AUTUMN has arrived, but the cost of a hot chocolate is enough to make anyone shiver.
Coffee shop versions can set you back around £4, so we found a few tricks to help you out.
Here is how you can whip up a luxurious mug at home for much less.
COCO WOAH: Ditch the branded tins. A 500g tub of Aldi own-brand instant hot chocolate powder costs just £1.99.
Mix two heaped teaspoons with a splash of milk and one of sugar to make a smooth paste.
Top up with hot milk for a rich, classic hot chocolate that costs next to nothing.
READ MORE MONEY SAVING TIPS
FROTHY AFFAIR: Want that cafe-quality hot choc topper?
Try the Keplin frother, £5.49 from Amazon, or Dunelm’s milk frother now with 50 per cent off at £15 that is a dupe for Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser.
Pour your frothed milk over your cocoa base for a hot chocolate with a barista feel.
CHOCOLATE SHAVINGS: Got a cheap bar of plain chocolate lurking in the cupboard? Use a veg peeler to shave it directly into a mug of warm milk. It melts instantly, creating a silky, decadent hot chocolate.
SYRUP SWAP: Skip the fancy coffee shop syrups at around 70p a time in cafes.
Make your own by dissolving 100g of sugar in 100ml of water with a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
A dash of this in your mug adds sweetness for a bargain price — and you can keep it in a glass bottle in the fridge for future drinks.
WHIPPED WINNER: Instead of buying squirty cream in a can, whisk double cream with a teaspoon of icing sugar until thick.
Dollop it on top of your hot choc — it tastes even better than the squirty stuff and you can sprinkle with your own cocoa powder or chocolate shavings for a pro finish.
SPICY TWIST: For an autumnal twist, add a pinch of mixed spice or cinnamon directly to your cocoa mix before adding the milk.
It gives it a warm, spicy vibe for a fraction of the price of a flavoured syrup.
A jar of Schwartz mixed spice, just £2 at Tesco, lasts for months.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability
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