There is just one quintessential winter drink and it’s the classic hot chocolate. Anyone who says otherwise hasn’t had the pleasure of sipping the right one. A warm hug in a mug, it’s the perfect antidote to a cold, foggy winter night.
The trick is to invest in decent ingredients. It has such few, and you don’t drink it every day, so splurge as much as you can. I promise the result will be wickedly decadent.
The cocoa butter content in good quality dark chocolate gives a luxurious mouthfeel. Blended with cocoa powder, and the hot chocolate gains so much flavor and body. Last but most definitely not least, a dash of vanilla brings beautiful caramel notes into play. And our favorite spice, cinnamon brings it all alive!
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How to make hot chocolate from scratch
The recipe is so simple that it doesn’t even feel like one. It’s the ingredients that you have to pay attention to. Get hold of the best quality you can, and the rest will be smooth sailing.
Step 1: Start by heating milk, chocolate, and cocoa powder in a saucepan and bring it to a simmer. On low heat, please.
You want the ingredients well combined. Since chocolate tends to stick to the pan and burn, you will have to keep stirring. This is essential – whisk, whisk, and whisk away to dissolve the cocoa and chocolate.
Step 2: Next, take it off the heat and add the sugar. Do it gradually with taste tests in between because sweetness is a profoundly personal preference.
I’ve been using raw sugar for everything lately – even tea and coffee. But regular, white sugar will be fine here. Just keep in mind that the chocolate you use will have some sugar unless you are using unsweetened chocolate. So, you don’t want to go overboard.
Step 3: Add the end, sprinkle some cinnamon powder and a dash of vanilla extract.
And that’s it; your hot chocolate is ready to be served.
Tips for making hot cocoa
It’s in the name – the chocolate. That’s how you make the drink intensely creamy and rich. I prefer to use 70% dark chocolate because then the flavor truly shines through. But 50 to 55% dark chocolate will do in a pinch.
Some of the couverture chocolate I recommend are:
- Mason and CoEarth Loaf (they now go by a new name - Naviluna)
- Cococraft
- Regal
- Callebaut
- Cacao Barry
How do I make hot chocolate better?
For a truly indulgent, over-the-top hot chocolate with a lush, thick consistency, use half cream and half milk.
But in my opinion, milk is the ideal base. Regular, full-fat milk is an excellent option. I used toned milk, and the drink still was luscious.
Can I make vegan hot chocolate?
Yes, if you use dairy-free chocolate and milk, both are readily available online and taste just as good.
Since I’m lactose intolerant, my choice for a cup of hot chocolate is almond milk. Soy, oat, or cashew milk will work too.
How can you spice hot chocolate?
We are big fans of cinnamon and use it liberally for flavoring. But if that’s not your cup of Oolong, try:
- A pinch of nutmeg.
- A touch of star anise lifts the drink.
- A bit of ginger powder for that sharp zing. Chocolate and ginger go together surprisingly well.
Spicing hot chocolate is optional. But they do bring a natural counterpoint to the sweetness, something you’ll enjoy.
And yes, 'coz it's the season, feel free to add a splash of rum, cognac, or bourbon to your cuppa!
Serving the hot chocolate
The drink is decadent enough on its own. It doesn’t need dressing up. But as the kids say, when you have hot chocolate, marshmallows are a must.
Since I had them at hand, I topped the drink with a few marshmallows and a dusting of cinnamon and cocoa powder. As a special Christmas treat served it with some gingerbread men.
We stick to the classic way of having hot chocolate. But you can try a dollop of whipped cream or even caramel syrup. However, you choose to serve it, make sure it’s piping hot!
More Recipes
Half the joy of cooking is sharing it with others. That’s why I’m always eager to hear from you. So go right ahead and drop a comment or reach out on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, or Facebook. I hope you love this warming Hot Chocolate as much as we do!
📖 Recipe
Classic Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups Milk
- 1/3 cup 70 % Dark chocolate chips By all means, add more if you want!
- 2 tbsp Cocoa powder
- 3 tsp Raw sugar
- 3/4 tsp Cinnamon powder
- 1.5 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips.
- Bring it to a gentle simmer on low heat, stirring all the while.
- Turn it off the heat, add the sugar, cinnamon powder, and vanilla extract. Taste and adjust for sweetness.
- Pour into mugs and serve as is or topped with marshmallows and sprinkled with cocoa powder and cinnamon powder. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Albertina says
It is very fun to make this and the results are great. Thanks for the step by step instructions!
Natasha Minocha says
Yayyyyyy! Thrilled to hear that! xoxo