There’s nothing quite like curling up on the sofa, with a blanket and a mug full of hot chocolate. Over the coming few weeks we'll be sharing some of our a favourite hot chocolate recipes. We dare you to give them a try!

This Blackberry Hot Chocolate is great for those who love a fruity twist to their drink. The great thing is, it’s not hard to make either!

• 200g blackberries (frozen or fresh)
• 3 tbsp icing sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups whole milk 
• 120 g/ 4 1/4oz dark chocolate
• Optional: Whipped cream, mini marshmallows and extra blackberries

1. If you're using frozen blackberries allow them to defrost in a small saucepan for 30 minutes. Otherwise,add the icing sugar to your blackberries and cook them on a moderate heat for around five minutes until the blackberries are soft and squishy.
2. Push the cooked blackberries and juices through a sieve to create a coulis. Scrape the thick pulp from the outside of the sieve into the coulis as you go. Discard the seeds.
3. Heat the milk until it’s boiling hot. Whilst the milk is heating up chop the chocolate and drop it into the base of a blender along with the vanilla extract.
4. Pour the hot milk over the chocolate and allow it to sit for 1 minute.
5. Reserve 1 tbsp of the blackberry coulis and put the rest into the blender, blitzing until the chocolate has melted and the drink is frothy.
6. We now recommend taste testing to check the mix is hot and sweet enough, sweeten and reheat if necessary.
7. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream, marshmallows, a drizzle of the reserved blackberry coulis and a blackberry.

Recipe courtesy of The Little Sugar Snaps.