The quest of revealing the ultimate cup of hot chocolate

Here I was drinking a cup of hot chocolate, watching the snow blow sideways outside the window and wondering what could make my cup of velvety goodness even better.. And decided to ask Permies for your favourite recipe!
Maybe I'll even inspire you to make a cup or two.

So the question is, what is your ultimate hot chocolate recipe?

Here's my basic cup:

Two heaped tablespoons of cocoa powder (not the sweetened kind with milk powder in it, just plain cocoa powder)
One large pinch of salt (Where there is chocolate, there must be some salt!)
Two teaspoons vanilla sugar (sometimes I switch this to honey. Mmmmm...)
About a teaspoon of butter
whole milk

Add the dry ingredient in the cup, add a splash of milk to make a paste, no one likes dry lumps in their hot chocolate. (If you do, I don't judge. You're the exception that verifies the rule!)
Heat the milk, do not boil. Add the blob of butter to the cup and pour the milk in. Mix vigorously until the butter has melted.
Take the first sip and decide if it needs some more sweetness and adjust accordingly.
Enjoy! (Tastes better if drank while cocooned in a blanket)

Now it's your turn, reveal your secrets! Invisible bonus points given if the cup contains cream or coconut milk.

Yum!  Mine is similar, though I like to add some spices:  cinnamon, nutmeg and maybe the tiniest pinch of cloves.  These I saute in a tablespoon of butter until they are fragrant, then I add the milk to them to heat up (warning:  hot butter may spit!).  The butter doesn't completely emulsify in the milk/cocoa, but I kind of like that buttery cap.  

And I usually top up with a dash of cold cream before enjoying.  Now I'm off to go make some

Alas, cow's milk does not agree with me! If I've got a hankering and have planned ahead, I add chocolate powder to coconut milk. Yes, I realize it's not a local product, but I generally drink herbal teas so if I'm really in need of something as energy intensive as hot chocolate for something like the cold snap we're expecting to arrive at any time, I'll forgive myself for importing both the chocolate and the coconut milk!

Mine starts with a bunch of water heating in the tea kettle (yes, I know).  Then I put together a bunch of cocoa powder (not sure but likely 2 tablespoons), a good couple dashes of salt, a big scoop of cocoa flavored protein powder, a half a teaspoon of cinnamon, a squirt of almond extract and a healthy pour of maple syrup.  Mix it together in my giant cocoa mug but it's too dry to make a paste.  Add a quarter cup or less of water to make a slurry, then add the hot water.  If hot goes in first it will do funny things with the protein powder.  Fill it up an inch or more from the top and fill the remainder with raw milk.

That, plus catching up on permies.com, is my happy morning routine.

G Freden wrote:Yum!  Mine is similar, though I like to add some spices:  cinnamon, nutmeg and maybe the tiniest pinch of cloves.  These I saute in a tablespoon of butter until they are fragrant, then I add the milk to them to heat up (warning:  hot butter may spit!).  The butter doesn't completely emulsify in the milk/cocoa, but I kind of like that buttery cap.  

And I usually top up with a dash of cold cream before enjoying.  Now I'm off to go make some

I was just about to go to bed (it's midnight here) when I read this.. Nope, the kitchen suddenly called me! I have tried cinnamon in a hot chocolate before, but the thought of sauteing the spices..!
Well, here I am, with your special with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves PLUS the dash of cold cream. Oh wow. The sauteing does a thing! Nom. If I could I would give you two thumbs ups!

Jay Angler wrote:Alas, cow's milk does not agree with me! If I've got a hankering and have planned ahead, I add chocolate powder to coconut milk. Yes, I realize it's not a local product, but I generally drink herbal teas so if I'm really in need of something as energy intensive as hot chocolate for something like the cold snap we're expecting to arrive at any time, I'll forgive myself for importing both the chocolate and the coconut milk!

So, are you prepared for the coming cold snap? Hot chocolate does make miracles when it's cold.
Oh the amount of shoveling I have ahead of me tomorrow... It snowed half the day. Two cups of cocoa is acceptable, I am considering this as preparing.

Mike Haasl wrote:Mine starts with a bunch of water heating in the tea kettle (yes, I know).

I have to admit I made this O_O face when I read the first line.. But your recipe does make sense as a whole!
Also your morning routine sounds so nice.. I catch up on Permies in the evenings as my mornings start with a toddler throwing clothes at me. Well at least I get to dress up straight from under the blanket and even the woolen socks are delivered to me! After that I have to chase the toddler to get her socks on. Then we put the fire in the fireplace if needed and brew some coffee (definetely needed). I do like my mornings. Although I have been longing for the spring and summer to come...

I'm intrigued by the maple syrup, it's quite expensive and basicly never used in Finland. I have bought and used it once, for a chocolate chip cookie recipe. I wonder if that was a bit of a waste. They were good cookies but would the syrup been better used in a hot chocolate...


Edit for typos. Prolly time to go to sleep!

My current favorite way to make hot chocolate is:

1 Cup raw milk

1 Tablespoon raw cacao powder

1 Tablespoon coconut sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Put a large splash (gently!) of the milk into the bottom of a saucepan set to medium. Add the dry ingredients and heat it up a bit while mixing it all together. When all is blended, add rest of milk but don't heat to simmering--just to steaming a bit. Serve and enjoy!

Hot Dang, that looks good. My sister made me something along these lines once and I’ve never been satisfied with the other stuff since. 😄 Thanks for the recipe!

I usually don't bother adding sugar these days - try it without, you may find the milk is sweet enough :) I haven't tried adding vanilla though, that could be interesting, thanks!