Celebrate World Milk Day on 1 June in the sweetest way possible – with a cup of rich, creamy hot chocolate! These recipes will warm you up from the inside out. 

Peppermint Crisp hot chocolate with cocoa sauce  

Serves 4  

Ingredients  

For the chocolate sauce 

1 cup water
½ cup cocoa powder
⅓ cup caster sugar
¼ cup finely chopped milk chocolate
2 Tbsp Peppermint Crisp, crushed  

For the hot chocolate  

4 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp boiling water
4 cups milk
¼ cup chopped dark chocolate
¼ cup crumbled Peppermint Crisp, plus extra to serve
Marshmallows, to serve  

Method  

For the chocolate sauce  

1. In a large pot, whisk together the water, cocoa powder and caster sugar, until smooth.
2. Place the pot over medium heat and bring to the boi. As soon as it boils, reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes, until thickened.
3. Remove from the heat and whisk in the finely chopped milk chocolate and crushed Peppermint Crisp, until fully melted.

For the hot chocolate  

1. In a pot, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar and boiling water, until dissolved. Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously until smooth.
2. Set the pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and whisk in the dark chocolate and Peppermint Crisp.
3. Serve immediately topped with the marshmallows, a drizzling of chocolate sauce and extra Peppermint Crisp.

 

Recipe & styling: Kate Turner
Photography: Andreas Eiselen // HMimages.co.za 

 

Malted hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows 

Serves 1  

Ingredients 

3 marshmallows
1 cup milk
3 tsp hot chocolate mix
1 tsp Horlicks  

Method  

1. Place the marshmallows on a baking tray and toast under the grill until golden.
2. Heat the milk in a pot until scalding (just below boiling), then stir in the hot chocolate and Horlicks.
3. Pour into a mug and top with the marshmallows.

  

Date and coconut hot chocolate  

Serves 2 

Ingredients 

1 cup coconut milk
1 cup milk
3 dates, pitted and chopped
1 tsp vanilla essence
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup chocolate protein powder
⅓ cup cocoa  

Method  

1. Place the coconut milk and milk in a pot over medium heat. Add the dates and bring to a gentle simmer.
2. Whisking continuously, add the vanilla essence, salt, protein powder and cocoa. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Blend until frothy. Divide between 2 mugs and serve immediately.

 

Recipe and styling: Chiara Turilli
Photography: Samantha Pinto 

 

Marbled hot chocolate 

Serves 2  

 

Ingredients 

2 Tbsp cocoa
1½ cups hot water
50g dark chocolate, chopped
¼ cup condensed milk
¼ cup milk  

Method  

1. In a pot, whisk the cocoa with a little hot water until a smooth paste forms. Whisk in the rest of the water.
2. Add the dark chocolate and place the pot over medium heat. Melt the chocolate, stirring to combine. Pour into 2 mugs.
3. Heat the condensed milk in the microwave for 1 minute. Slowly pour into the hot cocoa, creating a marbled effect. Serve without stirring.