Real Simple Magazine Hot Cocoa Mix

I love hot chocolate and always enjoy trying a new recipe. Typically I make my hot chocolate with chopped chocolate but that is a little time consuming. So when I saw a recipe for a homemade mix in the February edition of Real Simple I thought I would try it out.

The recipe is simple, easy and delicious.

Hot Cocoa Mix

From Real Simple Magazine February 2018 

21/2 cups instant no-fat dry milk

2 cups confectioners sugar

11/2 cups unsweetened cocoa

1 Tbsp.  freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp. fine sea salt

Sift all of the ingredients together into a large bowl. 

To make a cup of cocoa: Place 1/4 cup of cocoa mix into a cup. Heat 1 cup of milk to a simmer. Pour 1/4 of hot milk over cocoa mix, stir until combined and smooth, then stir in the rest of the milk. 

Cocoa mix keeps in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Linking to:
A Stroll Thru Life

The World's Best Hot Cocoa

Sources: Transfer-ware vintage, Cutting board vintage, (similar), Spoon Mudpie (Similar), linen napkin, enamel cup from Argentina similar cup, Copper Pot with bakelite handle vintage 

It promises to be another weird, wild weekend for weather so why not just stay in and relax. Play games with the kids, do some crafts, read a few books, make some cookies and then sit down with a cup of "the worlds best hot cocoa."

I discovered this recipe on Pinterest recently and thought I would give it a try. It is so easy and delicious. The perfect drink for a cold day.

The World's Best Hot Cocoa

Recipe from Ashley Marie

1/4 cup cocoa

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup water

4 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a saucepan mix all of the dry ingredients. Then add the water and bring to a boil. Keep boiling for 1 minute then add the milk. Whisk well and bring to a boil. Pour into glasses and serve. 

Sources: Transfer-ware vintage, Cutting board vintage, (similar), Spoon Mudpie (Similar), linen napkin, enamel cup from Argentina similar cup, Copper Pot with bakelite handle vintage 

If you like hot chocolate check out my Pinterest board for hot chocolate where I feature all of the recipes I have discovered. Who knew there were so many ways to make hot cocoa and hot chocolate?

Enjoy!

Sources: Transfer-ware vintage, Cutting board vintage, (similar), Spoon Mudpie (Similar), linen napkin, enamel cup from Argentina similar cup, Copper Pot with bakelite handle vintage

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!

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!

Creamy Hot Cocoa

Creamy Hot Cocoa

Recipe from All Recipes

Serves 4

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 cup of sugar

1 pinch of salt

1/3 cup of boiling water

31/2 cup of milk

3/4 tsp of vanilla

Garnish whipping cream

In a saucepan add cocoa, sugar, and salt. Blend in the boiling water and stir. Simmer and stir for one or two minutes. Add milk and bring to a soft boil then remove from heat and add vanilla. Garnish with whipping cream and enjoy. 

Gingerbread Cocoa

Hello! I know that the holidays are a crazy time for many, myself included. Between the cooking, cleaning, baking, family, friends, parties and all that the holidays entail it is always nice to sit and take a minute to relax. I like to do that with a cup of cocoa!

But then again if you have followed this blog or my other one, Pine Cones and Acorns, for any length of time than you already know that. 

Although I love good old fashioned cocoa I do like to experiment a little with new recipes. This week, I found a copy of Southern Living 2011 and inside was this delicious recipe for Gingerbread Cocoa. 

Gingerbread Cocoa
Recipe from Southern Living
Makes 16 cups

2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp. apple pie spice
11/2 tsp. ginger
1 gallon of milk

Whisk together first four ingredients in a 6 quart pan. Gradually add milk and whisk until combined. Cook mixture over medium heat for 20 minutes or until bubbles appear around the edges of the pan.

You can either serve immediately, or transfer to s slow cooker and leave on low to have a wonderful beverage all day long.

I enjoyed this cocoa, it is rich and creamy and the gingerbread flavor is a wonderful addition to the cocoa. The other thing that I like is that the recipe is for a crowd, it make 16 cups! I think it would be perfect for Christmas morning or a skating party or even a cookie exchange. I already have this added to my family Christmas menu. 

I hope you try this recipe and if you have a great cocoa recipe than let me know. 

Enjoy your day!

Linking to:
Coastal Charm
Savvy Southern Style

Traditional Hot Cocoa

As winter has reared its head and a chill has settled in on the back of Hurricane Sandy I thought it would be nice to sit with a cup of cocoa and relax after the storm. We have been battered since last Friday and frankly I could use a little break.

Traditional Hot Cocoa Recipe

1 cup of milk
2 Tablespoons of Heavy Whipping Cream
11/2 Tablespoons of Coco Powder (Droste)
1 Tablespoon of sugar
Mini Marshmallows for garnish

Directions

Pour milk and heavy cream into a small pan, heat to almost boiling. Add sugar and dissolve, whisk in coco powder. Pour into mug and garnish with mini-marshmallows.

I hope that you have fared well in the storm. For those of you who are without power and have suffered from this terrible storm, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Be safe. 

A Chocolate Pot From Paris

I have been in Paris for a the last week, and I think that aside from eating my weight in eclair chocolat, I probably drank my husbands weight in chocolat chaud! I cannot get enough of Parisian hot chocolate, I love it dark, with whipped cream, and without, and I particularly like it when it comes in a little pot like this!

Chocolate pot with wood molinet

Getting ready to make the perfect cup

I love hot chocolate!

 I purchased this pot on my trip this past week, it is a traditional design, made in porcelain. The original pots like this were made of precious metals, and like chocolate were only owned by the very wealthy.

To use this little pot, you place your chocolate pieces into the pot, add the hot milk and sugar if that is your recipe, wait a few moments for the chocolate to melt; place the molinet into the pot and put the top on. Take the molinet between your two hands and rub the stick between them as if you are starting a fire. This will emulsify the milk and the chocolate and make it frothy. Pour and enjoy!

Perfect dark chocolate chunks to melt!

How do you make your hot chocolate? Do you have a special pot? Do you have a fabulous recipe that you use? I would love to hear about it! This little post make the perfect cup!

If you want to see more from my trip to Paris come over to Pine Cones and Acorns, and see the adventures I had.

The Ongoing Quest for the perfect hot chocolate

It is no secret that I love hot chocolate, and I am ALWAYS searching for the perfect one. It is my favorite beverage, it is how I start my day and often times how I end it, it is what cheers me up if I am having a bad day, and what make a great day better.

Although I am perfectly capable of shaving the chocolate, making sure to have the correct amount of bitter and dark I prefer only to make it the old fashioned way on the weekend. During the week I usually take a short cut by using a beverage already blended by someone more skilled than me, someone such as Sarabeth, Angelina, Fran, Jacques and many others.

This past week I went into my pantry and to my delight or perhaps shock I had not 5, not 10, or even 15 different kinds of drinking chocolate from around the world. I had 20!!!! Sadly I found that I only drink 5 on a regular basis, the others were experiments.

I had to take two photos to get them all in without using a wide angle lens. I think I may have a problem...

That said, I will tell you that all of the hot chocolates, cocoas, and drinking chocolates shown above are excellent. If you would like any information on any of them let me know, I am sure that most are available online, but many of them I brought back from Paris on my trips. I am embarrassed to write this but I said I had a problem and this might be confirmation of that, last year I brought back 23 cans of hot chocolate. Yes, I did say 23, in my defense a few of them were gifts! I cannot wait to go to replenish my supply! This time I know which ones to get more of and which to skip.

Taste Test Tuesday: Williams-Sanoma Hot Chocolate

Williams-Sonoma Rich and Creamy Hot Chocolate

Williams-Sonoma hot chocolate prepared by me.

Although, I love the frosting on a piece of chocolate cake or cupcake or a really great piece of chocolate my favorite way to enjoy chocolate is a hot chocolate (not to be confused with hot cocoa) or what I like to call drinking chocolate. I am continually on the hunt for a delicious and tasty treat that is easy to prepare at home.

Today I thought I would tell you about the Williams-Sonoma hot chocolate that was sold around the holidays. This is a hot chocolate that  is blended by Guittard and is actually little shavings of different chocolates, and is inspired by the famed Angelina cafe in Paris. It was sold for $19.99 for about 8 servings.

Chocolate Guittard shavings.

The directions say to heat one cup of milk until little bubbles appear around the edges of the pot and then add 5 tablespoons of the chocolate flakes. Stir or whisk until the chocolate is incorporated. Then pour into a mug and enjoy.

Tiny bubbles forming around pan.

Add chocolate shaving and whisk.

The finished product! Creamy and rich!

I liked the taste and thought the preparation was very easy but for my taste, I think it is too sweet, which is really ironic considering that I love sugar and anything sweet. After my first cup I modified the recipe to suit my taste, and I only added three tablespoons of the chocolate flakes and then added one square of 70% dark chocolate to give it more of a bittersweet taste.

Again, this is my opinion. My taste is not the same as yours. The product is delicious and a really wonderful drink to serve your guests or as a treat for yourself. It is only sold around the holiday's so we will have to wait until the Fall for it to be available in the stores again. It also comes in peppermint.