Real Hot Chocolate

Morning light is taking longer and longer to arrive these days and the air is getting a little nippy too.  So it seemed like a good time to share my favorite morning and late night treat......real hot chocolate.  This is not the same drink as the hot cocoa that most of us are familiar with.  NOT THE SAME.  I first had this delicious drink in France.  Served for breakfast with real croissants filled with chocolate, it was to die for and I became obsessed with learning how to make it.  About the same time, Williams Sonoma started carrying a Hot Chocolate Pot, which I quickly bought, and I was all set.  This drink is much, much richer than the one made using powdered cocoa mix added to plain old water.  That is because it is made with milk, cream and real chocolate. 

Real Hot Chocolate Recipe

1 cups of whole milk

1/3 cream (you can use more or less depending on how rich you want it, I have used an equal amount of cream and milk and it was great)

2 ounces of chocolate, finely chopped or grated (you can also use more if you wish)

1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract

pinch of salt

 

Heat cream and milk to almost boiling.  Pour into chocolate pot (or blender) and add remaining ingredients.  If using blender turn on medium speed until chocolate is melted.  If using chocolate pot, attach beater and mix until frothy and chocolate is melted.  Serve while hot.  This make one generous mugful.  For more than one serving just multiply the ingredients.

 

Once you have had this you will never go back to american style hot cocoa.  Never.  Diana