How to Make Superior Hot Chocolate Without Mix
I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that you were unnecessarily buying hot chocolate mixes, but the good news is that you’ll learn two different methods of making rich, drinkable chocolate for cozy chilly days, and you’re going to do it with the stuff you’ve got. you are probably already in your kitchen.
Part of the Skillet The Grown-Up Kitchen series , designed to answer your most basic cooking questions and fill in any gaps that may be missing from your home chef education.
Method 1: Use a dark chocolate bar.
If you want an intense, almost aggressive chocolate drink that needs to be drunk rather than swallowed, this Megan Giller recipe from Bean to Bar Chocolate: America’s Craft Chocolate Revolution is for you. For two servings you will need:
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 8 1/2 ounces of your favorite dark chocolate (look for 68 to 75 percent cocoa), coarsely chopped
Bring water to a boil, remove from heat, add chocolate, cover and leave for half a minute. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pot with a rubber spatula, then return the pot to the hot (but still off) burner and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Stir everything with great energy until the lumps and bumps disappear, and reheat. While it might be tempting to add whipped cream and other small items to your drink, this chocolate is best enjoyed on its own.
Method # 2: Make your own cocoa powder mix.
If you have kids, it’s unlikely they’ll want to sip on the super-rich, slightly bitter drink described above, but sweeter teeth can also be satisfied without store-bought formula. I love this recipe from Queen Martha , which uses just three ingredients and can be pre-decomposed, making it as convenient and cheap as any bag. To make over 90 servings of this item, you will need:
- 3 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 1/4 cups cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon salt
Whisk everything together in a large bowl and transfer to an airtight storage container. The next time you or your kids are passionate about something chocolatey and sweet, simply dissolve two tablespoons of your DIY mixture in eight ounces of hot milk only . Sprinkle with whipped cream, marshmallows, or hard candy on top.