Jim Grahams Spiced Hot Chocolate Food

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.

TOFFEE HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Heat milk, water, sugar to a boil, remove from heat and stir in chocolate and butterscotch chips until they melt into milk. Pour into small mugs or cups and top with whipped cream swirls and crushed toffee.

SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE WITH TEA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat water to a boil. Drop in tea leaves, turn off heat, and steep for about 5 minutes. Strain tea back into pan and add star anise, cinnamon stick, ginger, and heavy cream. Heat over medium heat until cream scalds, watching carefully so that cream does not spill over.
• Put chocolate in a medium bowl. Strain hot cream mixture into bowl with chocolate. Add vanilla and whisk until chocolate is melted. Transfer to mugs and serve warm or chilled.
• *Cook's Note: The spices may be increased, to taste, if your preference is spicier.

CINNAMON-SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly with a whisk and set aside. Combine the sugars in a small bowl and mix well with your fingers pressing out any lumps. (Combine in a food processor if lumps are stubborn.)
• In a medium mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the butter and margarine until creamy. Add sugar mixture, cinnamon, peppers, and vanilla. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute. Beat in the egg white and until the mixture is smooth. Stop the mixer. Add the flour mixture, beating on the lowest speed, just until incorporated. Gather the dough together with your hands and form it into a neat log, 9 to 10 inches long by 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Fold or twist ends of the paper without pinching or flatting the log. Refrigerate at least 45 minutes, or until needed.
• Put the oven racks in the upper and lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Use a sharp knife to slice rounds of chilled dough, a scant 1/4-inch thick. Arrange the cookies, 1-inch apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back about halfway through. Cookies will puff and crackle on top, and then begin to settle down slightly when done.
• Remove the baking sheets from the oven and use a metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool. Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing or stacking. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks, or freeze up to 2 months.
• To spice things up, after the cookies are baked, let them cool on a wire rack, drizzle with dulce de leche and sprinkle chopped almonds on top.

RICH SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Whisk sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and salt together in a small bowl.
• Bring milk to a boil in a saucepan, whisking constantly. Whisk in cocoa mixture until dissolved, reduce heat to low, and simmer until flavors combine, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
• Stir cream into hot chocolate and pour into mugs.

SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until lukewarm; stir the cocoa powder and sugar into the warmed milk until dissolved. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, chili powder, nutmeg, and cloves. Heat another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.