Fall is finally here and the air is beginning to turn a little cold (well, it hasn’t happened yet here in NC; it’s been in the 80s this week). But soon it will be hot chocolate weather!
We have a love affair with hot cocoa in our house. There is almost nothing better than a steaming cup of hot chocolate on a freezing cold day.
I’m not a big fan of powdered mix, but it’s convenient and the kids like it, so I used to buy several of the giant, economy-sized containers every winter. My kids would make themselves hot cocoa (and a huge mess for me to clean up) all winter long.
Then one particularly cold night I REALLY wanted a cup of hot chocolate, but we were completely out of the powdered stuff. I wondered if I had ingredients in the house to make a cup that would satisfy my craving.
I looked in the pantry to see what we had and the shelves were fairly empty. I needed to go to the grocery store. But I didn’t want to go out in the freezing rain so I kept digging. I was able to find a handful of milk-chocolate chips in a crumpled bag hiding away in a basket of forgotten baking ingredients. I figured, what the heck? And threw them into a cup of hot milk. Mixed it all up with my handy-dandy frother, and the rest, as they say, is history!
What I created that day was a lovely, rich, cup of hot, frothy milk infused with real milk chocolate chunks, melted to a silky smooth perfection. Then I topped it off with a sprinkle of Penzeys Vietnamese cinnamon. It was heavenly and sinful all at the same time.
Over the past few years I have tweaked the ingredients here and there and finally discovered the perfect recipe.
I no longer allow powdered hot chocolate mix in my home. This recipe is so simple, and it only takes a minute or two longer to make over the powdered stuff! I guarantee it is the most delicious hot chocolate you will ever taste.
The thing that makes this hot chocolate so amazing is the frothy milk. The chocolate is completely infused into the milk, and the milk is all light and airy. It’s like you are drinking a warm fluffy cloud of chocolate. The only way to get your hot chocolate like this is to use a milk frother. I recommend the PowerLix Milk Frother. It nearly doubles the volume of the milk and mixes everything perfectly. Best part is, there is no chocolate residue left at the bottom of the mixing bowl when you pour out the last cup (NOTE: don’t use a frother directly in a regular-sized coffee cup or you will end up with hot chocolate everywhere)!
My favorite recipe, shared below, involves chili infused dark chocolate and dash of Vietnamese cinnamon. The only thing that would make it more perfect is some homemade marshmallows.
Spicy Sipping Chocolate
Spicy Sipping Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup of milk (I use low fat but you can use any kind, if you want really decedent hot chocolate, use cream or half and half)
- 1.75 oz Lindt Excellence Chili Dark chocolate (you can use any kind of chocolate), plus some shavings for garnish
- 1/16 teaspoon Penzeys Vietnamese Cinnamon, and a dusting for garnish (optional, I love the spicy flavor of this cinnamon)
Instructions
- Chop the chocolate into chunks while your milk is heating up in the microwave (you can use the stove, but I prefer to use the microwave). Put your milk in at least a 3 cup mixing bowl to have plenty of room to blend).
- Pour the chocolate into the hot milk.
- Using a whisk or a milk frother mix in the chocolate until well blended and frothy.
- Pour into a mug.
- Garnish with cinnamon and chocolate shavings.
- Enjoy!
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I love hot chocolate, and I think this is a great idea. A spicy hot chocolate sounds divine. I can’t wait to try this recipe this weekend.
This sounds so good! I live in Texas so it usually doesn’t get the point that I want something warm but I love hot chocolate so I will definitely be trying this out!
Silvia
My daughter loves spicy hot chocolate like this. I have never made it at home before though.
How did you know what I was craving! This is EXACTLY what I want! Perfect fall day to drink it too!
I have never made hot chocolate like this before!! This sounds really good, what a great cup to make for the day!
I’m in SC and I do believe I feel a slight, very slight, chill in the air. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll get to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa while snuggling under a throw on the sofa. I can’t believe how hot it has been all week. You cocoa sounds divine!
I also love hot chocolate, so I’d love to try this recipe! I am not sure I want to toss my super easy, convenient powder out just yet, though :p
I have never heard of chili dark chocolate. I’m interested in how spicy it is. It sounds very different, but good.
It’s not too spicy! Just has a little kick to it. So good!!
My family loves our hot chocolate, but I haven’t tried the spicy variant yet. It seems interesting enough to try!
Hot chocolate is one of my favorite cold weather drinks! I love the idea of adding a little spice to it to jazz it up a bit!
Sounds good I will have to give it a try. The frother is really great to mix.
Oh my gosh, that look so delicious and so warming right now. Would love to have a cup.
I absolutely love hot chocolate but sometimes it can get a little dull. Would love to try some spicy hot chocolate, especially on some of those absolutely frigid Chicago days.
I love having a cup of hot chocolate! This recipe sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it.
One of the things I love the most about this time of the year is hot chocolate. I’ve not tried it with any spice but I’m down for that.
This spicy sipping hot chocolate recipe sounds awesome . I have never try the pepper chocolate but it does sound interesting and I would love to try this recipe. It is the perfect time of year to drink hot chocolate. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Wow this looks soo yummy! I love this recipe – I need to try it! I LOVE hot chocolate and I love trying new recipes to make it on my own!
That would taste so good right now on this cold morning in Georgia. I love al things chocolate and spicy.
gosh, this looks yummy. I need one right now.