are my favorites—and you’ve entered a new world of gourmet holiday treats. Where does a budding cocoa connoisseur begin?

To help, I’ve brought you only the most delicious and festive hot chocolate recipes on the web, ranging in difficulty from delightfully simple to decadently complex. Need a little pick-me-up during finals week? Snuggled up with friends and family to watch Elf for the zillionth time? Itching to release your inner gourmet chef? This list is sure to please a variety of palettes. Enjoy.

1. Italian Hot Chocolate

Made with chunks of dark chocolate, milk, and little else, this cocoa is fairly simple to make. Frothy enough on its own, it doesn’t need help from any extra ingredients. My ancestors would be proud. Find the recipe here.

2. Gingerbread Hot Chocolate

Don’t let the sheer amount of ingredients discourage you. The preparation time is short, and all the spices will blend together nicely at the end. With just a touch of honey to balance out the spiciness, it is as sweet as the cookie itself. Find the recipe here.

3. Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

For this one, you have the option of using either creamy or powdered peanut butter. Either is guaranteed to taste delicious. Try adding chocolate shavings on top! Find the recipe here.

4. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

This cocoa has a twist—it’s vegan-friendly and low in fat! Boasting a relatively short preparation time as well, this is a good treat to make in large batches. Find the recipe here.

5. Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate

I’m seriously in love with this recipe. Each cup contains three entire Oreo cookies, not including the garnishes. If you’re feeling brave, you could add a bit of mint flavoring for an extra creamy taste. Find the recipe here.

6. Strawberry White Hot Chocolate

If you’re looking for the cutest cup of cocoa on this list,

this is it! I just can’t get over the pink sugar sparkles. For even more

sweetness, try mixing in a splash of chocolate syrup. Find the recipe here.

7. Red Velvet Hot Chocolate

Up for a challenge? Try your hand at making red velvet

cocoa, complete with a cream cheese topping. Be aware that while you can

certainly buy a flavored mix, the genuine homemade kind will be infinitely much

better. Find the recipe here.

8. Crème Brulee White Hot Chocolate

Here is the crème-de-la-crème of hot chocolate recipes.

Requiring unusual ingredients such as vanilla bean paste and lemon juice, it is

designed for experts. It will take some patience to make, since the preparation

time is 30 minutes, but I guarantee that the end result will be so worth it. Find the recipe

here.