Cooking a cup of hot cocoa is one of childhood’s favorite pastimes, but who says only children should have fun? We are talking about hot chocolate made the grown-up way . Do you want to add a little alcohol? You can do it. Do you want to give it a spicy flavor? You are in your right.
Part of the fun of hot chocolate is how you serve it. Whether in a fancy mug or your favorite coffee mug, you can also add roasted marshmallows or peppermint or cinnamon sticks. Get creative with toppings like coconut or almonds, you’ll love them.
6 ways to prepare your hot chocolate
1. Traditional hot chocolate
- Use two bars of chocolate.
- Mix chocolate bars directly into hot milk . It’s an easy way to make a rich, creamy drink in no time without the need to pull out a double boiler.
- For a more concentrated flavor, add some unsweetened cocoa powder.
- If you want a more accentuated flavor, make a mixture of cream and whole milk as a base.
- Lastly, top the hot chocolate with large marshmallows that you can toast on a gas burner or under the broiler for less than a minute.
2. Low-fat, sugar-free hot chocolate
For those looking to cut down on sugar and calories, the best homemade recipe can be tweaked to make it a healthier one, such as stevia-sweetened chocolate bars or sugar-free dark chocolate.
You could even use your favorite chocolate protein powder if it’s low in calories. Also skim milk or a sugar-free milk alternative like almond or soy, and instead of marshmallows or whipped cream, try topping it with unsweetened coconut flakes.
3. Hot chocolate with alcohol
One of the advantages of being an adult? It is socially acceptable to add alcohol to your hot chocolate.
Add Bailey’s for an extra creamy flavor, or indulge in other more sophisticated types of alcohol like Amaretto, an almond flavored liqueur, or a hazelnut liqueur like Frangelico. To do this, make your basic hot chocolate as we have proposed in our first recipe, and then add 3/4 of a cup of the alcoholic beverage of your choice.
4. Hot chocolate with cayenne
People who love the combination of chocolate and cayenne will enjoy this spiced hot chocolate.
Keep in mind that cayenne pepper is a bit mild compared to the others, so you can definitely increase the amount if you are looking for a little more of that flavor. You can also garnish with a slice of chili pepper and cinnamon.
5. Hot chocolate with mint and candy canes
This is the perfect way to use candy cane scraps from your Christmas tree or the ones you got in that weird holiday bag.
- Scoop them up in a towel and use the back of a pot to squash them before stirring them into the hot liquid.
- Add the whipped cream and chopped peppermint chocolate or chocolate shavings for garnish.
6. Hot chocolate with nutella
Do you love Nutella? U.S. too. Using this delicious combination eliminates the need for added salt, sugar, or chocolate because all the flavor is built into the chocolate paste.
Top this hot hazelnut flavored drink with whipped cream and a splash of Nutella or caramel.
Reference
- Fahr, Y. 10 Twists on hot chocolate that will blow your mind. For Livestrong [Revised January 2018]
