Hot chocolate recipes to beat the chill

Hot chocolates are all time favorites. Sipping into hot chocolate and curling up in the bed is the best way to relax on a cold winter evening. Traditionally, hot chocolates are made with good quality bittersweet chocolate or dark chocolate and milk. A number of variations are available that range from instant hot chocolates to spiced or even spiked hot chocolates.

Hot chocolate

Here are some of the recipes to beat the winter.

Traditional hot chocolate recipes

1. Classic hot chocolate

Traditional hot chocolate is made using melted chocolate and not cocoa powder, making it much more rich and creamy.

  1. Milk – 3 cups
  2. Bittersweet chocolate – 6 oz (finely chopped)
  3. Marshmallows – few (optional)

Heat the milk in a thick bottom pan in medium or slow heat. Once it starts bubbling around the edges add the finely chopped chocolates (if bittersweet not available add semisweet). Stir till the chocolate completely melts and you get a smooth texture. Serve in a mug topped with homemade marshmallows.

2. Spanish hot chocolate

  1. Milk – 16 ounce or 500 ml
  2. Cornstarch
  3. Milk chocolate – 4 ounce finely chopped

Take the milk in a saucepan. Add the cornstarch and whisk till it dissolves completely. Place in low or medium heat till it just starts to boil. Remove from heat. Add the chocolate and stir till it dissolves. Place it again on low or medium heat and stir till it starts to thicken. Remove from the heat and pour it into mugs and serve.

3. French hot chocolate or chocolat chaud

  1. Chocolate – 6 oz finely chopped semisweet
  2. Milk – 3 cups
  3. Sugar – 2 tsp
  4. Water – 1/4 cup plus 3 tbs
  5. Whipped cream

Chocolate swirls

Using a double boiler melt the chocolate in 1/4 cup of water. Add hot milk and 3 tbs of hot water to it. Mix to get a lump free mixture. Add sugar and mix again. Pour it into cups. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate swirls and serve hot.

For Almond chocolat chaud, add 2 tbs of almond liqueur / 1/2 tsp of almond extract. Serve topped with whipped cream and toasted almonds.

Replace sugar with brown sugar plus a pinch of salt to get Brown sugar hot chocolate.

4. Argentinian hot chocolate or El submarino

Unlike other hot chocolates, the chocolate is served by the sides and not added into the milk until served.

  1. Whole milk – about 4 cups
  2. Sugar – 1/4 cups
  3. Dark chocolate – 4 ounce bar broken into 4 equal pieces
  4. Vanilla – 1 tsp

Heat the milk in a saucepan with sugar and vanilla. Once it starts to boil remove from heat. Serve hot with a piece of good quality dark chocolate by the sides.

The above four ingredients can be directly mixed in a blender to get special Hot Chocolate for the winter.

5. Decadent hot chocolate

  1. Milk – 1 cup
  2. Half and half or fresh cream – 1cup
  3. Sugar – 8 tsp
  4. Vanilla – 1tsp
  5. Bittersweet chocolate – 1 oz roughly chopped
  6. Semisweet chocolate – 1 oz roughly chopped
  7. Brown sugar – 1tsp

Take all the ingredients in a saucepan except vanilla and heat on medium flame till the sugar and chocolates dissolves. Remove from heat and pour half the content into a blender and mix till frothy. Put it back on heat and add the vanilla. Stir and serve hot.

6. Parisan warm chocolate

  1. Milk
  2. Heavy cream
  3. Sugar
  4. Semisweet chocolate

Take all the ingredients in a pan; place it over medium flame and stir till the chocolate dissolves. Remove from heat. Pour it into cups and serve hot.

A number of flavored Hot chocolates are made with the basic traditional hot chocolate recipe by adding flavoring agents like orange zest, ginger root and even peanut butter.

Spiced hot chocolate

7. Mexican hot chocolate

Mexican hot chocolates are spiced with cinnamon.

  1. Milk – 2 cups
  2. Chocolate – 11/2 oz
  3. Sugar – 1/4 cup
  4. Vanilla – 1tsp
  5. Cinnamon – 1/2 tsp
  6. Water – 3/4 cup
  7. Whipped cream

Heat all the ingredients except milk in a saucepan. Stir till the chocolate dissolves. Remove from heat and whisk the mixture till foamy. Add the milk. Serve hot topped with whipped cream.

Variations include hot chocolate spiced with anise powder, coffee-cinnamon and even tea spices.

8. White chocolate

Hot chocolates can be made using white chocolates too.

  1. Milk – 3 1/2 cups
  2. White chocolate – 8 oz
  3. Whipped cream

Heat milk and add the chocolate. Stir till it dissolves completely. Serve hot with whipped cream.

Variations include adding instant coffee crystals, tea spices, peppermint candies and peppermint extracts.

9. Spiked hot chocolates

To the basic hot chocolate recipe, alcohol is added. The alcohols that can be added range from hazelnut, raspberry liqueurs to rum and even peppermint schnapps.

Usually 2 oz of peppermint schnapps is added to basic hot chocolate.

10. Instant hot chocolate

This recipe calls for cocoa powder or chocolate syrup and not chocolate slabs or chips. It’s usually very easy to make.

  1. Milk – 4 cups
  2. Sugar – 1/2 cup
  3. Cocoa powder – 1/4 cup
  4. Salt – a pinch
  5. Water – 1/3 cup (preferably hot)
  6. Vanilla – 1tsp

In a saucepan mix sugar, cocoa powder, salt and vanilla; add hot water and with a wire whisk mix to get a lump free mixture. Heat till it boils, reduce the heat and add milk. Stir, pour it into cups and serve.

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