the perfect cup of hot cocoa
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| a frosty morning (1892) by ida waugh |
hey hey hey -- shaking things up and sharing a hot chocolate recipe for today's blogmas post. I've shared this recipe a few years back, but as we enter the winter and holiday season, hot cocoa is an essential in many homes so it's time for a reshare. it's perfect to cozy up a frosty morning or get the kids warm after playing in the snow! this recipe is super creamy and smooth which makes it the best -- bonus points because making it is fairly simple.
in all transparency, I only have hot
chocolate once or twice a year and I always make it at home when I do. I feel
like the ones that you get at the store or at Christmas markets are always watered down; leaving me in a pit of disappointment. I'd
rather buy an iced coffee in super chilly weather than have a cup of hot
watery chocolate goop. There really is no better cup of hot chocolate than the one you make yourself, so let's get to that recipe!
the ingredients
- cocoa powder
- milk
- sugar -- depending on what kind of cocoa you're using
The secret to the perfect cup of hot chocolate is ditching the recipes that tell you to heat up water as the first step.
I never ever ever use water, I always opt for milk instead.
steps to make
To make a cup, heat up 2/3 of a cup a milk -- either on the stove or in the microwave. You want that 2/3 of a cup to be hot
because the hotter your base, the faster and better your cocoa will
dissolve. If placing in the microwave, I heat it up for about 2 minutes
and 30 seconds.
Next pour in your cocoa and mix. I really love the Swiss Miss packets
because each packet equates to one cup. But you can also use Hershey's
cocoa powder, or Starbuck's cocoa powder -- whichever you love best
works!
If you're using powders that come in a can and is unsweetened, then mix 3
tablespoons of cocoa to one cup of milk and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of
sugar to that mix. Remember, the sugar is only if your powder is
unsweetened!
Mix until you can't see the powder anymore at the surface. If your cocoa
isn't hot enough you'll see powder clumps at the top. If that's the
case, heat it up some more and mix again until no more clumps are
floating up to the top.
Once that's done, add more milk to cool it down a bit and then wa-la!
All done. There is your simple, delicious, cup of hot chocolate.
a small tip:
if you're making a batch for your family or a larger gathering, heat and mix everything while on the stove. It's much easier and faster. That way you can serve everyone at the same time!
now the fun part, toppings!
If you love a bit of flavor and want to add some extra festive flare, add some
toppings to your cup of cocoa! If you're feeling boojie, then make it a station and add options for you and your family to start creating a personalized cup of whimsical chocolatey bliss!
Here are some fun and festive topping ideas:
- whipped cream
- chocolate syrup
- mini marshmallows
- chocolate shavings
- cinnamon
- candy cane shreds
- sprinkles
- coffee ice cream -- any type of ice cream will do, coffee ice cream is just my favorite!
- powdered sugar
- chocolate chips -- dark, mint, white, or milk
- coconut shavings
- caramel sauce
- coconut shavings
- gingerbread crumbs
friends, the possibilities are endless as long as you're creative!
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