Drinks

How to Make The Best Hot Chocolate Of All Time 4 ways

I made all of the types of hot chocolate known to man. Or at least it felt like that. Really we made hot chocolate 3 different ways.

Prep
2-15 minutes
Cook
2-15 minutes
Total
5-30 minutes
Serves
1
people
How to Make The Best Hot Chocolate Of All Time 4 ways
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Ingredients

Instant Hot Chocolate:

  • 2.5 Tbsp (20g) instant hot chocolate mix 
  • 1 cup (236ml) hot whole milk 
  • 2 large marshmallows, to serve

Easy Single Serving Hot Chocolate:

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2-3 minutes

  • 1 cup (236ml) whole milk
  • 1 Tbsp (18g) heavy cream
  • ¼ tsp (2g) vanilla extract
  • 1.5 Tbsp (18g) light brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp (13g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 large marshmallows or whipped cream, to serve
  • Grated chocolate, to garnish

Italian Hot Chocolate:

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5-8 minutes

  • 4 oz (113g) finely chopped dark chocolate, 70% cacao
  • 1.5 cups (354ml) whole milk
  • 2 Tbsp (30g) granulated sugar
  • 1 Tbsp (6g) unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for garnish
  • 1 Tbsp (9g) cornstarch
  • Whipped cream, to serve

Mexican Hot Chocolate:

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

  • 1 Mexican cinnamon stick (canela)
  • 1 dried chile such as smoked New Mexican, ancho, chipotle, or chile de arbol (depending on your preferred spice level), stem and seeds removed
  • 8 oz (226g) finely chopped dark chocolate, 70% cacao, plus more for garnish
  • 1.5 Tbsp (18g) light brown sugar
  • ½ vanilla bean, seeds scraped from pod and pod reserved
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • 1.5 cups (354ml) whole milk
  • Whipped cream, to serve

Directions

Instant Hot Chocolate:

  1. Mix together the instant hot chocolate mix and the hot milk until evenly combined. 
  2. Pour into a mug, garnish with marshmallows and serve. 

Easy Single Serving Hot Chocolate:

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk to combine. Continue to heat until the mixture is hot and the sugar and cocoa powder is dissolved.
  2. Pour into a mug, top with marshmallows or whipped cream, garnish with grated chocolate and serve.

Italian Hot Chocolate:

  1. Add the chocolate and a splash of the milk to a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the sugar and cocoa powder. Continue to heat, whisking often, until the chocolate is melted.
  2. In a separate small bowl whisk together the cornstarch and another splash of milk until evenly combined. Set aside.
  3. Once the chocolate is melted, slowly stream in the remaining milk, whisking constantly, until the chocolate and milk are evenly combined. Continue to heat until the milk is hot and then whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Heat the hot chocolate, whisking constantly, until it thickens.
  4. Pour into a mug, top with whipped cream, garnish with cocoa powder and serve.

Mexican Hot Chocolate:

  1. Preheat your broiler. Place the cinnamon stick on a sheet tray and char just the top side of the cinnamon until blackened. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  2. To a medium saucepan add the chocolate, sugar, vanilla bean seeds and pod, salt, toasted cinnamon stick and chile. Pour in the milk. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring often, until the milk is hot and steaming and the chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes.
  3. Remove the vanilla bean pod and cinnamon stick. Pour the mixture into a blender and blend on high until smooth. Pour the hot chocolate through a fine mesh strainer. Serve in a mug topped with whipped cream and grated chocolate.

Easy Single Serving Hot Chocolate

  • Servings: 1
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2-3 minutes


Italian Hot Chocolate

  • Servings: 1
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5-8 minutes


Mexican Hot Chocolate

  • Servings: 1
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes