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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Hot chocolate has to be everyone’s favourite winter beverage. It warms you up after a long day or after you cleared the driveway. It’s the first thing kids ask for after building a snow man. Its so simple and quick to make, using less then 5 ingredients that you probably already own.

One of the best things about making hot chocolate from scratch is that it’s super customizable.

  • Want it extra creamy & rich? Add some half and half.
  • Want it less sweet? Use bittersweet/dark chocolate chips.
  • Want it healthier? Use skim milk or almond milk, and reduce the sugar a touch.
  • Toppings are endless too. Cinnamon, Peppermint, candy canes, espresso, caramel sauce, marshmallows, and chocolate shavings to name a few.
Hot chocolate 2

Hot Chocolate Ingredients & Substitutes:

  • Milk: Try using your favourite dairy free milk. Oat milk would provide a nice creamy texture.
  • Sugar: For a lower sugar option use an alternative sweetener like erythritol or monkfruit sugar. You could also just reduce the amount of sugar added.
  • Chocolate: If you want a less sweet version try using dark chocolate chips or even unsweetened cocoa powder.

Tips & Tricks:

  • Heating Milk: Keep a close eye when warming your milk. Dairy milks with boil over very quickly and spill all over your stove top.
  • Cocoa Powder: Cocoa powder is naturally repellent to liquids so it will take a few minutes to full incorporate it with the milk. Keep stirring until no more clumps remain.
  • Melting Chocolate: Consistently stir the hot chocolate after you have added the chocolate chips. They will sink to the bottom of the bowl and could easily burn if left on the direct heat.
  • Strain: If you feel like you didn’t get your chocolate incorporated well you can strain the drink before serving.
Hot chocolate 3

FAQ:

  1. Does hot chocolate have caffeine? While I would not call hot chocolate a caffeinated drink it does have roughly 12mg of caffeine per cup. It is by no means a stimulant as for comparison a cup of coffee has 95mg of caffeine.
  2. What’s in Mexican hot chocolate? Mexican hot chocolate is a spicier version of this recipe. Adding 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  3. Can I use store bought hot cocoa mix? Pre-made mix while simple is mostly just sugar so make sure to account for that if you are adding it to the recipe.
  4. How long will it last? It’s recommended you drink that hot chocolate while it’s still warm but you can store it for 2-3 days in the fridge and reheat it later.
Hot Chocolate
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Hot Chocolate

0 from 0 votes
Course: DrinksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Servings

4

servings
Prep time

2

minutes
Cooking time

5

minutes
Calories

322

kcal
Total time

7

minutes

This hot chocolate is warm and cozy and sure to make so smile any winter day. It super easy and tastes way better then the powdered hot chocolate.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups milk

  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

  • ½ cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar

  • ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions

  • Add milk, cocoa powder, and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium/medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until warm (but not boiling).
  • Add chocolate chips and whisk constantly until the chocolate chips melt and distribute evenly into the milk. Whisk in vanilla extract, serve immediately.
  • Top with marshmallows, candy cane, or even chocolate shavings.

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