1 2 3 Hot Cocoa Food

CLASSIC HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Combine the milk, heavy cream, sugar, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the sugar and cocoa powder dissolve and the milk is steaming; do not boil.
• Whisk in half of the chopped chocolate until melted, then whisk in the remaining chocolate until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla. Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream.

HOT COCOA FOR A GROUP

Steps:

• In large saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and salt.
• Add hot water slowly, mixing well.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils.
• Boil and stir 2 minutes.
• Add milk; heat to serving temperature, stirring occasionally.
• DO NOT boil.
• Remove from heat; add vanilla, cinnamon if desired, and whip with a whisk.
• Serve hot, with whipped cream or marshmallows if desired.
• This recipe can be doubled and kept in crockpot for easier serving to large groups.

HALLOWEEN HOT COCOA BOMBS

Steps:

• To temper the chocolate: Put 8 ounces of the chocolate in a double boiler over low heat. Heat, stirring, until the chocolate is almost melted (about 100 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer). Remove from the heat and add the remaining chopped chocolate in 2 or 3 additions, stirring until melted. The tempered chocolate will be thick and about 90 degrees F.
• Divide the chocolate among 2 large 6-cavity silicone hot chocolate bomb molds (2 1/2-inch diameter cavities). Use a small brush to brush the chocolate up the sides, making an even coat on the sides and in the bottom. Make sure the sides are thick enough all the way to the edge of the molds. Let sit at room temperature until completely set, 20 to 30 minutes. (If it is very hot, you can pop the molds in the refrigerator for a minute or two to finish.)
• Wearing latex gloves, gently remove the chocolate half-spheres from the molds. Set on a piece of parchment paper on your work surface. Divide the hot cocoa among 6 of the half-spheres, then add 3 or 4 pumpkin marshmallows, 1 ghost, 1 spider and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon sprinkles to each of the same half-spheres.
• Warm a small nonstick skillet over very low heat. To seal the bombs, set an unfilled half-sphere on the skillet open-side down for just a second to warm the chocolate. Set on top of a filled half-sphere, matching the seams as much as possible. Repeat with the remaining half-spheres. Let sit until hardened, about 5 minutes.
• To make the marshmallow webs: Put the regular marshmallows in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until the marshmallows inflate and soften, 10 to 15 seconds. With gloved hands, pull up a little bit of marshmallow and stretch between your fingers to make thin webbing. Stretch the webbing over and around the bombs. Continue to pull and stretch the marshmallow until all of the bombs are covered in webbing. Add 2 candy eyes or a spider to each, if desired.
• To serve, heat 6 to 8 ounces milk per bomb until very hot. Add to mugs and drop in the bombs. Enjoy, stirring to melt the chocolate.

HOT COCOA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water.
• Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk.

SIMPLE HOT COCOA FOR ONE

Steps:

• Whisk together the cocoa, sugar, salt, and about 2 tablespoons milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until cocoa and sugar are dissolved. Whisk in the rest of the milk and heat it over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until it is hot. Stir in the vanilla and serve.
• If you like it frothy, blend it in the blender.
• This recipe multiplies easily. When you get up to a quart of milk, use 1/4 teaspoon salt.

RICH HOT COCOA FOR TWO WITH FLAVOR VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Combine sugar, cocoa, and water in small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• Add milk and heat to serving temperature. Do not boil.
• Add vanilla; serve in mugs and top with spoonful of wihhpped cream or marshmallows.
• Stir or blend in flavor variations if desired.