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NOM NOM CITY — Orange and yellow leaves may mean Halloween and scenic drives, but more deliciously it means hot cocoa on a chilly fall night.
This chocolatey treat was at one time literally liquid gold: ancient Mayans used the cocoa bean as currency. While still revered and valued by many, chocolate is a common treat in many forms. If you’ve got a craving for something hot and chocolatey, we’ve got some recommendations for you.
Made with solid dark, milk or vegan chocolate, this smooth hot chocolate is rich. Like, drinking a melted chocolate bar with a swig of milk rich. This thick hot chocolate is best shared, especially if you decide to add some chocolates or chocolate-covered blueberries or raspberries to your plate.
376 8th Avenue, Suite A, Salt Lake City
801-532-4912
With a name like Decadence, you would expect its hot chocolate-making process to be elaborate.
Espresso-style Crio Brü is the cafe’s specialty. The beverage contains no coffee beans, rather, cocoa beans are roasted like coffee and brewed. If you’re expecting a sweet treat, you will want to add some honey or sweetener, as it has no added sugar and is only slightly sweeter than black coffee.
A nod to the Mayans, customers can try Crio Brü with notes of cinnamon, ground vanilla and cayenne or enjoy a local favorite, caramel and cherry. Whatever you try, non-coffee drinkers should expect to step outside their comfort zone.
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Mom packed sandwiches in your school lunches because she understood this eternal truth: Sandwiches are really, really good.*584 W. 1600 North, Orem*801-226-4455
Les Madeleines’ hot chocolate is so fancy I had to look up the pronunciation of the brand of chocolate they use. Valrhona chocolate was created in 1922 by a pastry chef and the company now grows, selects, manufactures and ships its chocolate around the world. With quality ingredients, it’s no wonder this hot chocolate is delicious.
But this is a pastry shop, and you should get the Kouing-aman — salted-caramel flavored puff pastries — to eat with your hot chocolate. Is that probably too much sugar for one day? Probably. Will it be delicious? Absolutely.
216 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City
801-355-2294
A Utah classic, Salt Lake Roasting Company has something to satiate your sweet tooth on any level and hot chocolate is no exception.
Always made with quality ingredients, sit and sip a while in the coffee shop’s loft. Better yet, get a croissant and bring a book for a break.
320 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City
801-363-7572
If you prefer marshmallows to whipped cream on your cocoa, then you will be pleased to experience Communal’s drinking chocolate (the fanciest way to say hot cocoa) topped with a giant homemade marshmallow.
The bittersweet chocolate slowly melts the marshmallow, creating that delicious and slurp-worthy gooey bit of marshmallow at the end of your cup.
102 N. University Avenue, Provo
801-373-8000
