A good cup of hot chocolate might conjure up nostalgic childhood memories of sledding on a snowy holiday or warming up after an epic snowball fight. But many chocolatiers and bakeries across the Valley are now creating outrageous cocoa concoctions that are so good that it is worth a trip to make some new memories. Take the storied butterscotch hot chocolate at the Last Chance Cheese & Antiques Café in Tannersville. Skiiers from nearby Hunter and Windham mountains continue to clamor for this $8 cup of cacao that doubles as a cocktail since its secret is just the right amount of butterscotch schnapps. “It’s very sweet, so it makes a nice dessert after your meal,” says Manager Michael Thorpe. International editions are also popping up everywhere, from spicy Mexican hot chocolate to the over-the-top creaminess of Belgian hot chocolate.
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So, whether you enjoy sipping slowly in a café with your darling or curling up on the couch with your favorite mug and a good book, one of these purveyors of quality cocoa can meet your need for a chocolate fix.
Twisted Soul Food Concepts, Poughkeepsie
Gotta try: Mexican hot chocolate
Key ingredients: La Abuelita Mexican chocolate and steamed milk
Tastes like: Creamy cocoa with a hot-cinnamon kick (think: Red Hots candies)
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Last Chance Cheese & Antiques Café, Tannersville
Gotta try: Butterscotch hot chocolate
Key ingredient: Butterscotch schnapps
Tastes like: Sweet but not overbearing; perfect for dessert
2 Alices Coffee Lounge, Cornwall-on-Hudson
Gotta try: Mexican hot chocolate
Key ingredients: Fudge, cinnamon, vanilla, and ginger flavors
Tastes like: Light and frothy; ginger leaves a lingering tingle
Godiva Chocolatier at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, Central Valley
Gotta try: Godiva hot cocoa
Key ingredients: Cocoa powder and melted pieces of 72 percent dark chocolate
Tastes like: Rich and velvety, it’s as decadent as the brand’s truffles
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The Alternative Baker, Rosendale
Gotta try: Belgian hot chocolate
Key ingredient: Chocolate ganache
Tastes like: Thick, rich, and buttery, it’s like a melted milkshake
Lucky Chocolates, Saugerties
Gotta try: European liquid truffle hot chocolate with whipped cream
Key ingredients: 70 percent, organic and fair-trade chocolate from Ecuador; and fresh cream
Tastes like: Sweet melted chocolate balanced by floating bits of bitter cocoa
