Hot Chocolate Season in Huntsville

It’s Huntsville Hot Chocolate Season…FINALLY!

I love a long and steamy Alabama summer as much as the next person (which truthfully is fewer and fewer people the longer it drags on).

But, let’s be serious, is there anything better than a crisp cool walk along century-old cobblestone streets, as fallen leaves crunch beneath your feet, whilst blowing across the rim of a steaming hot cup of rich and creamy, perfectly-sweet cocoa?

I mean it’s hard to hate a season that makes it completely socially acceptable to tip back and gulp chocolate straight from a cup.

That’s right, folks, it’s hot chocolate time in the Rocket City.

Thankfully, our bustling little metropolis has lots of new options and old favorites when it comes to finding a place to enjoy this perfect seasonal replacement for your usual cup of joe; these are just a few of my favorites.

Hot Chocolate Season in Huntsville

Gold Sprint Coffee

Bright, airy and just “cool kid” enough to make me look over my shoulder a time or two and wonder how in the heck I was allowed in (it’s implied here but not said outright, I am most-decidedly NOT a cool kid).

No worries though, Gold Sprint Coffee soon put me quite at ease. This frothy cup of “yum” certainly aided in the process.

Methinks it might be time for another visit since the folks behind the counter let me know they would soon be embarking on cooking up their own in-house made take on the mocha syrup serving as the base for the hot cocoa here.

Research. It’s research.

Offbeat Coffee Studio

Located at Campus No. 805, Offbeat Coffee Studio makes its chocolate syrup from scratch and spoke right up to tell me they’re happy to make a vegan version, if one prefers.

With their Insta-worthy wall, quick and friendly service and everybody’s favorite old school vinyl at the ready, my quick stop-in could have easily turned into a relaxing afternoon in its comfort. Offbeat was singing quite the sweet tune to both my ears and my taste buds!

What? Vegan hot chocolate wasn’t healthy enough? Fine.

Good news for you then. As it turns out, Fleet Feet Huntsville hosts 7 different holiday runs, they are all free, designed for fun and to keep folks motivated to run when it starts getting cold and life is busy with the holidays.

Conveniently, Thursday, December 5 at 6 pm, they’ll be hosting their Hot Chocolate Run! They have 3 and 5 mile options but, most importantly, they’ll be serving hot cocoa, baby!

For more information, visit: Fleet Feet Hot Chocolate Run

Pizzelle’s Confections

It’s time to get serious for a moment.

In my extensive studies, I’ve found hot chocolate to be a more divisive subject than I might ever have imagined.

People are dug-in, they’re angry and won’t even entertain the thought that the opposition might have a valid point, they’ve separated into “us and them”.

It’s sad really.

You may have guessed by now, I’m talking marshmallows.

The fact is, there are two kinds of people: marshmallows in your cocoa people and absolutely never marshmallows in your cocoa people.

I’m more of a “could you add a little cocoa to my marshmallow?” person. So, I had to go straight to the source of marshmallow hot drinking chocolate magic in the Rocket City, the geniuses at Pizzelle’s Confections. I’ll let the above photo speak for itself.

Also, yum.

Sugar Belle

Oh sure, the name makes them sound all innocent and sweet but, if you’re looking to really put the “hot” in your hot cocoa, look no further than our friends at Sugar Belle.

This season they are bringing the heat with the Aztec Cocoa. A spicy little number created with cayenne + smoked paprika mocha sauce, steamed milk, toasted house-made marshmallow, all in a tiki mug with a graham cracker rim! I’m breaking a sweat just thinking about it.

Hot cocoa. Hot chocolate. Drinking chocolate. Sipping chocolate. Gulping chocolate…

A cup by any other name would taste as sweet.

With so many great places in Huntsville to “get your cocoa on”, you best get started sampling the options. You and I both know that darn sweltering summer will be back before we know it.