What can mean that even when the wind is raining outside, it is raining, it is gray, sad and cold, we smile from ear to ear? Hot chocolate! How to make hot chocolate?
What chocolate
The most important is the choice of the main star of the evening, i.e. chocolate. The best thing we can do is choosing dark chocolate with about 70% cocoa content – by the way this is the most appropriate choice we can make using chocolate in the kitchen in various scenes.
Some, especially children, prefer the taste of milk chocolate, sweeter, more creamy. Bitter chocolate, in turn, is a more intense flavor – you can try both versions and find out which one suits our tastes more.
Using too bitter chocolate, with a cocoa content closer to 100%, carries the risk of too dry taste – such chocolate would probably be a great substitute for a cup of espresso after dinner, but it is not as well suited for warming up on a winter afternoon.
Yes for skim milk!
We have to dissolve chocolate in milk, this aspect also gives us a lot of freedom – it depends whether we like the more or less intense chocolate flavor. When dissolving chocolate, use full fat milk. Making hot chocolate a diet drink on skim milk is a dead end.
Extras – sweet and savory
As for the additions – it is worth considering cinnamon, which does not overwhelm with its aroma chocolate flavor. Some also add vanilla, cardamom and even nutmeg.
Reaching for inspiration to the Mayans, we can reach for a pinch of hot spices, like chillies. It is also worth trying with a little salt, which surprisingly well emphasizes the taste of chocolate.
When we have all the ingredients we need to choose a method – it is best to first dissolve the chocolate in a little milk until something like a chocolate cream is formed, then add the rest of the milk.
Hot chocolate – a classic recipe
Ingredients:
- 250 ml skim milk
- 100 ml 18% or 30% cream
- 200 g dark chocolate 70%
- a pinch of chilli
A method of preparing:
Boil milk with cream, add crushed chocolate and a pinch of chilli. Stir until chocolate melts.
Hot nut milk chocolate
Ingredients:
- 250 ml milk
- 125 ml 30% cream
- 100 g milk chocolate
- nutty coffee syrup
A method of preparing:
Boil milk with cream. Add crushed milk chocolate, stir until melted. Pour into a cup and finally add the syrup to taste. Mix it and it’s ready!
Hot white chocolate with strawberries
Ingredients:
- 250 ml milk
- 125 ml 30% cream
- 200 g white chocolate
- half vanilla pods
- spoon of strawberry jam
A method of preparing:
Boil the milk with cream and the flesh from the vanilla pod. Add crushed chocolate, mix until melted. Put a little strawberry jam into the glass. Pour her chocolate.
