Creamy and delicious, hot cocoa is comforting and will keep you warm in the winter.
Winter has arrived, cold winds are blowing, and it is the perfect time to stay cozy indoors, watching movies, reading books or even taking nice long naps. A mug of steaming hot cocoa makes a comforting treat during the winter season.
The holiday season is my favorite time of the year. I like making Christmas treats, shopping for small gifts, celebrating with friends and family, decorating the house, etc.
Another thing that I enjoy in winter is drinking warm things like this hot cocoa. Rich and creamy, each sip of this drink will make you feel delightfully warm and cozy. It is a necessity for those cold winter nights during which you just want to snuggle yourself under a blanket.
This is a simple recipe. In this recipe, I have prepared a cocoa syrup by adding cocoa powder, sugar, and a pinch of salt in water and by boiling it. Into this syrup, I have added milk and heavy cream and cooked again. Then I have added a bit of vanilla to make it more flavorful.
You can easily make it any time, especially when kids are at home during the holidays. You can top this delicious drink with marshmallows or whipped cream.
You can have this hot cocoa drink just as it is or you can pair it with some cookies or churros.
HOT COCOA RECIPE
Creamy and delicious, hot cocoa is comforting and will keep you warm in the winter. You can easily make it any time, especially when kids are at home during the holidays. You can top this delicious drink with marshmallows or whipped cream.
PREPARATION TIME : 5 MINUTES
MAKING TIME : 15 MINUTES
CAN BE SERVED TO 2 PEOPLE
INGREDIENTS
All the ingredients are measured in a 250 ml cup
- 2 cups of full fat milk
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- 1 cup of water
- 4 tablespoons of cocoa powder
- 4 tablespoons of sugar
- Some small marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
METHOD
- In a sauce pan, add the water, sugar, cocoa powder and the salt. Heat it on a medium flame by constantly stirring so that there are no lumps.
- Bring it to a boil. When it boils, reduce the heat to low and simmer it for 2 minutes.
- Add the milk and the heavy cream and mix well.
- Continue cooking on a medium low heat, by constantly stirring. When the milk and cocoa mixture starts to boil, (small bubbles start to appear) reduce the temperature of the stove to low and cook for another 1 or 2 minutes by constantly stirring it.
- Switch off the stove, add the vanilla and mix.
- Transfer into mugs, top with marshmallows and serve hot.
NOTES
After adding the milk and cream, do not let the cocoa and milk mixture to boil. Reduce the temperature of the stove immediately when the milk mixture is about to boil.
You can also top this hot cocoa with whipped cream and sprinkle some cocoa powder or chocolate shavings over it.
STEP BY STEP PICTURES
In a sauce pan, add the water, sugar, cocoa powder and the salt.
Heat it on a medium flame by constantly stirring so that there are no lumps.
Bring it to a boil. When it boils, reduce the heat to low and simmer it for 2 minutes.
Add the milk
and the heavy cream
and mix well.
Continue cooking on a medium low heat, by constantly stirring. When the milk and cocoa mixture starts to boil, (small bubbles start to appear) reduce the temperature of the stove to low and cook for another 1 or 2 minutes by constantly stirring it.
Switch off the stove, add the vanilla and mix.
Transfer into mugs, top with marshmallows and serve hot.
