I know this is a little untimely for some of us...but I'm inclined to share these recipes anyways...save them for a cold, rainy day! I did some research into various hot chocolate and hot cocoa recipes...including reading up on my history, searching many Internet recipes, and a lot of yummy tastings. I spent the cold winter indulging myself in the wonderful world of chocolate and found that the first recipe listed below is my favorite for hot chocolate. For a delectable twist add a teaspoon of peanut butter! The second recipe was my favorite for hot cocoa...made with powered cocoa as opposed to melted chocolate chips. The third recipe makes a great wintertime gift for friends. After you have found your favorite recipe, don't forget the toppings and other goodies: marshmallows, whipped cream, peppermint candy, peanut butter, caramel...be creative! I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I did! Bon appetit!
How to Make Real Hot Chocolate:
Ingredients:
2 squares unsweetened or semisweet chocolate
1/3 cup sugar
4 cups milk
You may substitute 1/3 cup semisweet morsels for the 2 squares unsweetened or semisweet chocolate.
Break or chop the two squares of unsweetened or semisweet chocolate into smaller pieces.
In a saucepan, add: 2 chopped squares unsweetened or semisweet chocolate, 1/3 cup sugar and 2 cups milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously. Once the mixture comes to a boil, add the remaining 2 cups milk and heat all the way through. Do not allow the hot chocolate to come to another boil. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
How to Make Real Hot Cocoa:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup sugar
4 cups milk
In a saucepan, add: 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1/3 sugar and 4 cups milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously. Heat all the way through without allowing the mixture to come to a boil. When steam begins to build and a few bubbles escape along the sides of the saucepan, the cocoa is done. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Homemade Hot Cocoa
Mix:
4 cups of dry milk
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup of powdered coffee creamer
3/4 cup of cocoa powder
one package of instant vanilla or chocolate pudding
Put all the ingredients in the food processor and mix until blended. To serve put 1/3 cup of mix into a mug and stir in hot water.
4 cups of dry milk
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup of powdered coffee creamer
3/4 cup of cocoa powder
one package of instant vanilla or chocolate pudding
Put all the ingredients in the food processor and mix until blended. To serve put 1/3 cup of mix into a mug and stir in hot water.
Hot Chocolat
Have you seen the movie, Chocolat? This is like the hot chocolate that was served in the movie.
2 cups boiling water
1 chile pepper, cut in half, seeds removed (with gloves)
5 cups light cream or whole or nonfat milk
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 to 2 cinnamon sticks
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate or 3 tablets Mexican Chocolate, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 tablespoons granulated sugar or honey, or to taste
l tablespoon almonds or hazelnuts, ground extra fine/span>
Whipped cream
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add chile pepper to boiling water. Cook until liquid is reduced to 1 cup. Remove chile pepper; strain water and set aside. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cream or milk, vanilla bean and cinnamon stick until bubbles appear around the edge. Reduce heat to low; add chocolate and sugar or honey; whisk occasionally until chocolate is melted and sugar dissolves. Turn off heat; remove vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. Add chile-infused water, a little at a time, tasting to make sure the flavor isn't too strong. If chocolate is too thick, thin with a little more milk. Serve in small cups and offer ground almonds or hazelnuts and whipped cream.
Angelina’s Hot Chocolate
The Angelina Cafe in Paris, open since 1903, serves a thick hot chocolate version in
demitasse cups with a tiny dollop of mascarpone and whipped cream. They are
famous for making hot chocolate from melted chocolate bars. It is incredibly
easy to prepare by mixing chocolate shavings with hot water. You can serve it
in small cups or in 17th-century style chocolate pots and demitasse cups such
as those sold in gourmet shops.
6 ounces fine-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped 1/4 cup water, room temperature
3 tablespoons hot water
3 cups hot milk, divided
Sugar to taste
Whipped cream, if desired
In a double boiler over low heat, combine chocolate and 1/4 cup water until melted, stirring occasionally; stir until smooth. Remove top of double boiler pan from. Whisk in 3 tablespoons hot water. Pour into pitcher or divide among individual 4 mugs. Either stir 3/4 cup hot milk into each mug or serve milk in a separate pitcher. Pass sugar and whipped cream in separate bowls; add to taste. Makes 4 servings.
Italian Hot Chocolate - Cioccolato Caldo
Italy is famous for their Cioccolato Caldo, especially during the fall and winter months. This hot chocolate is sometimes served so thick (like a pudding), that you need a spoon to actually eat it! this recipe doesn't make it that thick. The luxurious richness comes from using top-quality chocolate.
5 tablespoons Dutch-process Cocoa powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
6 ounces dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao solids), finely chopped
2 cups milk
In a small saucepan over low heat, add the cocoa powder, sugar, and 2 tablespoons of the milk, Heat until the sugar melts and no lumps remain, stirring well. Bring to a low boil, stirring constantly; add the remaining milk. Turn off the heat, add the chopped chocolate, stirring until smooth.
Pour into serving cups and enjoy! Makes 2 servings.
Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipes
Mexican Hot Chocolate I
6 cups milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 ounces unsweetened Mexican Chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Stick cinnamon (for optional garnish)
In a large saucepan, combine milk, sugar, chocolate, ground cinnamon, and salt. Heat, stirring constantly, until the chocolate has melted and the milk is very hot. (Do not let the milk come to a boil.)
Beat 2 eggs in a mixing bowl. Stir in one cup of the hot mixture into the eggs, then return this mixture to the saucepan. Cook 2 to 3 minutes more over low heat, still stirring.
Remove from heat. Add vanilla. Beat with a Molinillo or a rotary beater until it is very frothy. Pour into mugs, garnish with cinnamon sticks, and serve. Makes about 6 (8-ounce) servings.
Mexican Hot Chocolate II
This recipe and photo are courtesy of Cynthia Detterick-Pineda of Andrews, TX.
4
(1-ounce) squares of Mexican Chocolate
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup hot water
Small pinch of salt
1 teaspoon instant coffee
2 cups of milk
1 egg (optional)
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 dried red chile peppers
Ground cinnamon for sprinkling
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup hot water
Small pinch of salt
1 teaspoon instant coffee
2 cups of milk
1 egg (optional)
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 dried red chile peppers
Ground cinnamon for sprinkling
In
a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat, add the Mexican chocolate, honey,
hot water, salt, coffee, and chile pepper. Heat, stirring constantly,
until the mixture just begins to boil; reduce heat to low and let simmer,
stirring constantly, for approximately an additional 1 minute. Carefully stir
in the milk and let sit over low heat until the chocolate is too warm to touch
(you can see the steam rising from it).
In
a medium-size bowl, beat the egg until it is frothy, you can use an electric
mixer, a Molinillo, or a fork for
this. You just need to make it as frothy as possible. Add the vanilla extract
and beat in well.
Pour
the hot chocolate mixture over the frothed egg and beat it vigorously for about
15 seconds. You want to beat it until you have about 1/2- to 1-inch of
foam on top.
Pour
into cups or mugs to serve. Sprinkle some ground cinnamon over the hot
chocolate once it is in the mug.
