As temperatures cool and we spend more time in our metro Atlanta homes for the holiday season, there are so many opportunities to cozy up to a warm fire. No evening in is complete without a cozy beverage to sip on during movie or game night with the family. Here are some of our favorite recipes for both children and adults:

• Peppermint Hot Chocolate – Put a twist on a classic when you prepare a peppermint hot chocolate for your children.  To create the tasty drink, combine 1.5 cups of heavy cream, 1.5 cups of milk, ¼ cup of sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of salt into a saucepan and heat over medium to low heat. When the cream mixture begins to steam, add 6 ounces of chopped bittersweet chocolate and stir until melted. Stir in 3 drops of peppermint oil. Divide the hot chocolate among mugs and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
• French Vanilla Hot Chocolate – If you are a fan of vanilla and hot chocolate, then you will love this French Vanilla hot chocolate. To create this blissfully delicious drink, pour 1 cup of milk into a mug and warm it up to your preferred heat temperature. Once the milk is hot, add 1 tablespoon of Hershey’s Cocoa Special Dark and 1.5 teaspoons of sugar and mix well. Then stir in 1.5 tablespoons of French vanilla creamer and ½ teaspoon of Torani French vanilla syrup. Garnish with whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate shavings.

And now for the adults…

• Peppermint Cream Coffee – While your children sip on their peppermint hot chocolate, you can enjoy your own peppermint treat. To create a peppermint cream coffee combine 3 ounces of coffee with 1 ounce peppermint schnapps, 1 ounce amaretto almond liqueur and 3 ounces of Bailey’s Irish cream. Top off with whipped cream to add an extra touch of sweetness.
• Hot Chocolate with a Twist – With a hint of cinnamon and dark rum, this is no ordinary hot chocolate recipe. To create this Adults Only hot chocolate, put 2 cups of milk into a saucepan and break 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate, bittersweet or semisweet, into pieces and stir in. Add in a cinnamon stick, 2 teaspoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and heat gently until the chocolate is melted. Add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix with a small hand whisk. As you whisk, add a spoonful of dark rum and taste to see if you want more. Add more sugar and rum to taste.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, the AJC ran an article on fireplaces that included a beautiful photo of our fireplace in the Village Walk model home and quotes from our very own Design Center Director, Angi Sago. If a fireplace is a “must have” for your family, then we have the perfect metro Atlanta home for you. For more information on how can spend winter next to a cozy fireplace, visit the Traton Homes website today!