It’s that deliciously cozy time of year again—the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival! Every winter, cafés and bakeries across the city whip up unique, dreamy hot cocoa creations you won’t find any other time. This post is where I’ll be sharing each decadent sip I try, complete with all the tempting details. Keep checking back for updates as I make my way around Vancouver’s sweetest hot chocolate spots!

1. Beaucoup Bakery & Café
Flavour: #015 – Charlie’s Peanut Butter Hug
Dates: January 18–26, 2025
The Vibe: This nostalgic hot chocolate brings back the joy of afternoon cartoons with “Peanuts and the Gang.” It’s a creamy milk chocolate base blended with honey, peanut butter, and a gentle sprinkle of cinnamon. The kicker on top is a soft, salted peanut nougat that nails the sweet-savoury balance. Oh, and don’t miss the matching treat: a zigzag-sweater peanut butter sandwich cookie filled with chocolate-peanut buttercream. If you love PB and chocolate together, this one’s a big, warm hug in a mug.

2. Bak’d Cookies (New Location!)
Flavour: #013 – You’re My U(bae)
Dates: January 18–February 14, 2025
The Vibe: If you’re craving something exotic and vibrant, head to Bak’d Cookies for their ube white hot chocolate. Topped with a regal purple whip and edged with toasted coconut, this beauty has a creamy texture with hints of nuts and buttery vanilla. They pair it with an Ube Cookie—luscious purple dough flecked with white chocolate and shredded coconut, then rolled in more toasted coconut for a satisfying crunch. One sip and bite in, you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away to a tropical paradise.

3. Caffè Artigiano (Kerrisdale Location)
Flavour: #010 – Orange Creamsicle Hot Chocolate
Dates: January 18–February 14, 2025
The Vibe: This one’s for all the citrus fans out there. Think silky, rich hot chocolate infused with bright orange, crowned by a creamy “creamsicle” Chantilly, and finished with freeze-dried orange peel for a zesty pop. The perfect partner is a crisp chocolate-orange wafer stamped with Caffè Artigiano’s signature chocolate seal. If you’re looking for a grown-up twist on that childhood ice cream truck classic, you’ve found it!
More to Come!
I’ll be updating this post as I sip my way through all the delightful options the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival has to offer. Have a recommendation or a must-try on your radar? Let me know, and I just might add it to my list!
Stay warm, stay sweet, and stay tuned for more hot chocolate goodness. Cheers to a cozy and delicious festival season!