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Hot Cocoa

Hot Cocoa

Cuisine:World

Course:Dessert

5m prep 10m cook 15m ready

4 servings The proportions here will produce a cocoa richer in flavor but much less sweet than you will get from most commercial mixes. You may substitute nondairy options for the milk, such as almond or soy milk.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar, to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups milk or half-and-half
  • (½ teaspoon vanilla or 1 tablespoon Kahlúa or Grand Marnier)
  • (Ground nutmeg or cinnamon)
  • 1
    • 1 cup cold heavy cream
    • (2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 to 4 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar, or 2 teaspoons honey, to taste)
    • (½ teaspoon vanilla)
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Beat in a large bowl (chill the bowl if your kitchen is very warm) with a hand mixer or balloon whisk or in a stand mixer set at medium-high speed, until stiff and billowy but not grainy: 1 cup cold heavy cream; (2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 to 4 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar, or 2 teaspoons honey, to taste); (½ teaspoon vanilla)
    2. Use immediately.

Let's Prepare

Collect

Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.

  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar, to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups milk or half-and-half
  • (½ teaspoon vanilla or 1 tablespoon Kahlúa or Grand Marnier)
  • (Ground nutmeg or cinnamon)
  • 1 (Whipped Cream or marshmallows)

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Whisk together in a medium heavy saucepan: ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar, to taste; ¼ teaspoon salt

  2. Step 2.

    Whisk into the cocoa mixture in a slow, steady stream: 3 cups milk or half-and-half

  3. Step 3.

    Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom of the pan, just until bubbles appear around the sides. Remove from the heat. If desired, stir in: (½ teaspoon vanilla or 1 tablespoon Kahlúa or Grand Marnier)

  4. Step 4.

    If desired, top each serving with: (Ground nutmeg or cinnamon); (Whipped Cream or marshmallows)

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