Orange Spiced Mexican Chocolate Food

SPICY MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and salt together in a bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs; add cream of tartar and baking soda. Beat in cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and cayenne powder. Beat in flour. Stir chocolate chips into the dough.
• Mix remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together in a bowl.
• Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls. Roll balls in the sugar-cinnamon mixture and place on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until centers are set and edges crack slightly, about 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes.

ORANGE SPICED MEXICAN CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Bring water and cinnamon to a boil in a large pot. Add the milk and orange zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Add both kinds of chocolate and with a wire whisk, beat until chocolate is completely dissolved. Serve in mugs, adding a splash of liqueur to each serving, if desired.

SPICED MEXICAN CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, mix flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and red pepper; set aside.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat butter and chocolate chips over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Remove from heat; stir in granulated sugar. Pour into large bowl. Beat in eggs with spoon one at a time until blended. Beat in vanilla. Stir in flour mixture until well blended. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Shape dough into 36 (1 1/4 -inch) balls. Lightly butter hands if dough is sticky when shaping into balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets; flatten slightly. Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon of Demerara sugar over top of each cookie.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are set. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, at least 20 minutes. Store covered in airtight container.

CHAMPURRADO, MEXICAN CHOCOLATE ATOLE

Steps:

• Place the water in a large pot and add the cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil. Meanwhile, place the masa in a bowl and add the water. Let sit for a few minutes and then blend with a fork or wire whisk until well blended. I sometimes have a hard time dissolving the masa and use my fingers to make sure that there are no lumps remaining. Once the water comes to a full boil, add the dissolved masa and immediately begin stirring with a wire whisk. Keep on stirring often until it comes to a boil again. Cook over low heat for about 8-10 minutes and then add the chocolate tablets, which have previously been broken into pieces. Dissolve the chocolate and bring to a boil. Then add the sugar cones and stir to dissolve. Once this is done, cook for another 5 minutes and remove the cinnamon stick. Serve with tamales or any sweet bread, such as cinnamon rolls.