What’s better than a mug of steaming hot chocolate to warm up a rainy winter day? This wonderfully creamy chocolat chaud from my all-time favorite blog by David Lebovitz, gets its luxurious richness from lots of top-quality chocolate; I used Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa which has a subtle aroma of roasted coffee and Natural Bourbon vanilla beans. The beverage is best served in tiny espresso cups rather than regular coffee mugs with a large basin of freshly whipped cream on the side to overcome any possible chocolate overdose.
PARISIAN HOT CHOCOLATE
Ingredients:
1 cup (250 ml) whole milk
65 g bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 tablespoon light brown sugar, optional
Method:
- Heat milk in a medium-sized saucepan. Whisk in chocolate, stirring until melted and steaming hot.
- Cook mixture at a very low boil for about 3 minutes whisking constantly. Keep an eye on the mixture.
- It may boil up a bit during the first moments. Add brown sugar and serve warm in small coffee cups.
- It improves if made ahead and allowed to sit for few hours. Rewarm before serving. Makes 2 servings.
If you have a penchant for white chocolate, you might like to try this recipe from Will Cook For Friends spiked with a dash of cardamom and fresh orange zest. As usual, I stuck to Lindt with its Excellence White Chocolate bar, infused with Madagascan vanilla, which melts readily into a smooth and deliciously rich chocolate drink.
SPICED WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE
Ingredients:
60g good quality white chocolate, roughly chopped
1 cup (250 ml) whole milk
2 green cardamom pods, crushed
1 inch strip of orange zest
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of cinnamon or freshly grated nutmeg
Fresh whipped cream, for serving
Method:
- Place a small pot on the stove over medium-low heat, and add the milk, crushed cardamom, and orange zest.
- Heat until the milk begins to steam, and small bubbles appear around the edges of the pot, stirring frequently.
- As soon as bubbles appear, remove from heat. Do not let mixture boil. Place chocolate in heatproof bowl.
- Place a strainer over the bowl with chocolate, and pour milk through to remove cardamom and orange.
- Add vanilla extract and sit for 20-30 seconds to allow chocolate to begin melting. Whisk till smooth.
- Garnish with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg. Top with freshly whipped cream. Makes 2 servings.
Hot Chocolate for Cold Days!
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