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NYC's 5 Best Hot Chocolates For Winter 2015

It's that time of the year when a nice cup of hot chocolate sounds delightful. Here are five places that are serving up everything from classic chocolate to exotic spicy flavors. By Carly Petrone.

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Hug Mug Max Brenner
(credit: Max Brenner)

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You can thank Max Brenner for creating a mug designed specifically for sipping hot chocolate. Wrap both hands around his "Hug Mug" and take in the fragrance of delicious flavors like Mexican Spicy Hot Chocolate (with red chili, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper), Peanut Butter (hot milk chocolate with creamy peanut butter milk infusion), or Italian Thick (thick hot chocolate with vanilla cream). Sip on other yummy flavors like Marshmallow, Hazelnut, Mocha, and Swiss Whipped. Of course there's always the Classic Chocolate if you're just craving the good old fashioned kind. Pair it with one of their Crepe Brulees or Sugar Waffles and you'll definitely get your sugar fix for the day.

City Bakery
(credit: Siobhan Wallace/BlondieandBrownie.com)

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Make sure to check out City Bakery this February because their annual Hot Chocolate Festival will be in full swing. But be warned: these little cups are basically like sipping melted chocolate so prepared to only take in a few sips before a complete sugar overload. Every year, this bakery comes up with crazy flavors like Beer (Porter), Bourbon, and Ginger. They even come up with their own creations like "Ode to the Polar Bear," "Love Potion" (on Valentine's Day), and "Sunken Treasure." Make sure to keep an eye out for their festival menu to hit their website or stop in and be surprised. Add one of their large marshmallows for an extra $1 and feel like a kid again.

Hot Chocolate Dominique Ansel Bakery
(credit: Dominique Ansel Bakery)

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You shouldn't be too shocked to learn that the man behind the cronut (and cookie shots!) has also come up with a frothy hot chocolate not to be missed. Make sure to stop in for a cup of Chef's Hot Chocolate ($4.25/sm, $4.75/lg). This piping hot drink is made with Valrhona dark chocolate and topped with a frosty chocolate foam that you'll want to scoop up with a spoon (if there's any left at the bottom of your cup). It's also pretty hard to pass up a flaky DKA (Dominique's Kouign Amann) – a tender croissant-like dough with a caramelized crunchy crust – it pairs perfectly with this milky warm concoction. Cheers!

Forbidden Broadway Sundae, Serendipity 3
(credit: Serendipity 3 Facebook)

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You may be familiar with Serendipity 3's famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolates (and yes, they're delicious) but did you know that their hot version is just as decadent? Thanks to all the toppings involved, The Serendipitous Hot Chocolate is worth the $6 price tag. It comes with a whipped cream topping, grated valley orange, cinnamon, and shaved French chocolate. Yum! If you're looking for a little caffeine fix, order the Mochaccino – made with their own brew of rich chocolate and aromatic espresso – with a topsy turvey whipped cream pear. You can thank us later.

Aztec Hot Chocoalte MarieBelle
(credit: MarieBelle)

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It's worth the trip to Soho for a cup of hot chocolate from MarieBelle's Cacao Bar. Guests can enjoy the quiet space and cozy salon and escape the city for a few minutes. Take in the beautiful antique interior and sip on an Iced Aztec Chocolate or Iced Spicy Chocolate, if you're in the mood for something on the cooler side. Their White Hot Chocolate is a great option if you're looking for something sweet and spicy – choose from white hot chocolate with either cinnamon stick and nutmeg or Tahitian vanilla. Milk Chocolate lovers can enjoy flavors like Milk Hot Chooclate with cinnamon stick and nutmeg, freshly ground hazelnuts, and natural banana pulp. Take a seat underneath their glittering crystal lights and feel like you're in the middle of Paris or Vienna at this adorable chocolate shop.

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Carly Petrone is a freelance writer living in New York City.

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