Simple and comforting or souped-up and indulgent, there’s nothing quite like a mug of proper hot chocolate. By ‘proper’, we mean made the old-fashioned way: Real chocolate stirred into hot milk until it melts, creating a thick, rich, creamy cup of happiness. Sugar and other flavourings might be added – with no powdered milk in sight.
1. Carob hot chocolate
SERVES 2
INGREDIENTS
2 cups full-cream milk
2 tbsp carob powder
2 tsp vanilla essence
Sweetener (optional), to taste
METHOD
1. Warm the milk and carob powder over medium heat, stirring well.
2. Add the vanilla and sweetener, if using.
2. Hazelnut hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows
SERVES 2
INGREDIENTS
2 cups full-cream milk
½ cup Nutella
¼ cup mini marshmallows
METHOD
1. Bring milk and Nutella to a simmer over medium heat, whisking until smooth.
2. Preheat oven grill and line a baking tray with tinfoil. Place the marshmallows on the baking tray and grill until golden, about 30 seconds.
3. Serve the hot chocolate topped with toasted marshmallows.
3. Peanut butter hot chocolate
SERVES 2
INGREDIENTS
2 cups full-cream milk
1 cup double-thick cream, plus extra, whipped, to serve
150g milk chocolate
¼ cup smooth peanut butter
METHOD
1. Bring the milk and cream to a simmer over medium heat.
2. Add the chocolate and whisk until smooth. Leave on the heat until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes.
3. Add peanut butter and whisk until it is completely smooth.
4. Serve with the extra whipped cream.
4. Red velvet hot chocolate with cream cheese whipped cream
SERVES 2
INGREDIENTS
For the hot chocolate
2 cups full-cream milk
2 tbsp sugar
135g dark chocolate
1 tsp red food colouring
½ tsp vanilla essence
For the whipped cream
2 tbsp double-thick cream, chilled
60g smooth cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sugar
¼ tsp vanilla essence
Pinch of salt
METHOD
For the hot chocolate
1. Bring the milk and sugar to a simmer over medium heat.
2. Reduce to low heat and add chocolate, colouring and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.
For the whipped cream
1. Whip the cream until soft peaks form.
2. In another bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt. Fold in the whipped cream.
3. Serve with cream cheese whipped cream.
5. White chocolate and lavender hot chocolate
SERVES 2
INGREDIENTS
2 cups full-cream milk
½ tsp dried lavender
¼ cup white-chocolate chips
Whipped cream, to serve
METHOD
1. Bring milk and lavender to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring.
2. Strain the milk to remove the lavender and return to low heat.
3. Add the chocolate chips and whisk until melted and smooth.
4. Serve with whipped cream
