Hot chocolate is popular with kids and adults alike. This warm and tasty drink is especially appreciated during the cold winter months, as well as, over the holidays. The calcium rich milk makes hot cocoa a great healthy snack for kids, as well as, a delicious fall or winter treat for the family.
This fast and simple winter treat is easy to make from scratch and from ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
Listed below are several ideas and recipes for tasty and delicious hot chocolate.
Classic Hot Chocolate Recipe using Cocoa
Servings:
- 4
Preparation
- 5 minutes
Materials needed to make traditional hot chocolate:
- Metal ladle
- Saucepan
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 3 cups milk
- 2 heaping tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa, or more or less to taste
- 2 tablespoons of white sugar, or more or less to taste
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
How to Make Simple and Fast Traditional Hot Chocolate
- Pour liquid ingredients in saucepan.
- Put the heat on medium.
- Stir in cocoa, white sugar, and vanilla, until all ingredients are dissolved.
- Serve immediately.
For an extra chocolaty cup of hot chocolate, melt an ounce of dark chocolate into the saucepan, before adding the other ingredients.
How to Make Fat-Free Hot Chocolate
This tasty treat can also be made fat-free to accommodate dietary needs and for a diet- friendly and slimming treat. For a fat-free hot cocoa recipe, use skim milk in the classic hot chocolate recipe above. Also, consider adding a tablespoon or so of fat-free half and half to each mug. For an extra indulgent glass of fat-free hot chocolate, consider topping each mug with a tablespoon of fat-free whipped topping.
If having hot chocolate as a slimming snack, consider watching the amount of sugar you add to your tasty treat. Hot chocolate can be a great healthy snack for dieters, but too much sugar can add unneeded calories.
How to Make Vegan Hot Chocolate
Vegans can also enjoy tasty homemade hot chocolate. Just substitute rice, almond, or soy milk for cow’s milk in the recipe above. Many of these tasty milk alternatives are already sweetened, so you don’t need to add much sugar. Additionally, for a fast and easy stovetop free vegan hot chocolate recipe, consider purchasing chocolate rice milk, chocolate soy milk, or chocolate almond milk and microwaving each mug one at a time.
Flavorings in Hot Chocolate
Many tasty flavorings go well in hot chocolate. This Christmas or holiday season, consider adding a couple teaspoons of mint or peppermint extract to your hot chocolate. If you don’t have mint extract, a bag of mint or peppermint tea added to the pan also works well for adding a refreshing minty flavor to your hot cocoa. For a more autumnal flavored drink, add maple extract and sweeten the hot chocolate with maple syrup instead of sugar for a maple flavored treat.
Almond extract is also tasty in hot chocolate. Additionally, there are some fruity flavorings that are yummy in hot chocolate. Raspberry extract and orange extract both are tasty additions to hot cocoa. Coffee is another flavoring that is delicious in hot chocolate. Add to taste instant coffee to your hot chocolate, for a coffee flavored mug of hot cocoa.
You won’t need to add much of the above extracts to enjoy the benefit of their flavor. One or two teaspoons should do the trick.
Spices, such as Cinnamon, Cardamom, & Even Chili in Hot Chocolate
There are a variety of spices that you might consider adding to your next batch of hot chocolate. Add autumnal spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, or even all-spice for a festive fall hot chocolate. Cardamom is also particularly tasty in hot chocolate. Chili powder and a dash of cayenne pepper are also surprisingly scrumptious in hot chocolate.
Adding Liqueur to Hot Chocolate for an Extra Indulgent, Adult Only Treat
Alcoholic beverages, such as liqueurs, make delectable additions to any mug of hot chocolate. There are a variety of liqueurs that are tasty in hot chocolate. Chocolate liqueurs, cream liqueurs, coffee liquors, and some fruit-flavored liqueurs are good choices for an extravagant hot chocolate experience. You don’t need to add much to enjoy the taste of the alcohol melding with the chocolate.
Toppings for Hot Chocolate
Adding toppings to your hot cocoa can be both decorative and tasty. Hot chocolate can be topped a variety of ways. Whipped cream is especially tasty on top of hot chocolate. Sprinkle cocoa powder or a little cinnamon on top of the whipped cream. You also could finely grate a little chocolate over the whipped cream before serving. For an extra tasty treat, mix a little Nutella or chocolate frosting in with your whipped cream.
Marshmallows are another traditional and tasty topping for hot chocolate.
