Churros With Spiced Hot Chocolate Food

CHURRO CAKE WITH SPICED CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 10-cup Bundt pan, making sure to get in all the crevices; dust with flour and tap out the excess. Whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter, granulated sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the egg yolks. Beat in the sour cream until combined. (The batter may look curdled.) Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk; beat until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top and tap the bottom of the pan against the counter a few times to release any large air bubbles. Bake until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pan; loosen the edge of the cake with a wooden skewer and invert onto the rack to cool completely.
• Make the cinnamon sugar topping: Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Working in sections, brush the cake with the melted butter. Hold the cake over the bowl and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar, pressing to adhere.
• Make the spiced chocolate sauce: Combine the half-and-half, brown sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, chile powder and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Let stand 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Serve the cake with the spiced chocolate sauce.

SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Sift all ingredients together into a large bowl. Whisk the mixture together to be sure the spices are evenly distributed.
• To serve, stir 3 tablespoons of the mix into 1½ cups (12 ounces) of hot milk. Serve in large mugs. Store the remaining mix in a tightly-sealed jar.
• Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with the back of a knife. Combine the sugar, vanilla pod and seeds together and store in an airtight container for at least 1 week before using.

CHURROS WITH SPICED SUGAR AND CHOCOLATE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the milk, cream, sugar, vanilla bean and seeds in a medium saucepan, bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chocolate and let sit for 30 seconds. Whisk the mixture until smooth. Keep warm.;
• Put the oil into a large saucepan and heat over medium heat until a deep fry thermometer registers 365 degrees F. Place several layers of paper towels on a baking sheet and set aside.
• Combine the water, butter, 1/4 cup sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook until the butter is completely melted and the sugar is dissolved. Add the flour, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon anise seeds and quickly beat with a wooden spoon until a ball is formed and the mixture becomes dry, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat for one minute to allow some of the steam to escape the mixture and to cool slightly before adding the eggs. Add the eggs, one a time, beating every time until each is incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and beat for 20 seconds longer. Scrape the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
• Combine the remaining 1 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon anise in a baking dish.
• Working in batches, pipe 6-inch strips of the dough into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, turning once. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider to the prepared paper towel-lined baking sheet. Let the churros drain for 30 seconds and immediately toss in the sugar mixture. Serve the churros warm with the chocolate dipping sauce on the side.

CHURROS AND HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Churros: 8 cups vegetable or olive oil 1 cup water 1/2 cup margarine or butter 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup all-purpose flour 3 eggs 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
• Hot Chocolate: 4 ounces dark chocolate 2 cups milk 1 tablespoon cornstarch 4 tablespoons sugar
• Heat the oil in a deep frying pan to 360 degrees F.
• To make the churro dough, heat the water, margarine, and salt to a rolling boil in a 3-quart saucepan. Add the flour and stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, approximately 1 minute and remove from heat. Beat eggs until smooth and add to the saucepan while stirring the mixture.
• Spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a star tip. Squeeze 4-inch strips of dough into the hot oil. Fry 3 or 4 strips at a time until golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and roll the churros in the sugar mixture. Set aside until ready to serve.
• To prepare the hot chocolate for dipping, place the chocolate and half the milk in a saucepan over very low heat and cook, stirring, until the chocolate has melted. Dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining milk and whisk into the chocolate with the sugar. Cook on low heat, whisking constantly until the chocolate thickens, approximately 5 minutes. Remove and whisk until smooth. Pour chocolate into cups and serve with churros.

CHURROS WITH MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE SPICE MIX

Steps:

• Preheat a deep-fryer or place the vegetable oil into a medium pot over medium-high heat until the oil is 350 degrees F.
• Place the butter, brown sugar, Mexican vanilla extract, salt and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a whisk to combine thoroughly and quickly. Lower the heat to low and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 3 minutes. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each one. Once both are added, stir vigorously until the dough is homogenous. Place in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
• Combine the granulated sugar, turbinado sugar, cacao nibs, Mexican cinnamon, flaky salt and chipotle powder in a bowl and pour onto a quarter-sheet tray or shallow dish. Set aside.
• Carefully pipe the dough mixture into the oil, cutting when each piece is 5 inches long, and cook in batches, separating to prevent sticking with tongs or a spider, until crisp and golden, about 4 minutes.
• Remove from the oil and place on a tray lined with a paper towel to drain. While still hot, transfer to the sugar mixture and roll until thoroughly coated. Repeat with the remaining dough and serve immediately.
• As street food, these would be served in a heavy paper cone. At home, they can be served in a coffee cup standing up or in a small short vase.

CHURROS WITH SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• For cinnamon sugar:
• Whisk all ingredients in medium bowl to blend.
• For churro batter:
• Bring first 4 ingredients to boil in heavy medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves and butter melts. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add flour; stir vigorously with wooden spoon until shiny dough mass forms, about 1 minute. Transfer to large bowl; cool 5 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat in eggs, 1 at a time; continue beating until smooth, shiny, sticky paste forms. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat to 350°F. Working in batches, spoon batter into pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe batter into hot oil in 3 1/2- to 4-inch-long ribbons (use knife if necessary to cut batter at end of star tip) and allow batter to slide into oil. Fry churros until brown and cooked through in center, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels. Cool 5 minutes, then toss in cinnamon sugar to coat. Serve warm with Spiced Hot Chocolate.

XOCO CHURROS WITH MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Make the cinnamon sugar:
• In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon. DO AHEAD: The cinnamon sugar can be made ahead and stored, in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 1 month.
• Make the hot chocolate:
• In a heavy 2-quart saucepan over moderate heat, combine the milk or water and the chocolate. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is almost completely dissolved (there will still be small pieces of chocolate) and the mixture is steaming. Transfer to a blender or use a handheld immersion blender and process until the mixture is foamy and fully emulsified, about 30 seconds (use caution when blending hot liquids). Return the hot chocolate to the saucepan. When ready to serve, place over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warm.
• Make the churro dough:
• In a medium pot over moderate heat, whisk together the butter, sugar, salt, and 1 1/4 cups water. Bring to a simmer, stirring to melt the butter. Remove the pot from the heat and add the flour, stirring vigorously to fully incorporate it into the liquid. Return the pot to moderate heat and cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until the dough is smooth and sticky, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat and remove the pot from the burner; cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Following the 15-minute resting period, add the eggs, 1 at a time, stirring with a wooden spoon until completely incorporated after each addition. Spoon the dough into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip.
• Fry the churros:
• Line a large baking sheet with several layers of paper towels and place the cinnamon sugar in a small shallow bowl.
• In a heavy large pot, heat 3 inches of oil until a deep-fat thermometer registers 375°F. Working in batches (about 6 churros per batch), hold the pastry bag just above the surface of the hot oil and carefully and gently pipe 4-inch ribbons of dough directly into the oil, using a paring knife to cut the batter at the end of the star tip if necessary. Fry the churros, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked in the center, about 2 minutes per batch. Transfer as done to the paper-towel-lined baking sheet and return the oil to 375°F between batches. Toss the churros in cinnamon sugar and serve warm with the Mexican hot chocolate.

SPICED SPANISH HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• the milk and coconut milk in a large saucepan on low-medium heat.
• the cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla, and instant espresso powder. Stir constantly to make sure everything is combined.
• some of the hot milk in a cup and mix with the cornstarch until the lumps dissolve. Add the mixture back into the saucepan. Whisk until the cornstarch is well mix and there is not lumps.
• the dark chocolate and stir until the chocolate is melted.
• until you get the thickness desired. It may take between 5 and 10 minutes to reach a thick consistency.
• in a large mug and add a spoonful of whipped cream, sprinkle on some coconut flakes and drizzle on some Cinnamon Maple Syrup.

CHURROS WITH DIPPING CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Hot Chocolate Dipping Sauce:.
• Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan over med-high heat.
• Add the semisweet and bittersweet chocolate, cocoa and milk and lower the heat to med-low.
• Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the chocolate is thick and smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Reserve.
• Churros:.
• Bring the water, oil and salt to a boil in a saucepan over med-high heat.
• Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until a smooth ball forms.
• Lower the heat and cook, flattening and turning the dough for 2 minutes.
• Cool and transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a 3/8 inch star tip (the fluted edge is essential).
• Pour the oil to a depth of at least 1 inch in a skillet (or use a deep fryer) and heat on high until the oil quickly browns a cube of test bread.
• Squeeze 5 inch lengths of dough through the pastry tube into the oil - as many as will comfortably fit.
• Reduce the heat to med-high and fry until the churros puff and have barely begun to turn golden, about 20 seconds. *Do not overcook - the churros should be crunchy outside and soft within.*.
• Drain on paper towels. (If needed, you can keep them warm briefly in a 200 degee F. oven until ready to serve.).
• Dredge the churros in the sugar and arrange 4 on each plate.
• To serve, reheat the chocolate over very low heat and divide into 6 espresso or small cups placed off center on 6 dessert plates.
• Dip away!