Whether you find winter a time to curl up in front of a fire,ย or a time to get outside and enjoy the snow, weโve got youย covered. Pour yourself a steaming mug of food editorย Julie Van Rosendaalโs hot chocolate (below) and read on! Use a really good-qualityย chocolate, like Bernard Callebaut,ย Lindt or Scharffen Berger. Blendย it with a hand-held immersionย blender to emulsify the chocolateย and milk, and make it perfectlyย smooth.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar, 60 ml
1/4 cup cocoa, 60 ml
1/4 cup water, 60 ml
3 cups 2% or whole milk 750 ml
4-6 oz. semi or bittersweet
chocolate, finely chopped
Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, whiskย together the sugar and cocoa untilย no lumps remain. Whisk in the waterย and milk and set over medium heat;ย whisk occasionally until the sugar isย dissolved.
2. Increase the heat to medium-highย and bring the mixture to a simmer.ย Remove the pan from the heatย and whisk in the chocolate. If youย have one, blend in the pot with aย hand-held an immersion blender,ย until smooth and frothy.
Serveย immediately; rewarm if needed.
Serves 4.
Variation:
For Peanutย Butter Hot Chocolate, reduceย the chopped chocolate by half and add 1/4 cup smooth peanutย butter along with it; let stand andย then whisk or blend until smooth.
