Dulce de Leche Hot Chocolate

The winds of winter are still blowing here in the South. Not that I mind as it is just the beginning of February and we have a long way to go until Spring. I love hot chocolate and am always looking for a new recipe. Last month I noticed a few recipes in Southern Living magazine that I thought I might try this scrumptious Dulce de Leche hot chocolate is one of them, it is easy and so delicious. You should make a cup or two over you long winter weekends.

Dulce de Leche Hot Chocolate
Recipe from Southern Living 

Ingredients

4 cups 1/2 & 1/2

1/2 cup canned or jared Dulce de Leche

8 oz. dark chocolate chopped

1/3 cup Drambuie optional

2 teaspoons Nielsen Massey pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

Whisk together 4 cups of half and half and 1/2 cup canned or jared dulce de leche in a medium saucepan. Simmer over medium, stirring constantly until heated through, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 8 ounces of chopped dark chocolate, (optional 1/3 cup of Drambuie), 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt until the mixture is smooth. Next, beat 1 cup of cold heavy cream in a cold bowl with an electric mixer on high until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute. Pour hot chocolate mixture into 4 serving cups. Top each with whipped cream, a drizzle of dulche de leche and shaved or chopped chocolate.

Serve and enjoy.

Savvy Southern Style
Between Naps on The Porch

Mississippi Mud Pie Hot Chocolate

Good morning! Another chilly day here in the South, but I guess that is ok as it is Winter. On cold mornings like these I love the make a big pot of hot chocolate so that I can start the day with not only something that I love but something that is chocolaty and delicious.

So much better tasting than oatmeal, not necessarily healthier but definitely more chocolaty, that is unless you are having some of my scrumptious Chocolate Chip Oatmeal. 

Mississippi Mud Pie Hot Chocolate

Recipe from Phillip Ashley Rix

The Local Palate Magazine December 2015

11/2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup heave cream

1 vanilla bean split

4 oz. dark chocolate

2 oz. milk chocolate

1 tsp. Ceylon cinnamon

2 oz. bourbon(optional)

mini marshmallows for garnish

In a medium pan combine milk, cream and the scraped beans from the vanilla bean as well as the pod. Set over medium heat until hot.

Add chocolates, stir until completely melted and incorporated. Turn to low, add cinnamon and stir.

Remove the vanilla bean. Mixture will thicken as it simmers, be careful not to scotch the mixture.

Stir in the bourbon and remove from heat. Pour into cups and add garnish.

NOTE: I do not add the Bourbon when I make this, but a lot of people love it this way for an afternoon or evening drink.

I hope you try this or one of my other Favorite Hot Chocolate Recipes! Stay warm and have a great week.

Bailey's Frozen Hot Chocolate Cocktail

Happy 2016! It sounds strange to say that because I cannot figure out where 2015 went. I think it is as they say, time seems to go faster as I age. I actually meant to post this before the holidays were over because I thought it would be a tasty cocktail for New Years eve but I did not have the time. If you are a hot chocolate fan or a Bailey's fan both of which I am, I think you will enjoy this easy and tasty treat. 

Bailey's Frozen Hot Chocolate Cocktail

Recipe adapted from David Lebovitz

Ingredients:

3/4 cup milk, divided

1 tablespoon Dutch processed cocoa powder

4 ounces 65% chocolate chips

1 scoop vanilla ice cream 

3 tablespoons Baileys  

1 1/2 cups ice cubes

whipped cream for garnish

Directions:

In a small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of the milk with the cocoa powder, just until mixture begins to boil.  Remove pan from the heat, and add the chocolate chips, stirring until melted and smooth.  Set the mixture aside to cool.

In a blender, combine the cooled chocolate milk mixture, the remaining 1/4 cup milk, ice cream, Baileys, and ice cubes, then blend until completely smooth.  Divide into glasses and garnish with whipped cream. 

Enjoy! 


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Savvy Southern Style

Hot Chocolate with Eggnog Whipped Cream

Good morning! I hope that your week has been great. Can you believe that it is the night before Christmas? Where did the time go? Tonight is the time to relax and enjoy your time with family and friends. 

My favorite drink on a cold winter day, or any day for that matter is a steamy cup of hot chocolate. Recently I have discovered that a dollop of egg nog whipped cream makes it the perfect winter beverage!


 Eggnog Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3-1/2 cups of egg nog
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1/2  teaspoon ground nutmeg

Place whipping cream and egg nog in a chilled bowl and whip until medium soft peaks form, then add powdered sugar and nutmeg and whip just a lit more to incorporate. Do not over whip or you will have something resembling butter.

Top your favorite hot chocolate (or try on of the many I have made here in the past few years) or hot beverage with a dollop of egg nog whipped cream and enjoy!

I hope that you have a wonderful day and a very Merry Christmas!

Sharing at:
Coastal Charm

Polar Express Hot Chocolate

Once of my favorite things to do at Christmas is to watch all of the classic movies, both new and old, Rudolph, Frosty, White Christmas, Elf and of course the Polar Express. I personally love the "hot chocolate" scene and dance.

In the next few days before the holidays why not make a batch of Polar Express Hot Chocolate, flip on the movie and enjoy a little time with your family and friends?

I discovered this recipe from Honey & Fitz several years ago and just made it this past week. It is easy and delicious!

Polar Express Hot Chocolate

Recipe from Honey & Fitz

11/2 cups of heavy cream

1 can of sweetened condensed milk 

2 cups Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
6 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large pot combine all the ingredients listed above and cook over low heat for 30-40 minutes and all ingredients are melted and incorporated. Stir frequently. Serve with whipped cream, marshmallows or just enjoy it plain.

I hope that you enjoy this holiday season!

If you like hot chocolate I have a Hot Chocolate Board on Pinterest with this recipe and about 400 others!

Decadent Dark Hot Chocolate on the Eve of St. Nicholas

Decadent Dark Hot Chocolate 

Recipe from Smitten Kitchen
Make 9 cups

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 ounces see or bittersweet chocolate roughly chopped
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla or the seeds from a tiny segment of vanilla bean pod
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt or 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Combine all ingredients ingot the bowl of a food processor and blend until powdery. Keep in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

To use:
Heat one cup of milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steamy. Add 3 tablespoons of cocoa mix and whisk for another minute or two until the mix is dissolved and the cocoa is creamy. Pour into cups and top with whipped cream or marshmallows. 

This hot chocolate is a great, go to mix to have in the cabinet, it is also a wonderful gift to give with a cute mug and some homemade cookies. I will be snuggling down with a cup, or two this evening after I put my slippers out for St. Nicholas to fill tonight.

Do you celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas? We have celebrated it our entire lives, he leaves treats in our slippers or stockings on the eve of December 5th and we find it December 6th. Then we get our presents on Christmas day. 

If you would like to know more about the holiday come over to my other blog,  Pine Cones and Acorns and read all about it!

Happy St. Nicholas Day

Mast Brothers Classic Hot Cocoa

Now that the Christmas season is upon us and the cool weather is settling in, it is the perfect time for cocoa! Honestly, I could drink it morning, noon and night I love it that much. 

While I have my "go to" recipe I am always open to trying something new. This classic hot cocoa recipe from Mast Brothers Chocolate: A Family Cookbook is smooth, chocolatey and delicious! 

Classic Hot Cocoa

Serves 4

4 Cups whole milk

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ounces dark chocolate

In a medium saucepan combine milk, cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla, bring to a boil, string frequently. 

Shave chocolate over each mug or add a toasted marshmallow. 

Enjoy!

Mocha Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows

Although it is February the winter winds are still howling here.  In fact it seems as if they will never end. Today will be another day filled with snow and cold, not to mention bone chilling wind chills. Although I would love to stay inside that is not going to be an option today. 

But a nice mug of cocoa will be a warm welcome when I return.

Mocha Hot Chocolate

1/2 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

1/8 cup instant espresso powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup of water

3  cups of milk

1 cup of half and half

Topping

marshmallows

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan, except milk and half and half. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly until cocoa is dissolved and the mixture is a paste. Slowly add the milk and half and half, whisking until small bubbles appear around the edges of the pan, do not boil. Pour into glasses and top with marshmallows. 

Enjoy!

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Winter is typically one of my favorite times of the year. I love the snow, snow shoeing, long days and lots of time to relax and read by the fire. But this year the bone chilling cold is getting me down.

To combat the winter blues I have been drinking copious amounts of hot chocolate and this morning is no different. After all what could be better after shoveling than a piping hot cup of chocolaty goodness?

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Serves 4

3 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

3 oz. 60% dark chocolate

3 oz. 70% dark chocolate

2 oz. milk chocolate

3 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

In a small saucepan bring milk and cream to a low simmer, over a medium to high heat. Do not scald the milk. Chop chocolate into small pieces. Once milk is warm add the sugar and salt and whisk to combine. Add the chocolate and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat and add the vanilla. Mix until combined and then serve. You can add whipped cream, marshmallows or whatever else you like as a garnish or serve it plain.

This is my standard recipe, the only variation is the percentage of chocolate depending on what is in my cabinet. Sometimes I have more dark that milk, other times I use all dark and just add a touch more sugar. 

Do you have a favorite hot chocolate recipe? I would love for you to share a like if you do or just write it in the comment section. 

I hope that you stay warm and have a fabulous weekend!

Bailey's Chocolatini

Good morning! I do not know about you but by New Years Eve I am a little tuckered out from all of the holiday celebrations so there are years that I do not actually make it until midnight.

This year I am going to try but to make it to the countdown but I will not be out partying, I will be home celebrating quietly with a small group of family and friends. I am still working on the menu but one of the cocktails is going to be this Bailey's Chocolatini, after all what is a celebration without a little chocolate.

Bailey's Chocolatini

2 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream

1/4 oz. of vodka

1/2 oz. Godiva Chocolate liquor

Pour sprinkles into a saucer, bub the rim of a martini glass with lemon and place glass upside down in saucer to line rim. Place a few ice cubes into a shaker, add all liquors, shake well and pour into a chilled glass. Enjoy!

I hope that you have a happy and safe celebration! Remember to drink responsibly and do not drink and drive.

Happy New Year!

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Stone Gable The Scoop

Green & Blacks Luxury Cocoa

Luxury Cocoa

Recipe from Green & Blacks Chocolate Recipes

1 cup of whole milk

2 tablespoons of heavy cream

2 cinnamon sticks, about 2 inches long

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons of sugar

Put the milk, cream and cinnamon sticks in a pan and slowly bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and let sit for 10 minutes.

When ready to serve remove cinnamon sticks and reheat the milk. In a mug add cocoa powder and enough milk to form a paste and stir.

When milk is just heated pour into mug and stir to blend, then add the sugar to taste and stir well, serve with cinnamon sticks.

Linking to:
The Scoop on Stone Gable
Savvy Southern Style

Bailey's Hot Chocolate

Just in case you feel like you need something a little stronger than traditional hot chocolate. 

Bailey's Irish Cream Hot Chocolate

2 cups of milk

21/2 oz. dark chocolate, chopped

11/2 oz. Baileys Irish Cream

Directions:

In a small saucepan boil the milk. Once boiled remove from heat and add the chocolate, whisk until smooth. Add Bailey's Irish Cream and garnish with whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Wittamer Hot Chocolate

Good morning can you believe that it is only five days until Christmas?  I have so much to do and yet I find myself not wanting to do anything but sit around with a cup of cocoa and watch old Christmas movies. Thankfully I am almost finished, and frankly what is left is really just extra so if it is not finished no big deal.

One of the things I have been doing while I am procrastinating about my holiday projects is experimenting with chocolate drinks. This is one of my new favorites, Wittamer Hot Chocolate from David Leibovitz. The recipe is from his cookbook The Great Book of Chocolate, which is filled with wonderful recipes, and suggestions of chocolate shops and cafes around the world.  

Wittamer Hot Chocolate

Recipe David LebovitzDavid Lebovitz

1 quart of whole milk or half and half

8 oz. of bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

4 oz. milk chocolate, chopped

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

In a saucepan heat the chocolates and 1 CUP of the milk. Stir until melted. Then add the remaining milk and cinnamon and heat.

Stir briskly with whisk or use and immersion blender to make this smooth and creamy.

I should tell you that this is European drinking chocolate, not nasty powered stuff from a mix. It is very strong, and chocolaty. Even though the recipe serves four your could probably serve six people, a little of this tasty drink goes a long way.

Enjoy the hot chocolate. 

Neilsen Massey Peppermint Hot Chocolate

I am a huge fan of hot chocolate but then again if you read this blog you already knew that. Now that the weather is getting downright cold and the holidays just around the corner this Peppermint Hot Chocolate is the perfect drink for yourself and your guests.

Recently, Neilsen-Massey the vanilla and flavoring company offered me the opportunity to try a few of their products. As I routinely use the Vanilla and Vanilla bean paste I thought I would branch out and try something new, one of the flavors I choose was the peppermint extract and boy am I happy that I did.

The pure peppermint extract is smooth and is the perfect compliment to the rich chocolate flavor of this cocoa. There is no aftertaste, just a sweet, fresh and minty flavor. In addition to hot chocolate I think it would be fabulous in cakes and brownies, not to mention a few savory dishes as well. 

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

1/2 cup heavy cream, divided

1 teaspoon, plus 2 tablespoons of sugar

2 cups of whole milk

1/2 cup of half and half

5 oz. 60% chocolate, chopped

1/4 teaspoon Nielsen Massey Peppermint Extract 

candy canes or Andes Peppermint candy for garnish

Take 1/2 cup of heavy cream and 1 teaspoon of sugar and whip until soft peaks form. Set aside in refrigerator.

In a medium saucepan add half and half, milk and 2 tablespoons of sugar, whisk together over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add the chopped chocolate and whisk until smooth then add the extract and mix again. Pour into mugs and garnish with whipped cream, candy canes or chopped peppermint candy.

I hope that you have a great holiday. Enjoy your time with family and friends this week!

NOTE: I have not been compensated for this post. I was given a sample of  the product.  My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way by the manufacturer. 

Herhey's "Perfectly Chcocolate" Hot Cocoa

Tis' the Season to be jolly, fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. I have my halls decked, presents wrapped and shipped and I am ready to settle in and relax. 

I love relaxing with a cup of homemade hot cocoa while sitting next to a roaring fire, and a good book. I think it is the perfect way to end the day. Don't you?

Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Hot Cocoa

Recipe from Hershey's

1/4 Tablespoons cocoa powder

1/2 cup of sugar

3 cups of milk

1 cup of heavy cream

1/4 teaspoon of vanilla

whipped cream for garnish

In a small bowl mix sugar and cocoa and set aside. In a saucepan heat milk to just boiling. Once boiling mix 1/3 cup of milk into the cocoa/sugar mixture and stir until creamy, then pour into the hot milk and whisk then stir in vanilla and whisk again. Pour into mugs and serve with marshmallows or whipped cream. 

I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Bicerin: A Chocolate and Coffee Drink

The Christmas season is the perfect time to try new rich and chocolaty drinks and I am always in search of new ones. Recently while perusing one of my favorite cookbooks, Luscious Chocolate Desserts by Lori Longbotham I discovered a chocolate drink that was new to me, it's called Bicerin. Pronounced "beech-en-Reen", bicerin is a favorite drink in the Piedemont region of Italy. Traditionally it is served in a small glass so that you can see each layer, I skipped that and just whisked all of the ingredients together. 

Bicerin

Recipe from Luscious Chocolate Desserts by Lori Longbotham

2 cups whole milk

2 cups of hot strong brewed coffee

3 ounces of bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

3 tablespoons of sugar or to taste

Bring milk just to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Meanwhile, pour the hot coffee into a heatproof pitcher or glass measuring cup and whisk in the chocolate and sugar until smooth. Then whisk in the hot milk. Taste and add more sugar if you prefer it a little sweeter. Serves 4-6.

This drink is perfect for a cool, lazy Saturday afternoon with friends. I hope that you try it and the many others I will be posting this month to celebrate the holidays.

If you would like to know more about the history of Bicerin or places in Italy to try it David Lebovitz wrote a great post about it HERE.