Drinking Chocolate

Drinking chocolate is just a fancy pants name for hot chocolate that uses whole chocolate instead of cocoa. The difference between cocoa and chocolate is that cocoa, by itself, has much less fat and no sugar. Chocolate has both of the above. So, melting chocolate and putting it in a drink produces a much richer beverage.

You can buy drinking chocolate mixes nowadays, but I suggest you save your money and just make your own from your favorite chocolate.

Basic Drinking Chocolate

2 oz your favorite chocolate bar
1 cup milk
sugar to taste

Place ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly until chocolate is dissolved. Add sugar if desired. Drink up!

Yummy, but kind of boring. Here is a much richer version.

Rich Drinking Chocolate

2 oz heavy cream
6 oz milk
1/4 t cinnamon
1 t vanilla
2 oz finely chopped dark chocolate
whipped cream for garnish

Heat the heavy cream, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate over low heat, until chocolate is fully melted and can be fully mixed. Top with whip cream and serve.

To make richer, reduce milk and add more cream. To make more chocolatey, add more chocolate!

Another Drinking Chocolate Recipe

1 can evaporated milk (12 oz)
3 T cocoa
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 oz dark chocolate, chopped
1 t vanilla extract
1/4 t of cinnamon
1/4 cup heavy cream

Add all but the cream to a small saucepan over medium low heat. Stir constantly, until the chocolate is melted and the liquid fully heated. (Do not let boil.) Add the cream and heat another minute or so. Makes approximately 2-3 servings.

Spicy Chili Drinking Chocolate

1 2/3 cups milk
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 red chili pepper, split and seeds removed
1 cinnamon stick
1 1/2 oz your favorite dark chocolate, grated

Simmer milk, vanilla bean, cinnamon, and chili in a saucepan over low to medium heat for about a minute. Whisk in the chocolate until melted. Remove from heat and let sit ten minutes to allow the spices to infuse the chocolate. Strain spices and serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

You can alter the flavor of drinking chocolate by simply buying different kinds of chocolate, or you can get clever:
- substitute cream for milk
- add vanilla, orange peel, peppermint, almond, etc.
- substitute sweetened condensed milk for part of the milk
- top with whip cream and chocolate shavings