Sipping a steamy hot chocolate after a stressful day is pure bliss. Or is supposed to be blissful but unfortunately, I find myself unhappy with store-bought chocolate drinks. I find them too sweet and too little chocolatey.
Recently, I read about a study on drinking hot chocolate. Researchers found out that hot chocolate drinks taste best when drank from an orange cup.
Ok.
First, who pays for a study like that? Maybe the company that sells “Chocomel” that comes in an orange package? Ha!
Second, I don’t have an orange cup.
But I want perfect hot chocolate.
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Like the one a friend served for dessert. She carried in a tablet with cute tiny mugs with steamy homemade hot chocolate. I wasn’t excited. Then I tried one. … Wow! No need for orange cups. This was liquid heaven! It was thick and creamy, almost like melted chocolate. I was sold.
From that day on there is only homemade hot chocolate for me. Because just like Homemade Scottish Shortbread the simple things are sometimes the best!
Homemade Hot Chocolate – customized taste, fewer bucks
Making your own hot chocolate is easy and frugal. Let’s see how to make it from scratch. (Find a printable version of the recipe below.)
Ingredients for four mugs:
- 150 g dark, plain chocolate (I prefer those with 70% cacao), in chunks or grated
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 liter (4 1/4 cups) milk
- pinch of salt
- sugar according to taste
- dash of aroma (vanilla, almond, ..) if you like
Combine chocolate, milk, and cinnamon in a saucer and let the chocolate melt over low heat, stirring occasionally. When the chocolate is melted, add salt, sugar, and aroma if used. Then mix well and heat up. Or let it cool and chill it in the fridge for Iced Chocolate.
That’s it. Pour it into four mugs or store cooled leftovers in the fridge.
Customized Hot Chocolate and a Time-saving hack
If you want to save a little time, grate 300 g of chocolate in the food processor, mix it with salt, sugar, and spice, and store away half of that mixture for next time! The grated chocolate will melt in no time!
Try different kinds and amounts of chocolate. But always take chocolate you would love to eat, too. Maybe you like it sweet and milky or with almond flavor or marshmallows or espresso.
To me, the best hot chocolate is dark, creamy and a little bitter, no aroma added. Just like melted dark chocolate. In winter, I like to add some more spices, like ginger and my favorite, clove. Experiment what tastes best to you. Then you have your true and genuine traditional family recipe for homemade hot chocolate.
I also like to top it with whipped cream, because this match of cool cream and hot chocolate is made in heaven! This is why that beverage never fails to cheer up my mood. Add some homemade caramel drizzle sauce if you like!
Let me know how you like it best! And share this recipe, please!
Homemade Hot Chocolate
Making your own hot chocolate or cocoa is easy, frugal, and you can have it ready in minutes. Let's see how.
Ingredients
- 150 g dark plain chocolate chopped or grated
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 l milk (4 1/4 cups)
- pinch of salt
- sugar according to taste
- dash of aroma vanilla, almond, ..
Instructions
- Combine chocolate, milk, and cinnamon in a saucer and let the chocolate melt over low heat. Stir occasionally. When the chocolate is melted, add salt, sugar, and aroma if used. Then mix well and heat up. Or let cool down and chill it in the fridge.
Recipe Notes
Try different types and brands of chocolate to find what you like best.
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