Homemade Hot Chocolate

So, I got this recipe from a Land O Lakes carton of Half and Half.
It is fast to make and ridiculously delish!

Prep time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
-1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
-1/2 cup of water
-1/2 cup of sugar
-1/8 teaspoon of salt (optional- I don't use it)
-5 1/2 cups of milk
-2 cups of half and half
-2 teaspoons of vanilla

1. Melt the chocolate chips over low heat (stir the entire time they are melting)

2. Mix in the sugar and water

3. Increase heat until boiling, stirring the entire time

4. Boil for an additional 2 min. Keep stirring

5. Add milk and half and half

6. Heat until all the liquid is hot

7. Add the vanilla

8. Remove from heat and whisk until frothy

9. Add whipped cream if desired

For an added flavor of peppermint, you can add peppermint schnapps OR for an alcohol free version use peppermint mocha coffee creamer. Both options are yummy!