My Favorite Recipes: Homemade hot chocolates

With winter hitting in full force in Whitman County, snow activities commencing and freezing temperatures forecasted, there can hardly be anything more perfect and comforting than a piping hot mug of hot chocolate. While store bought hot chocolate can be great, taking the hot chocolate to the next level will bring an extra layer of comfort and tastiness.

A collection of favorite hot chocolate recipes from the Internet and social media follow.

Creamy Hot Cocoa

From allrecipes.com

By: Jeanie Bean

1/3 cup unsweetended cocoa powder

3/4 cup white sugar

1 pinch salt

1/3 cup boiling water

3 1/2 cups milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about two minutes. Watch that it does not scorch. Stir in the milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide into mugs and add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drink temperature.

Makes four mugs.

Users comment that this recipe is very sweet, and some advised cutting the sugar to half a cup or less.

Hot Chocolate Float

From delish.com

By: Lauren Miyashiro

2 cups whole milk

2 TBSP cocoa powder

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 ounces chocolate chips

2 TBSP chocolate sauce, for serving

Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Chocolate shavings, for serving

Bring milk to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar and stir until no lumps remain. Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla and cook, stirring occassionally, until the chocolate is completely melted. Turn off heat.

Pour chocolate sauce in a small dish. Dip cups in the chocolate to rim the cup. Pour hot chocolate into each glass, then top with a scoop of ice cream and some chocolate shavings.

Total cooking time is five minutes. Recipe makes four servings.

Eggnog Hot Chocolate

From delish.com

By: Frank P. Melodia

2 1/2 cups milk

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate

4 cups eggnog

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup coffee liqueur (optional)

Whipped cream

Cinnamon or peppermint sticks

In medium saucepan, bring milk and chocolate just to a simmer; remove from heat. Let stand two minutes. Whisk chocolcate until melted and smooth.

Stir in eggnog. Gently heat over low heat until very warm. Stir in vanilla and coffee liqueur, if using. Pour into mugs. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon sticks, if desired.

Total cooking time is 20 minutes, with preparation time being 10 minutes. Recipe makes eight servings.

Nutella Hot Chocolate

From thekitchn.com

By: Maureen Petrosky

1 1/2 cups milk

1/3 cup Nutella

1 cinnamon stick

Whipped cream or marshmallows, to top

In a pot over medium-high heat, bring the milk to a simmer. Add the Nutella, stirring until it has melted and become incorporated. Add the cinnamon stick and bring to a simmer.

Ladle the hot milk mixture into the mugs and serve with fresh whipped cream or marshmallows. If serving with marshmallows, toast on a foil-lined baking sheet under the broiler for 30 to 45 seconds, until golden.

Recipe serves two. For a big batch recipe that serves eight, increase the amounts to six cups of milk, a cup and a half of Nutella and 1 cinnamon stick. Any milk type works in this recipe.

Homemade Hot Chocolate – Dairy and Sugar Free

From wholenewmom .com

1 cup non-dairy milk or water

1 TBSP cocoa or carob powder, sifted

Liquid stevia, to taste

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and whisk over low heat until combined and desired temperature has been reached.

Pour into a mug and enjoy.

Makes one cup.

Brownie Batter Hot Cocoa

From ohbiteit.com

2 cups of whole milk

1 cup of cream

1 cup of brownie mix

1-2 cups of hot cocoa mix, any brand

1/2 cup of chocolate syrup or fudge sauce

Whipped topping

Crumbled brownie bits, optional

In a medium stock pot, bring the milk and cream up to a simmer. Whisk in the brownie mix and the cocoa. Stir well, until mixture is combined and thick.

Rim the mugs by dipping them into a shallow plate of chocolate sauce.

Gently pour the cocoa into the mugs and top them with some whipped topping and brownie crumbles.

Makes four servings.

The World's Best Hot Chocolate

From buzzfeed.com

By: Jacques Torres

For the whipped cream

1 cup heavy cream, chilled

For the hot chocolate

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup milk powder

1 tsp cornstarch

1 cup dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

This hot chocolate is very rich. If desiring thinner hot chocolate, use three cups of milk.

For the whipped cream, pour the heavy cream into a medium mixing bowl and put in the freezer for five minutes. Take the mixing bowl of whipped cream out of the freezer and whisk with a large whisk until soft peaks form.

For the hot chocolate, bring milk to a boil in a medium sauce pot over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium and then add the chocolate, whisking vigorously until the chocolate is completely melted. Add the milk powder and cornstarch, still whisking, until everything is dissolved and the mixture is smooth and thick.

To serve, divide the hot chocolate among four mugs or glasses, then garnish each with a large dollop of whipped cream.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

From foodnetwork.com

By: Sandra Lee

6 12-ounce cans evaporated milk

4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 TBSP vanilla extract

1 tsp ground nutmeg

Pinch cayenne pepper

2 12-ounce bags semisweet chocolate chips (recommended: Hershey's)

Cocoa powder, for serving.

For stovetop:

In a large pot over medium heat, whisk together milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract and nutmeg. Add chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate is melted. Cover and turn heat to low for five minutes.

For slow cooker:

In a four-quart slow cooker, whisk together milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract and nutmeg. Add chocolate chips. Cover and cook on low setting for two to three hours, stirring every 15 to 20 minutes.

Serve with a dusting of cocoa powder. Makes eight servings.