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As the colder months approach, nothing feels as comforting as a warm cup of hot chocolate. But why settle for standard store-bought mixes when you can indulge in artisanal, locally made hot chocolate elements in Arkansas? From handcrafted chocolate blends to locally sourced marshmallows and flavor infusions, Arkansas has some incredible offerings that will elevate your hot chocolate experience to a whole new level.
Handcrafted Chocolate Mixes: A Rich Start
Hot chocolate begins with the chocolate itself, and Arkansas is home to some exceptional chocolatiers who craft premium, bean-to-bar chocolate blends.
Markham & Fitz | Bentonville: Known for their small-batch, ethically sourced chocolate, Markham & Fitz offers rich, artisanal hot chocolate mixes and “drinking chocolate.” These mixes provide a decadent, velvety experience with a deep cocoa flavor that transforms any mug of hot chocolate into a luxury treat.
Kyya Chocolate | Springdale: Specializing in single-origin chocolate, Kyya offers small-batch hot chocolate sauces that highlight the unique flavors of their carefully sourced cocoa beans. Whether you’re in the mood for a traditional hot cocoa or something with a little more complexity, Kyya’s blends won’t disappoint.
Loblolly Creamery | Little Rock: Loblolly Creamery’s hot cocoa mix is crafted with simple, high-quality ingredients and is dairy-free and vegan, making it a treat everyone can enjoy. Flavors like Classic Chocolate, Unicorn White and Peppermint deliver a rich and creamy cocoa experience with a unique twist.
Marshmallows: The Perfect Puffy Companion
What is hot chocolate without marshmallows? Arkansas has several small businesses that craft gourmet marshmallows, adding a sweet and fluffy finishing touch to your hot cocoa.
Lollie & Pop | Little Rock: Lollie & Pop takes marshmallows to the next level with unique flavors like vanilla bean and chocolate, offering a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth experience. Their handmade marshmallows are perfect for stirring into hot chocolate, creating a creamy, comforting treat with every sip.
Loblolly Creamery | Little Rock: Famous for artisan ice cream, Loblolly Creamery also crafts gourmet marshmallows in four delightful flavors: Vanilla, Rainbow, Bourbon and Peppermint. These fluffy confections are the perfect topping for hot chocolate that includes classic sweetness to a bold, boozy kick or festive, minty flair. And, if lumps of coal are on your list, the dark chocolate marshmallows are a perfect purchase!
Markham & Fitz Marshmallows | Bentonville: offers handcrafted marshmallows in delightful Vanilla and Peppermint flavors. These fluffy, flavorful treats are perfect for melting into your hot chocolate, adding a creamy sweetness or a refreshing minty twist to your cozy cup.
City Supply Marshmallows | Fayetteville: City Supply offers gourmet marshmallows, including a standout Bourbon flavor that adds a decadent, sophisticated twist to hot chocolate. These marshmallows are perfect for creating a cozy, indulgent drink with a hint of Southern charm.
Le Pops | Little Rock: Known for its artisan ice pops, Le Pops embraces the winter season with a cozy menu featuring handcrafted marshmallows, hot cocoa kits, and indulgent s’ mores. These winter offerings bring a playful yet gourmet twist to classic cold-weather treats, perfect for warming up on chilly days.
Flavor Infusions: Adding a Local Twist
In Arkansas, local businesses are finding creative ways to add regional flair to your hot chocolate with flavorful infusions and toppings. These companies create unique syrups, elixirs, and mixers that bring new dimensions to your hot chocolate, coffee or cocktails.
Arkansas Coffee Roasters: Some Arkansas coffee roasters create unique flavor profiles that pair perfectly with hot chocolate. For an added depth of flavor, consider adding a splash of local coffee to your cocoa or pairing a hot chocolate drink with locally roasted beans.
Honey from Arkansas Farms: For a twist on traditional sweeteners, add a touch of locally sourced honey to your hot chocolate. Arkansas has several honey producers who offer rich, natural honey, perfect for drizzling over a warm cup of cocoa to add a sweet, earthy element to your drink.
Pink House Alchemy | Fayetteville offers unique, handcrafted syrups and elixirs that can creatively and flavorfully enhance hot chocolate. Their locally made syrups, such as Cardamom, Lavender, or Ph Delight, add a touch of complexity and elegance, turning your hot cocoa into a one-of-a-kind beverage.
Fort Smith Coffee Company | Fort Smith: Known for their exceptional coffee, Fort Smith Coffee Company also offers a selection of handcrafted drink syrups that pair beautifully with hot chocolate. Flavors like caramel, SF vanilla, mint, and white chocolate complement coffee and cocoa; these syrups add a touch of local flair and indulgence to every sip.
Siloam Syrups | Siloam Springs offers a range of handcrafted syrups with distinctive flavors like Apple Spice, Rich Aunty, Persephone and Candy Cane Lane. These syrups can enhance hot chocolate, coffee or even cocktails, adding a burst of fruity sweetness or rich, aromatic flavors that make each sip unique.
Rock Town Distillery | Little Rock: Their syrups, which include rich flavors like vanilla bean and citrus, add complexity and flair to hot cocoa or espresso. You can also make a “grown-up” hot chocolate by adding some housemade crème de cacao.
Kyya Chocolate | Springdale: In addition to its artisanal chocolate, Kyya offers an array of decadent drink syrups, including unique flavors like Toasted Marshmallow, Sugar Cookie, Peppermint, Cake Batter, and Cinnamon Chai. These syrups are perfect for adding a decadent, indulgent twist to hot chocolate, creating a one-of-a-kind flavor experience in every cup.
With all these Arkansas companies offering flavorful twists, your hot chocolate experience can be personalized to your tastes—whether you prefer something sweet and fruity, creamy and aromatic, or bold and coffee-forward. These unique products help create a warm and comforting drink that celebrates the creativity and craftsmanship of Arkansas businesses.
Cover image is a variety of decadent hot chocolate choices from Loblolly Creamery in Little Rock.
Keisha (Pittman) McKinney lives in Northwest Arkansas with her chicken man and break-dancing son. Keisha is passionate about connecting people and building community, seeking solutions to the everyday big and small things, and encouraging others through the mundane, hard, and typical that life often brings. She put her communications background to work as a former Non-profit Executive Director, college recruiter and fundraiser, small business trainer, and Digital Media Director at a large church in Northwest Arkansas. Now, she is using those experiences through McKinney Media Solutions and her blog @bigpittstop, which includes daily adventures, cooking escapades, #bigsisterchats, the social justice cases on her heart, and all that she is learning as a #boymom! Keisha loves to feed birds, read the stack on her nightstand, do dollar store crafts, cook recipes from her Pinterest boards, and chase everyday adventures on her Arkansas bucket list.
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