Hot Chocolate And Toast 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.

STUFFED MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE FRENCH TOAST WITH CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM AND CHOCOLATE-MAPLE GANACHE

Steps:

• For the ganache: Put the chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, then pour it over the chocolate and let sit for 1 minute. Add the maple syrup and whisk until smooth. Transfer 1/2 cup of the ganache to a small bowl, and refrigerate for 10 minutes or until slightly chilled but still spreadable. Cover the remaining ganache and reserve in a warm place.
• For the whipped cream: Combine the cream, sugar and cinnamon in a chilled bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip until soft peaks form. Cover the bowl and refrigerate while you make the French toast.
• For the French toast: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Set a baking rack over a baking sheet.
• Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in the milk, cream and vanilla and almond extracts until combined. Transfer the custard mixture to a baking dish.
• Divide the chilled ganache among four slices of the bread and top with the remaining four slices to make four sandwiches. Soak the sandwiches in the custard, two at a time, flipping once, until completely soaked through, about 1 minute per side.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat until beginning to shimmer. Place two of the soaked sandwiches in the pan and cook until browned and crisp on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the sandwiches to the baking rack and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and oil and the remaining two sandwiches.
• If the reserved ganache is cool, microwave it for 10 seconds to warm a bit. To serve, quarter the French toasts, drizzle with some of the ganache, and dollop on some of the whipped cream.

HOT CHOCOLATE BAKED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Butter a 13x9" baking dish. Arrange bread slices in overlapping rows in dish.
• Cook cream, milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate, and vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes; remove from heat. Transfer 1 cup chocolate mixture to an airtight container; let cool to room temperature, then cover and chill until ready to serve. Reserve remaining chocolate mixture.
• Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Whisking constantly, pour in hot chocolate mixture in a slow, steady stream. Pour evenly over and between each layer of bread. Push down with your hands to soak top of bread. Cover dish tightly with foil and chill at least 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake foil-covered bread until warmed through and a knife inserted into the center feels warm to the touch, about 35 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until bread is browned, 35-40 minutes longer. Let cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast hazelnuts in a small skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until golden-brown and fragrant, 3-5 minutes. Microwave 1 cup reserved chocolate mixture in a microwave-safe bowl in 10-second intervals (or heat in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water), stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
• Serve French toast with hot chocolate sauce and toasted hazelnuts.
• Do Ahead
• French toast can be assembled 1 day ahead before baking; cover tightly with foil and chill.

HOT CHOCOLATE BAKED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Butter your 9x13" baking dish with unsalted butter. Arrange the bread slices in overlapping rows in the dish.
• In a sauce pan, heat the cream, chocolates and vanilla over medium heat, whisking constantly until melted and well incorporated, about 5 minutes or so. Remove from heat.
• Transfer 1 cup of the chocolate sauce to an airtight container; let cool first then place the lid and chill until ready to serve.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, sugar and salt. Whisking constantly, pour in hot chocolate mixture in a slow, steady stream.
• Pour evenly over and between each layer of bread. Use the palms of your clean hands to gently press the slices into the chocolate mixture to cover each slice. It will pop back up, but that's ok.
• Cover the dish tightly with foil and chill for at least 2 hours, overnight is best. The bread will have soaked up all the liquid.
• When ready to bake, Place in a preheated 350 degree oven with foil cover on for 35 minutes.
• Remove the foil and continue baking for 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes.
• While the dish is cooling, toast the hazelnuts in a small skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until golden-brown and fragrant, 3-5 minutes. ***Hazelnuts are optional in this recipe***.
• Microwave the reserved cup of chocolate sauce in a microwave-safe bowl at at 50% power for 1 minute. Or, in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan simmering with water. Stir until warmed through.
• Drizzle chocolate sauce over french toast slices and sprinkle toasted hazelnuts if using them.

HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Heat the milk, cocoa, sugar and chocolate in a small pan over a medium heat until steaming and the chocolate has melted. Whisk to dissolve the cocoa.
• Pour into a mug, then add the cream to float on top. Grate over a little more chocolate to serve.