Few things are as good on a cold winter's day, than a big mug of hot cocoa. The smell alone is enough to take me back to my childhood and the cocoa my Mom use to make. Drinking it at the kitchen table, looking out the window at a glittering snow covered landscape. It was magical.
Mom never used hot chocolate mix, she made it from scratch, by the cup. In each mug, she would put powdered milk, cocoa and of sugar. Then she would boil water on the stove and pour one cup each in our mugs with the homemade mix. Then all you had to do was stir. Delicious!
The recipe is simple and easy to make....
- 1/2 cup powdered milk
- 1 teaspoon cocoa
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup boiling water
Making your own hot cocoa from scratch is so much better than buying mixes. Store bought mixes have all kinds of preservatives and additives that you really don't need to put in your body. Making your own cocoa lets you control what you put in your body. Another great thing is that you can adjust it to the flavor you like. More or less sugar, more or less cocoa, however you prefer it.
If you want to be adventurous, you can flavor your hot chocolate. Just add the following to the original recipe. Remember, one addition per cup.
Cinnamon hot chocolate - add 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon
Peppermint hot chocolate - add 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla
Coffee flavored hot chocolate - add 1 or 2 teaspoons of black coffee, to taste.
Orange hot chocolate - Replace half the water with orange juice and add a pinch of cinnamon
Three Adult Beverage Hot Chocolate Recipes
1. add 1 ounce of warm Kahlua
2. 1/4 ounce Peppermint Schnapps and 1/2 ounce chocolate liqueur
3. 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, pinch of ground cloves, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, 1 and 1/2 ounces of spiced rum.
I keep these ingredients in my cupboard all the time, that way I can have hot chocolate any time I want, or make it for guests. Some times I also make it for a hostess gift, especially during the holidays. Just bag the ingredients separately and put them in a decorative tin or box for perfect gift giving!
