Hot chocolate, also known as hot cocoa is a chocolate-based hot drink consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder added with warm water or milk. Luxurious, warmth and rich aptly describes the drink. Hot chocolate is the perfect beverage for the cold weather and is the drink of holiday season! Although we don’t have snow in Malaysia, we do have the monsoon season that brings with it heavy rains and cold mornings.
Grab a cup of hot chocolate and snuggle in with your loved ones as you enjoy the sweet beverage together. The aroma of chocolate and cocoa will delight your senses, and with every sip, you’ll feel all your worry melt away.
In the 16th and 17th century, chocolate was considered an expensive and gourmet food ingredient. Hence, only the wealthy upper-class was able to afford it. Not only that, chocolate drinks were served in fancy pitchers made of gold, silver or porcelain.
Now, chocolate has been made easily available to everyone and can be found in convenience stores, supermarkets and chocolateries.
There are many ways to enjoy your hot chocolate, either with chopped chocolate or cocoa powder. You decide. Here’s one of the recipe to enjoy your delicious hot chocolate.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of whole milk
- 2 tbsp of sugar
- 100 g of bittersweet chocolate (chopped)
- Drops of vanilla extract (optional)
- Whipped cream
- Marshmallow
Instructions:
- Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat and add sugar. You can reduce the amount of sugar if you use sweeter chocolates.
- Microwave the chopped chocolate for 30 seconds. Take the chocolate out and stir. Then, microwave again for 30 seconds. Keep repeating the steps until the chocolate fully has melted and smooth
- Turn off heat when the milk reaches 80°C and has bubbles on the side. Don’t boil the milk.
- Add the melted chocolate into the milk. Whisk until the mixture is well combined.
- Put the drops of vanilla extract and top your hot chocolate with marshmallow and whipped cream. Your delicious hot chocolate is ready. Enjoy!
Hot chocolates are not only delicious, but they are also beneficial to your health. Chocolate contains antioxidants that are great to prevent cancer and prevents heart disease. Milk also helps to prevent strokes and relieves coughs.
Hot chocolate also helps to keep you warm during days with cold weathers. Moreover, polyphenols in cocoa help to improve blood flow to the brain and improve brain function.
Great news, guys! Besides the classic hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, there are various other recipes to choose from. Here are some interesting twists to the hot chocolate beverage:
Raspberry hot chocolate
This hot chocolate has an extra ingredient compared with the classic hot chocolate. The white chocolate and raspberry puree are used to give a taste of chocolate with raspberry. Some people prefer to use fresh fruits or even preserved fruits to give it a distinct fruity flavour.
Matcha white hot chocolate
Matcha is similar to green tea and has many beneficial qualities. The addition of matcha to hot chocolate gives it a refreshing taste. It is sure to satisfy every green tea lover. The hint of bitterness from the matcha mellows the sweetness of the hot chocolate. You may also choose to add some matcha powder on top of the drink.
Mexican hot chocolate
Mexican hot chocolate is a bit different from other hot chocolate drinks that has a sweet and creamy taste. Mexican hot chocolate is also creamy and chocolaty but has some ingredients that you might not expect. The addition of cinnamon and cayenne pepper gives the drink a kick of spiciness that is a great contrast to the warm hot chocolate.
Aztec hot chocolate
The Aztecs were one of the earliest civilizations to use chocolate in cuisine. Chocolate was so integral to their way of life that cocoa beans were used as currency and tax for the people ruled by Aztecs. The Aztec hot chocolate drink is similar to the Mexican variant as there will be a hint of spiciness with each sip. The Aztecs prefer to have a spicy kind of hot chocolate where they simmer cinnamon and guajillo chilli with hot chocolate.
Salted peanut butter hot chocolate
Everyone’s favourite flavour! Hot chocolate is already creamy and tasty, now add it with peanut butter, and some sea salt and you’ll have the perfect sweet and savoury drink. This drink is perfect for those that love peanut butter and want it in the form of a drink.
Peppermint hot chocolate
Have a cup of refreshing hot chocolate that gives you a cooling zing with the taste of fresh peppermint. Not only that, you can add a candy cane to the hot chocolate and use it as a stirrer. You’ll get both the sweetness and mintiness with every sip of hot chocolate.
Gingerbread hot chocolate
This beloved cookie is the perfect treat for this festive season. Not only can you have gingerbread cookies or houses, but you can enjoy it with hot chocolate too! The rich chocolate drink is infused with the spice from the gingerbread cookie. That way, it’s like having the best of both worlds in a single mug.
Pina colada hot chocolate
This spiked drink is one that you can’t resist. Adding the cocktail into your hot cocoa is something that’s inspired by adding coconut and rum. This alcoholic beverage is enjoyable for most adults and is an innovative way to enjoy this seasonal drink.
Fluffernutter hot cocoa
Vodka, peanut butter and hot chocolate are all distinct and unique ingredients. Add them all together in one glass, and you get a hot chocolate drink that’s unlike any other. This thick and creamy drink is topped with marshmallow crème, or marshmallow fluff.
Orange pisco hot chocolate
This hot chocolate drink is added with orange liqueur with pisco and the end result is a beverage that is similar to a bar of orange chocolate. The addition of pisco gives a subtle but distinct flavour to the drink that is unmistakable.
You can pair your hot chocolate with popular Christmas desserts and cookies. Cuddle close and enjoy your cookies with your hot cholate of choice with some Christmas movies.
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