Hot chocolate is a fragrant invigorating drink that allows you to quickly restore strength and raise a spoiled mood. Its history began back in the 16th century. In those days, it was considered a drink of aristocrats and was inaccessible to other sections of the population. Today it can be ordered in any cafe and even cook in your own kitchen. In this publication, we will figure out what components are present in the composition of hot chocolate and how to cook it correctly.
General recommendations
The best basis for creating such a drink is considered high-quality black, white or milk chocolate. For lack of this ingredient, you can use powdered cocoa.
Another essential component of hot chocolate is liquid. It can be milk, water or cream. Some recipes use special additives like starch, egg white, liquor or rum.
In addition, various spices are often added to hot chocolate. Chili peppers, cardamom, ginger, vanilla and cinnamon are best suited for these purposes. They will give the finished drink a piquant taste and rich aroma. And just before serving, each serving can be garnished with chocolate chips and whipped cream.
With cocoa and starch
A drink prepared using the technology described below is ideal for special occasions. It will not only warm you on long winter evenings, but also help to improve your mood. To make hot chocolate without chocolate, you will need:
- 300 ml cream.
- 2 tbsp. l drinking water.
- 1 tsp starch (potato).
- 2 tbsp. l powdered cocoa.
- 1 tbsp. l cane sugar.
Having figured out what you need to stock up for making hot chocolate without chocolate, you should delve into the intricacies of the process itself. To start, starch, sugar and cocoa are combined in a deep saucepan. The resulting mixture is poured with the right amount of water and hot cream. All this is sent to the stove and simmered for a couple of minutes on the lowest heat, not allowing it to boil. A fully prepared drink is poured into cups and served to the table.
With vanilla
To try an invigorating drink, it is not at all necessary to go to a cafe, because it can be made at home. Hot chocolate, the recipe of which will be described below, has a distinct tangible vanilla aroma and a pleasant creamy taste. To cook several servings, you will need:
- 200 ml of cow's milk.
- 200 ml cream.
- 30 g of bitter 70% chocolate.
- 4 tbsp. l sweetened cocoa (powder).
- Vanilla pod.
- Sugar (to taste).
To reproduce the recipe for hot chocolate at home, you need a little free time and a bit of patience. It is advisable to start the process with processing the vanilla pod. It is freed from seeds and placed in a saucepan. Milk and cream are poured there. All this is sent to the included stove. As soon as the contents of the container begin to boil, it is filtered through clean gauze, supplemented with cocoa, chocolate and sugar and returned to the fire. After a couple of minutes, the finished drink is poured into beautiful cups.
With butter
Using the technology described below, a sufficiently high-calorie drink is obtained. This is due to the fact that butter is present in the composition of hot chocolate. To give them water to their loved ones, you will need:
- 4 tbsp. l cocoa (in powder).
- 4 tbsp. l fine sugar.
- 4 tbsp. l soft butter.
The process of making hot chocolate is so simple that any beginner can easily master it. To start, the oil is melted in a water bath. Once it becomes liquid, it is supplemented with sugar and cocoa. All gently stir, bring to a boil and pour into cups.
With egg and cinnamon
This recipe was invented by Mexican culinary specialists. It was they who decided to add cinnamon and a chicken egg to the composition of hot chocolate. To brew this delicious drink, you will need:
- 50 g of sugar (better than brown).
- 50 g of natural dark chocolate.
- 500 ml pasteurized milk.
- Fresh egg.
- 1 tsp vanilla sugar.
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder.
- A pinch of salt.
First of all, you need to do chocolate. It is broken into pieces, and then supplemented with cinnamon, salt, regular and vanilla sugar. All this is poured with milk and warmed until all the ingredients are completely dissolved. Then a raw egg is introduced into the hot liquid and cooked together for another five minutes, not forgetting to stir. A fully prepared drink is poured into cups.
With orange zest
This unusual recipe for hot chocolate made from cocoa, milk and instant coffee will certainly be appreciated by those who have a crock-pot on the farm. The drink made on it has a rich taste and a light citrus aroma. To treat them to your relatives, you will need:
- 1 liter of pasteurized milk.
- 250 g of natural dark chocolate.
- 4 tsp cocoa (in powder).
- 1 tsp instant coffee.
- 100 g of sugar (preferably fine).
- ½ tbsp l chopped orange zest.
- A pinch of ground nutmeg.
Half the available milk, broken chocolate, sugar and cocoa are sent to the multicooker tank. All this is cooked in the "Extinguishing" mode for twenty minutes. At the end of the agreed time, the contents of the device are supplemented with nutmeg, citrus peel, coffee and remaining milk. The boiled drink is poured into beautiful cups and served to the table.
With chocolate paste
This drink has a pronounced nutty flavor and spicy aroma. To prepare it, you will need:
- 400 ml of cow's milk.
- 6 tbsp. l chocolate paste.
- Cinnamon, vanilla and granulated sugar (to taste).
- Whipped cream (for decoration).
Milk is poured into any suitable saucepan and heated almost to a boil. Then it is supplemented with chocolate paste, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. All mix well and insist for several minutes. Before serving, each serving is decorated with whipped cream.
With white chocolate
This gourmet drink will appeal to even the most demanding gourmets, who are very difficult to surprise with something. To prepare it, you will need:
- 3 cups of milk.
- 180 g of quality white chocolate.
- 2 tsp instant coffee.
- 2 tsp vanilla extract.
- Powdered sugar (to taste).
- Chocolate chips and whipped cream (for decoration).
Vanilla extract and instant coffee are loaded into the blender bowl. Broken chocolate and pre-boiled milk are sent there. All this is thoroughly beaten until smooth, sweetened with icing sugar and poured into beautiful cups. Before serving, each portion is sprinkled with chocolate chips and decorated with whipped cream.