Vermont’s first Hot Chocolate Week is February 1st - 7th, 2021!
Check out the list below for some fun ways to enjoy Vermont hot chocolate this winter! Whip up a mug at home using a new recipe featured here or go on an outing to discover unique flavors at participating businesses. Meet the cows at the featured dairy farms, enjoy a boozy hot chocolate using local spirits, sweeten your mug with Vermont maple, add a scoop of your favorite ice cream, enjoy a mug after a snowy adventure, and more!
Don’t forget to snap a photo and participate in the PHOTO CONTEST for a chance to win prizes!
On to the Hot Chocolate!
Ben & Jerry’s, Waterbury & Burlington
Menu specials
Did you know that Ben & Jerry’s steams a little bit of ice cream into each hot chocolate order? Your hot chocolate can be flavored with your favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! Hot chocolate is served at both their Burlington and Waterbury locations. Or, purchase your favorite ice cream flavor and make it at home! See this blog post for ideas.
Billings Farm, Woodstock
Recipe video & on-site hot chocolate
Billings Farm in Woodstock is featuring a do-it-yourself recipe. Make this delicious hot beverage from home, or visit the farm over the weekend. The farm is open to visitors Saturday, February 6th and Sunday, February 7th. View Chef Emery’s video demonstration in their Learning Kitchen featuring Billings Farm milk bottled at Norwich Farm Creamery.
Purchase a hot chocolate to enjoy on-site!
Butternut Mountain Farm, Morristown
Recipe
Try this “sweet winter warmer” maple hot chocolate recipe from Butternut Mountain Farm, a family owned maple syrup company, with their pure maple syrup and cinnamon. Make it at home!
Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Waitsfield
Special offer
Cabot Creamery is a dairy cooperative that produces cheese, butter, dips, yogurt, cottage cheese, and whipped cream. For Hot Chocolate Week, they are partnering with Lake Champlain Chocolates for a special offer: purchase a tin of Lake Champlain Chocolates hot chocolate in one of their three stores, and receive a coupon for a free canister of Cabot Whipped Cream to complete your hot chocolate creation.
Cedar Mountain Farm, Hartland
Social media storytelling
Cedar Mountain Farm is a dairy and vegetable farm in Hartland. Meet their cow named Whipped Cream in this video during Hot Chocolate Week and learn more about their farm here.
Pictured: Billings Farm with Norwich Farm Creamery, Cedar Mountain Farm, Fat Toad Farm
City Market, Burlington
Recipe video
Hot chocolate spoons are a great way to get creative in the kitchen and make something you can warm up with after playing in the snow. There’s something magical about watching hot milk turn into hot cocoa as you stir—make sure you use local milk for an extra-special treat! This is a great activity to do with kids, and easily customizable. Try with white, milk, and dark chocolates, experiment with stirring in some peanut butter powder for PB hot cocoa, or add a little cinnamon and cayenne for a spicy kick. View the how-to video and recipe here!
Fat Toad Farm, Brookfield
Recipes & hot chocolate kit
Fat Toad Farm makes goat's milk caramel sauces based on the Mexican confection, cajeta; they are meticulously hand-stirred to velvety perfection in traditional copper kettles over the course of 5 hours. See one of their favorite recipes with Cinnamon Caramel Sauce (or any flavor!). They are also featuring their Drinking Chocolate Kit - it will warm you up on the coldest of winter nights. "This decadent combo of our Spicy Dark Chocolate and Cinnamon Goat's Milk Caramel Sauces and Taza Stone Ground Chocolate come together to create the best drinking chocolate you have ever tasted. We hope you enjoy!"
Frog Hollow Farm, Hubbardton
Menu specials & winter hiking
Frog Hollow Farm is celebrating Hot Chocolate Week in three different ways!
- Try their featured dessert: Hot Chocolate Milk Cake with Marshmallow Ganache featuring Vermont dairy, available in their farmstand and at the farmers markets during the week (Rutland's online and indoor markets).
- Purchase their Hot Chocolate Bar in a Box: featuring in-house marshmallows, vanilla, maple, and a mini marshmallow mix of vanilla, chocolate, and peppermint. Plus, Fat Toad Farm Caramel, Laughing Moon Chocolates, and MOCO Hot Chocolate Mix. This box is available online, in their farmstand, and at the farmers markets.
- Visit the farm and take a winter hike or snowshoe! The trail throughout their farm will be open Monday - Saturday, 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Hot chocolate and their mini marshmallows will be served in their farmstand. Saturday, the 6th, there will be a special bonfire (weather dependent) to warm up before or after trail use; hot chocolate and mini marshmallows will be served. Masks and social distancing are required; reservations preferred.
Garden Atrium Cafe at University Medical Center, Burlington*
Menu specials
University Medical Center staff can stop by the Garden Atrium cafe for various flavors of hot chocolate to celebrate Hot Chocolate Week. Choose between “kit kat” hot chocolate, peanut butter hot chocolate, or peppermint hot chocolate, each paired with a pastry, caramel hot chocolate paired with Red Kite caramel candy, or a hot chocolate float. *This is only for folks in the University Medical Center building.
Pictured: Lake Champlain Chocolates, Kestrel Coffee Roasters' hot chocolate, Liberty Hill Farm (Jess Sipe, Bilder Photography)
Kestrel Coffee Roasters, Burlington
Menu special
Kestrel Coffee Roasters sources and roasts specialty coffees from all over the world, focusing on single origin coffees and bringing a high quality coffee experience to Burlington, VT and beyond. From your first visit (or sip!), you’ll understand their enthusiasm, care, and attention to detail. Kestrel's cafes not only feature great coffee, but all sorts of delicious homemade sweets and treats. Their drink syrups, like caramel and vanilla, are all made in house, with seasonal syrups coming and going throughout the year.
Their hot cocoa is made with their homemade chocolate syrup and steamed milk from Monument Farms. Be sure to stop in during Hot Chocolate Week where any hot cocoa purchase will give you a voucher for one free drink (up to $5 value) on a future visit.
King Arthur Baking Company, Norwich
Menu specials
Stop by the cafe in Norwich and warm up! Enjoy their special hot chocolate made with rich chocolate sauce from the bakery, McNamara milk and whipped cream, and topped off with a homemade marshmallow. Receive a free chocolate cookie with each hot chocolate at the cafe.
Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington & Waterbury
Menu specials
Peruse the cafe menu and stop in for a gourmet hot chocolate at one of their 3 locations: Pine St and Church St in Burlington, or Route 100 in Waterbury. Three new menu items are available during Hot Chocolate Week! Pick up hot chocolate bombs to use at home and try the limited-edition Raspberry Hot Chocolate or Dark Hot Chocolate in the cafes.
Lake Champlain Chocolates is also collaborating with the following:
Cabot Creamery Cooperative: purchase a tin of Lake Champlain Chocolates hot chocolate in one of their three stores, and receive a coupon for a free canister of Cabot Whipped Cream to complete your hot chocolate creation.
Mad River Distillers: pick up a boozy hot chocolate kit, complete with Lake Champlain Chocolates’ marshmallows and hot chocolate mix.
Shelburne Orchards: pick up a Dead Bird Brandy and make their recipe at home with Lake Champlain Chocolates’ hot cocoa.
Check out their tips for making the best hot chocolate and hot chocolate bar ideas & toppings.
Liberty Hill Farm, Rochester
Social media storytelling
Follow along on social media during Hot Chocolate Week for photos and videos on the dairy farm.
Mad River Distillers, Burlington
Menu specials
Warm up this winter with a Boozy Hot Chocolate Kit from Mad River Distillers! Enjoy their spirits paired with Lake Champlain Chocolates Hot Chocolate in a warm cocktail, or try out their Toast of Manhattan cocktail recipe in a sundae! Available with their Vanilla Rum made with Fair Trade cane sugar and Tahitian vanilla beans, or their Revolution Rye Whiskey made from local grains from the Northeast. It's available at their Burlington Tasting Room Wednesday - Sunday; 12:00pm - 6:00pm.
Mad River Taste Place, Waitsfield
"Hot Chocolate Bundle"
Mad River Taste Place in Waitsfield has put together a "hot chocolate bundle." Pick and choose your items from this list: Silly Cow Farms Hot Cocoa Mix - assorted flavors, Mad River Distillers Vanilla Rum, Apotheker's Vanilla or Chocolate Topped Vanilla Marshmallows, ceramic mug by Luke Iannuzzi Pottery.
Michael’s on the Hill, Waterbury
"Serious Hot Chocolate Kit"
Michael’s on the Hill is offering a takeout "Serious Hot Chocolate Kit" that includes dark chocolate ganache for hot chocolate, double chocolate cookie dough for baking, a fantastic hot chocolate spice blend, vanilla cream, chocolate shavings, instructions, and some nice add-on boozy options. It's $42 for the to-go kit (for 8 people), and add Bailey’s, Godiva, or Kahlua for $6/nip. Please plan ahead and give 48 hours notice for your order.
MOCO - My Organic Coco, Norwich
Samples & recipe
Handcrafted with your health and wellness in mind, MOCO is a nutrient-dense hot cocoa made with superfoods: cacao and maca. Low in sugar, no dairy, no gluten, no junk...no kidding! Sample some MOCO at the Upper Valley Food Co-op, February 1st - 5th! Try this MOCO recipe for chocolate covered almonds.
Pictured: MOCO, Mad River Distillers, Michael's on the Hill
Morse Block Deli, Barre
Menu special & recipe
Their Hot Chocolate Kits come with their super-rich mix, a housemade maple marshmallow, and instructions to craft a most decadent cup of hot cocoa. "We recommend Rogers Farmstead cream-top whole milk to make this recipe!" Or follow these recipes created by Chef Stefano to make your own hot chocolate mix, maple marshmallows, and hot chocolate cookies at home!
Norwich Farm Creamery, Norwich
Visit for hot cocoa
Friday at Dan & Whit's: To celebrate Hot Chocolate Week, Norwich Farm Foundation and Norwich Farm Creamery will be hosting a Hot Chocolate station at Dan and Whit’s in Norwich, Friday Feb 5th from 12:00pm - 5:00pm. All proceeds benefit Norwich Farm Foundation in their efforts to save Norwich Farm.
Saturday & Sunday at the farm: The self-serve hot cocoa station is open weekends from 9:00am - 5:00pm at the Norwich farm store. Made from local milk from the Jerseys at Billings Farm, the hot chocolate is $3 a cup and $2 per refill, including marshmallows. The recipe includes non-GMO cocoa, organic sugar, and a little sea salt.
Odyssey Events, Bridgewater
Recipe & video
Make the spiced mint hot chocolate with lime zest recipe listed here and meet Chef Ted and Linda in their cozy hot chocolate video.
Putney Mountain Winery, Putney
Recipes
Make either the adult hot chocolate recipe or the hot chocolate delight cocktail at home, using Putney Mountain Simply Chocolate Liqueur!
Pictured: Putney Mountain Winery, Red Hen Baking Co.
Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft Co., Montpelier
Free cocoa with any purchase & special offer
At their Montpelier store, Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft Co is offering free hot cocoa in any size with any purchase during Hot Chocolate Week. Plus, take advantage of their 20% off sale on 1-lb pouches of bulk chocolate.
They say, “We recommend making hot chocolate with pure chocolate, (rather than cocoa powder,) for a creamier, more full-bodied cup. So we're putting this special on pouches of cocoa in encouragement that folks will mix these chocolate dollops straight in with milk and create a new, European-style hot cocoa tradition for themselves at home!”
Red Hen Baking Co., Middlesex
Menu Special
Stop by Red Hen Baking in Middlesex. They are featuring a hot chocolate special: peppermint mocha or peppermint hot cocoa with or without whipped cream and sprinkles of peppermint candy.
Robie Farm, Piermont, NH
Free cocoa at the farm store
Robie Farm is a 6th generation dairy farm on the banks of the Connecticut River in Piermont, NH. Their farm store is stocked with their bottled raw milk & cream, farmstead cheeses, meat, poultry, and other local products. Sip on some free delicious hot chocolate in their farm store this week! Open Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 7:00pm and Sunday afternoon, 12:00pm - 7:00pm.
Sandiwood Farm, Wolcott
Visit for hot cocoa and winter fun
Sandiwood Farm will be open over the weekend, February 6th & 7th. Sip on some hot chocolate in their beautiful agritourism greenhouse! Visit their farm that weekend for a bonfire outside and trail use for skiing, snowshoeing, or fat biking around the farm and through their sugarbush. They have 80 acres and try to keep the trails tracked. No cost for cocoa and trail use. Reusable mugs are encouraged!
Pictured: Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft Co., Shelburne Farms
Shelburne Farms, Shelburne
Recipes
Shelburne Farms is featuring two recipes: Maple Hot Chocolate and Maple Marshmallows. Did you know that you can make your own evaporated milk? “It’s essentially milk that is gently heated and reduced by half, creating a much creamier liquid,” explains Shelburne Farms Chef Veronica Bartolacci. By making your own, you can support your local food system and enjoy a rich cup of hot chocolate! Top it off with your own marshmallows. Both recipes here.
Shelburne Orchards, Shelburne
Recipe
Shelburne Orchards is featuring a make-at-home recipe in collaboration with Lake Champlain Chocolates. The recipe, Salted Caramel & Brandy Hot Chocolate, uses their Dead Bird Brandy, sold online and picked up at the orchard. Plan ahead for two weekly curbside pick up times: Friday evenings 5:00pm - 5:30pm and Saturday mornings 10:00am - 10:30am.
Skinny Pancake, Burlington, Quechee, Stowe
Menu specials
Three Skinny Pancake locations are participating in Hot Chocolate Week with delicious specials! The Quechee restaurant is featuring cinnamon hot chocolate with whipped cream. Stop in downtown Stowe for peppermint hot cocoa with whipped cream. Visit the Burlington location for a selection of boozy hot chocolates, including a spicy one with jalapeño tequila, mole bitters, and their hot cocoa.
Snow Farm Vineyards, South Hero
Tasting room special & recipe
Snow Farm’s tasting room in South Hero is open on the weekends, Saturdays and Sundays 11:00am - 4:00pm. They recommend making their Red Wine Hot Chocolate, the ultimate cold weather drink - wine and hot chocolate together. Their Baco Noir wine hints of black cherry and blends so smoothly with the chocolate. Snow Farm Vineyard red wine hot chocolate goes nicely with apres ski snacks like Vermont maple cream dip and biscuits or VT cheese fondue. “This red wine hot chocolate is a must try!”
Pictured: Skinny Pancake, Snow Farm Vineyards, Shelburne Orchards
Summit Maple Farm, Fairfax
Featured products & recipes
Summit Maple Farm is featuring several infused maple syrups that pair well with hot chocolate. “We particularly love the cinnamon, hot chili pepper, and we have a sweet cinnamon, which is reminiscent of the “red hot” Valentine’s candies.” Check their website for special product offers and follow their social media for their highlighted recipes.
Sunday Bell Farm, Danville
Special offer & follow along social media
Sunday Bell Farm is a small raw milk dairy in Danville. They have the following promotion going on in their farm store (open dawn to dark): receive free homemade hot cocoa powder (8 oz) with every gallon of milk purchased. Meet the farmers, Kylie and Sam, with their cow, Hollywood, in this video during milking time!
Sweetwaters American Bistro, Burlington
Menu specials
Sweetwaters American Bistro in Burlington has a Hot Chocolate Bar! Guests are given a choice of the following two options. Choose the 6-hour Crock Pot Hot Chocolate or Mayan Cinnamon Cayenne Hot Chocolate. Pick your add-ons: whipped cream, house-made marshmallows, oreo cookie crumbles, crushed peppermint candy, salted caramel sauce, shaved dark chocolate, and/or toasted coconut. Boozy add-ons are $5 each: Baileys Irish Cream, Peppermint Schnapps, Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur, Tequila, Raspberry Liqueur, Vanilla Vodka, or Malibu Coconut Rum. Drinks can be enjoyed on the premises or to-go.
The Essex Resort & Spa, Essex
Menu specials
The Essex Resort & Spa in Essex is featuring a housemade spiced dark hot chocolate in their Lobby Café. Choice of toppings include: whipped cream, crushed peppermints, shaved dark chocolate, mini marshmallows, and/or mini fudge cubes. Also check The Tavern and Junction restaurants for daily specials!
Pictured: Summit Maple Farm, The Scoop & Archie's Grill, The Lodge at Spruce Peak
The Lodge at Spruce Peak, Stowe
Menu specials
Visit Spruce Peak in Stowe for winter beauty and adventure. Reserve a Mansfield Terrace Après Igloo and enjoy the gourmet hot cocoa options:
- “S’mores” - A twist on the classic, this hot cocoa combines swirls of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker crumble. It is garnished with a chocolate chip cookie dipped in ganache with graham sprinkle, and torched marshmallow.
- “Peppermint Delight” - Hot cocoa is enhanced with vanilla and chocolate Sauce, swirled crushed peppermint patties, garnished with chocolate dipped pretzel rod and crushed candy cane bits, chocolate shavings, and mini marshmallows.
- “Donut Let me Go” - Hot chocolate combined with salted Caramel, towers of vanilla bean whipped cream, sprinkles, Oreo crumbles, mini M&Ms, and of course, a sweet mini donut to top it all off!
The Scoop & Archie’s Grill, Shelburne
Menu specials
At The Scoop in Shelburne, order a hot chocolate float or milkshake. The flavors include the following for $6 each.
- Hot Chocolate Float: rich dark fudge sauce with Monument Farms Chocolate Milk finished with a scoop of their homemade vanilla ice cream and soft homemade marshmallows.
- Hot White Chocolate Float: creamy white chocolate fudge sauce, milk and finished with a scoop of chocolate ice cream and soft homemade marshmallows.
- Hot Chocolate Milkshake: made with their seasonal hot chocolate ice cream, decadent fudge swirl, homemade marshmallows and all made with Monument Farms milk.
Upper Valley Food Coop, White River Junction
Menu special and cocoa samples
Stop by the UVFC in White River Junction. In celebration of Vermont Hot Chocolate Week, their deli will be serving up delicious Hot Chocolate Muffins! Like all their muffins, these are made in-house, and will include a gluten-free variety. They have hot milk ready to mix with individual packets of MOCO Hot Coco, which is organic and made in Vermont! Choose from Classic, Mexican, or Peppermint.
UVM Campus Perk, Burlington*
Menu specials
Students and staff on the UVM Burlington campus can find a yummy hot chocolate special for the week at the Campus Perk: Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, featuring house made caramel sauce and marshmallows! *Students and staff only.
Vermont Hot Chocolate Week is funded through a 2020 Vermont Breakfast on the Farm grant awarded to Vermont Fresh Network to promote Vermont dairy and engage local businesses and the public.
