7 Burlington hot chocolates to help you stay warm this winter
Some Burlingtonians keep warm in the winter with fleece-lined coats, wraparound scarves, wool socks and big fireplaces. Others prefer hot chocolate.
Coffee shops and bakeries usually offer the warm drink. The Free Press set out to find a few places to go for a toasty, sugary fix while we brave the winter cold — which does not look like it's leaving anytime soon.
We explored a few different spots in the Burlington area, including Mirabelles Cafe and Bakery, Muddy Waters, Monarch & the Milkweed, Scout & Co., Uncommon Grounds Coffee and Tea, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and Ben & Jerry's. Take a look at what we thought — and then decide on where your new favorite spot will be.
Mirabelles Cafe and Bakery
Our first stop on the hot-chocolate haul was definitely one of the coziest. Mirabelles is located on Main Street and was pretty busy for 11 a.m. on a Thursday. Rather than splitting one, we asked for two regular hot chocolates — a naive request, given how many we would wind up ingesting over the course of two days.
The chocolate used in the drink was more of a ganache than a powder. We got homemade whipped cream on top, which was stored in a fridge and scooped out with a spoon. The drink was not excessively sugary, which might be ideal for those who do not have a strong sweet tooth.
Muddy Waters
We usually have a hard time finding a table at Muddy Waters, located on Main Street. But Thursday in the late morning seems to be optimal timing if you want to score a seat and sip your drink.
Muddy's version of the winter favorite uses a powdered chocolate from Guittard Chocolate Company. We opted for cream on top, which was infused with maple. The cream was noticeably colder and more solidified than a few other spots we tried out, which contrasted nicely with the hot chocolate below. As it melted, the drink itself got sweeter.
Monarch & the Milkweed
This was definitely the most luxurious hot chocolate we tried. Monarch & the Milkweed is a smaller space on St. Paul Street that offers coffee, food and cocktails.
We had the option to "booze it up" — which we did with some Fernet, an Italian liqueur made using a blend of spices and herbs. The drink was served in a mug and topped off with a blowtorched marshmallow, which concealed the hot chocolate until it was punctured with a spoon. The texture was complex as the marshmallow on top melted, giving it a thicker consistency than the other drinks.
This hearty hot chocolate came out to about $10 — which made sense since it was listed on the dessert menu and included alcohol.
Scout & Co. Coffee
We tried out the Scout & Co. on North Avenue, which is a little out of the way from the other places we visited.
The drink got topped with a heart-shaped, milk-poured design. The foamy beverage could be sipped next to the shop's massive windows, which allow the light to pour in. Scout had a quiet atmosphere, with some patrons using laptops at their tables.
Uncommon Grounds Coffee and Tea
Uncommon Grounds is typically busy — and Friday afternoon was no exception. Chairs and booths were filled with people chatting, making for a lively ambiance in the coffee shop.
The Church Street spot offered us a hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder. This drink was on the lighter side, even as the cream began to melt into the drink. This particular one was easier to get through than some of its counterparts, well-suited for those who want hot chocolate but don't want anything too heavy.
Lake Champlain Chocolates
We visited the Church Street location of this Burlington staple, where one of its machines was undergoing maintenance. Still, Lake Champlain employees managed to serve us a hot chocolate on the spot.
The chocolate shop offered multiple drink options for us to choose from, so we asked for a recommendation and went with the "Old World." With whipped cream, obviously.
As we sipped, we could actually taste the flavor of the chocolate chips — which we watched get incorporated into the drink as it was prepared. The hot chocolate was rich and the whipped cream sank down to the bottom of the cup instead of melting into the drink.
Ben & Jerry's
A national favorite, Ben & Jerry's was our final Burlington location — and a unique one, since we got to add an ice cream scoop to our winter beverage. We chose to save this stop for last to make sure we had room in our stomachs.
We went with a mocha ice cream flavor, which got mixed into the hot chocolate before it came our way. The flavor was not especially strong, but the drink was still filling enough for those who want to enjoy their favorite ice cream without freezing in the winter cold.
Hot chocolate, hot takes
Most family-friendly place to enjoy a hot chocolate: Mirabelles Cafe and Bakery, for its bustling atmosphere, baked goods and warm decor.
Most Instagram worthy: Monarch & the Milkweed's sleek counters, soft lighting and rich hot chocolate made this the most picturesque place to get your sweet fix.
Best place to study over a cup of hot chocolate: Scout had this round in the bag. Great lighting and the quiet atmosphere in this spacious spot would be useful for any college student powering through their studies and looking for a drink to keep them toasty.
Best place for those seeking an authentic hot chocolate experience: Lake Champlain Chocolates is — unsurprisingly — a chocolate shop, so customers can be assured that the most important ingredient here is the real deal.
All-around top hot chocolate to get in Burlington: Muddy Waters won our roundup, for its warm environment, unique maple-infused whipped cream and overall flavor.
We hope our adventure helped you find — or confirm — your favorite hot chocolate spot in Burlington. Do you prefer another place we didn't get to try?
Contact Nick Garber at (802) 660-6500. Follow him on Twitter @nick_garber.
Contact Maleeha Syed at mzsyed@freepressmedia.com or 802-495-6595. Follow her on Twitter @MaleehaSyed89.