Food

BEAUTIFUL HOT CHOCOLATE NIGHTCAPS

Courtesy of How Sweet It Is. Toasted Marshmallow Cream Hot Chocolate.

Winter’s longer colder nights call for more beautiful nightcaps. Whiskies and brandies are lovely, but we’ve got a hot craving for some cozy hot chocolate. We’ve curated a collection of truly beautiful hot cocoa recipes that will have you happily tossing those instant packets and stepping up your game.

Jessica, of How Sweet It Is, blew us away with her Toasted Marshmallow Cream Hot Chocolate. OMG! This knocks a mere hot chocolate with marshmallows out of the park. Seriously. If you want an unbelievably beautiful hot chocolate experience like none you’ve ever had before, try this one!

TOASTED MARSHMALLOW CREAM HOT CHOCOLATE

By How Sweet It Is

Serves 6 to 8

Total time: 25 MINUTES

Ingredients:

1/2 batch homemade marshmallow cream frosting
2 (14-ounce) cans coconut milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup milk
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
12 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

Combine the milks, cream, chocolate, vanilla extract, salt and nutmeg together in a large saucepan and stir constantly until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is heated through.
Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top with a tablespoon or two of the marshmallow cream. The marshmallow is super thick and rich, so keep that in mind when it comes to adding your desired amount.
Torch the frosting on top if desired. I suggest serving this with a spoon since the marshmallow may get all over your face!

Photo: Courtesy of Simple Dishes. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Affogato.

PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE AFFOGATO

Serves 8 to 10 (affogato-size portions)

Ingredients:

2 cups milk
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
pinch salt
few drops peppermint extract

Instructions:

In a small saucepan over medium heat bring the milk to a gentle boil. Whisk together the cocoa powder and sugar in a small bowl.
Remove the saucepan from the heat then whisk in the cocoa powder mixture along with the chocolate, salt and peppermint extract or oil to taste.
Strain hot chocolate if any little lumps remain.

Hot chocolate will keep, covered and refrigerated, for two weeks.
Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to a small bowl or mug. Pour 1/4 cup of warm hot chocolate over the ice cream then finish with crumbs of candy cane.

Photo: Courtesy of Catch My Party. Triple Chocolate and Amaretto Hot Cocoa

Chocolate and Amaretto Hot Cocoa, from Jillian Tohber Leslie, of Catch My Party, is like hot Almond Joy joy.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE AMARETTO HOT COCOA RECIPE

Ingredients:

For the Hot Chocolate

4 cups milk
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Amaretto

For the Chocolate Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
4 teaspoons sugar

For the Topping

2 tablespoons of finely grated dark chocolate
2 tablespoons of sliced almonds
2 tablespoons of shredded coconut

Directions:

To make the hot chocolate:

Over low heat, warm 1 cup of milk. Add the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt and whisk until they are dissolved.
Turn the heat up to medium, and add the remaining 3 cups of milk, stir until it is hot enough to serve.
Take the pan off the heat and add the vanilla and Amaretto.

To make the chocolate whipped cream:

Mix the cocoa with a couple tablespoons of the cream. Stir with a spoon, pressing out any lumps until you have a smooth chocolate paste.
Add the remaining milk, and sugar, and beat with an electric mixer on high for 2-3 minutes until you have a nice peaky texture.
You can refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

To Serve:

Pour the hot chocolate into the serving cups. Spoon on a some of the chocolate whipped cream, then use a grater or zester to add some of the dark chocolate. Finish with a few slivers of almond and some shredded coconut.

Makes 4-6 cups.

Photo: Courtesy of Food Babbles. Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

This homemade Hot Cocoa Mix, from Holly Hanks, of the phenominal food blog, Phenomenon, is smooth, creamy chocolate perfection. We love the depth that the brown sugar adds, and the rounded salt notes. You’ll never use a packet again. Kate, at Food Babbles adds chocolate chips and marshmallows to the mix, layering them like parfaits in canning jars, for a beautiful gift.

HOMEMADE HOT COCOA MIX

Ingredients:

12 oz dry milk (powdered milk)
3/4 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder, dutch processed
1 1/4 Cup packed light brown sugar
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients together well. It will be a little grainy and lumpy from the dry milk and the brown sugar, but should mix fine. I like to dump everything into a big bowl and whisk well to combine. Store in an airtight container
Makes enough hot cocoa mix for 10 – 12 6 oz servings, depending on how rich you like your cocoa
To mix a serving, heat 6 oz of water to very hot. Pour into a heat proof cup with 3-4 Tablespoons of mix in the bottom (it mixes a lot easier and smoother this way and is easier to heat the water in bulk if you are making more than one serving at a time). Stir well and enjoy

Options:

1 T vanilla powder – boosts the flavor, you could also add just a small splash of vanilla extract to your cocoa after you’ve heated it and stirred it i
T ground cinnamon – gives a slight spiced flavor for a Mexican cocoa effec
4 T mix to 6 oz very hot wate
You can make the mix without the powdered milk and use regular milk instead. If you do this, you will have a much smaller amount of mix and will only need to use 2-3 Tablespoons of mix per 6 oz cup of hot milk.

Photo: Courtesy of Cupcakes and Cashmere. Decadent hot chocolate.

Cupcakes and Cashmere knows how to really get down with hot chocolate. She pairs extra creamy, extra rich, extra Decadent Hot Chocolate, by Kemp Minifie with bruléed Homemade Marshmallows, from Alton Brown.

DECADENT HOT CHOCOLATE

By Kemp Minifie

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 pinches of salt
2 cups half-and-half or 1 cup whole milk plus 1 cup heavy cream
6 ounces bittersweet (60% cacao) chocolate, broken into small pieces or chopped
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extrac

Preparation:

Whisk together the cornstarch and salt, and whisk in the milk and cream until cornstarch is dissolved
Bring the mixture just to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, then reduce the heat and slowly simmer it, whisking frequently, 1 minute
Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate. Let it rest for 1 minute, then whisk the mixture until chocolate is melted and liquid is smooth
Whisk in the cocoa and the vanilla, and if necessary, reheat it over medium-low heat until hot.

Photo: Courtesy of The Rising Spoon. Homemade Spicy Hot Chocolate.

I got my first taste of spicy hot chocolate from Jacques Torres, when he opened his first incredible chocolate shop in New York back in 2000. The chile pepper kick amped the chocolate and made my mouth, body, mind, and soul sing. Here is The Rising Spoon’s homemade version.

HOMEMADE SPICY HOT COCOA

By The Rising Spoon

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

1 cup + 1/4 cup full-fat milk (dairy or non-dairy)
2 tablespoons of organic raw cacao powder (get a favorite brand)
1 1/2 tablespoons raw, organic sugar
1 teaspoon of powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
2-3 pinches of cayenne pepper
1 pinch of sea salt (Pink Himalayan, Celtic or Utah sourced salt)
Homemade whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

Warm up 1 1/4 cup of milk (any kind you wish) on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add the cacao powder, raw sugar, powdered sugar, cinnamon and cayenne pepper to a large mug.
Measure out 1/4 cup of the hot milk and slowly pour into the mug, stirring constantly until the cacao powder and sugars are dissolved. Pour the rest of the milk into the mug and stir.
Drink as is or dollop some whipped cream or marshmallows on top. Enjoy!

Notes & Tips

Make sure to use 100% cacao powder, not a hot cocoa or sipping chocolate mix
For traditional hot cocoa, simply leave out the cinnamon, cayenne pepper and salt.
If you'd rather have hot chocolate, instead of cocoa, substitute melted squares or chips of semisweet or bittersweet chocolate instead of the cacao powder. You may need to add more or less chocolate pieces, depending on how rich you'd like it to taste.

Photo: Courtesy of 12 Bottle Bar. Amsterdam Hot Chocolate from 12 Bottle Bar.

AMSTERDAM HOT CHOCOLATE

Grand Marnier and Bols Genever are added to the mix in Amsterdam Hot Chocolate from the 12 Bottle Bar. Then it’s topped with mandatory.

Photo: Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens. Coconut Tres Leches Hot Chocolate.

Remember the peace of one of the rare chilly Caribbean evenings? --- The kind that made you grateful that you brought your cotton sweater? -- Sitting on the beach, in a cuddle, thinking about your friends up north in the ice and snow. This is the hot chocolate for that beautiful moment.

COCONUT TRES LECHES HOT CHOCOLATE

Ingredients:

3 cups milk
114 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
1/214 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoons vanilla
sweetened whipped cream
¼ cup chocolate shaving

Directions:

At medium-low heat, combine fat-free milk, coconut milk, and sweetened condensed milk until at a simmer, stirring occasionally
Whisk in Cocoa powder
Once removed from heat, stir in vanilla powder and pour into mugs. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Photo: Courtesy of the Hungry Housewife. Nutella Hot Chocolate.

OK, so this is so simple, it’s almost banal, except it’s divine. No contest. C’mon, we dare you not to fall into a peaceful purr after sipping this one from Leslie Green, of The Hungry Housewife. It takes less than 1 minute to make.

NUTELLA HOT CHOCOLATE

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
2 ½ Tbsp Nutella
1 Tbsp Cocoa
Tiny pinch of salt
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Tbsp Sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

To make Nutella Hot Chocolate

Whisk milk, nutella, cocoa, and salt together in a small sauce pan at medium heat until well blended.
Pour into mug and top with homemade whipped crea

To make Homemade Whipped Cream

Place medium bowl and electric beaters for mixer in freezer for 10 minute
combine whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla extract in chilled bowl and beat starting on low and working up to high
Whipped cream is finished when consistency of whipped cream is reached.

I hope you enjoy this heavenly beverage!

Photo: Courtesy of Twigg Studios. Chocolate Spoons.

If you want to beautiful any hot chocolate, just make it more chocolate, with these loving spoonfuls from Twigg Studios. They are so simple, they’re genius. Just melt some chocolate and pour it onto each spoon.

If you want to embellish them, you can then sprinkle on some crushed candy cane or candied orange peel or marshmallows (anything you want).

Then leave them to harden.

Stir them into your cocoa or coffee. Beautiful!

Read more about Night Beauty all this week on BeautifulNow, including Night Time Mega Beauty Captured, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Beautiful Darkness Becomes Us Now and Deep Dark Pockets of Starry Skies Now. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

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