Sip On A Cup Of Decadent Hot Chocolate From One Of These 5 Hot Chocolate Shops In Illinois

Sometimes there's nothing like a cold snowy winter's day, sitting by the fireplace, hot cocoa in hand. It's a drink that can make just about anyone feel cozy and happy on the inside and bring up memories of childhood. There are many bakeries and chocolate shops around the state of Illinois that make extraordinary, decadent versions of this hot sweet sipping treat. Here are a few of those places.

1. Mindy's HotChocolate Bakery, Chicago

HotChocolate Bakery is located in Revival Food Hall. Its owner, Mindy Segal, is a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef, so you know you will find some tasty treats here. This bakery offers three flavors of the rich chocolatey beverage: Mexican, medium, and dark.

2. XO Marshmallow, Chicago

It's not surprising a place that's known for its gourmet marshmallows (try butterbeer, funfetti, or cookies and cream) also crafts some incredible hot chocolate. XO Marshmallow, the world's first marshmallow cafe, has some innovative takes on the hot beverage like lavender white cocoa topped with purple lavender honey marshmallows.

If the lavendar white cocoa doesn't entice you, try the limited edition tiramisu, or maybe a regular gourmet hot chocolate with funfetti marshmallows would suit you better.

3. All Chocolate Kitchen Store, Geneva

All Chocolate Kitchen Store is one place you can find the more artful take on hot chocolate, the Hot Chocolate Bomb! These beautifully crafted chocolate spheres are loaded with hot cocoa mix and marshmallows. Place one in a cup, pour hot steaming milk over top, and witness as the chocolate melts, releasing the marshmallows. Fun to watch, delicious to drink!

4. Graham's 318 Coffee House, Geneva

Although mainly a coffee house, Graham's 318 also has quite the gourmet hot chocolate menu. Aside from a choice of milk, dark, or white hot chocolate topped with housemade marshmallows, they also make a deliciously frosty Frozen Hot Chocolate!

5. Bombobar, Chicago

Hotter Chocolates are Bombobar's creative take on our favorite winter beverage. As if the chocolate drink wasn't enough, they went ahead and added some sweet treats as a topping! You can order one of their Hotter Chocolate creations or customize and build your own. If customizing, you will choose a base layer like chocolate, caramel chocolate, or apple cider; a filling such as chocolate, cheesecake, or PB&J; and then go ahead and choose three toppings. And if you thought you were done, you are wrong! The last item to choose is a topping for your Bombo, which is an Italian donut hole. So many choices but so good and will more than satisfy your sweet tooth.

Cold weather is much more enjoyable (and tolerable) when you can indulge in a cup of hot chocolate. What other hot chocolate shops would you add to this list?

For more information, please visit the websites of these shops that serve up decadent hot chocolate to get you through the winter:

Mindy's HotChocolate Bakery

XO Marshmallow

All Chocolate Kitchen Store

Graham's 318 Coffee House

Bombobar