Hot cocoa is one of the best ways to enjoy the cold, winter months, bringing sweetness and warmth to an otherwise dreary day. Making it can be as easy as mixing some store bought hot chocolate powder with hot water and leaving it at that. But if you wanna take things up a notch and make hot cocoa that is on another level of delicious, here are some tips.
Heat Your Milk
The best hot cocoa starts with a milk base to provide that creaminess that’s so delicious. Start off by heating milk in a saucepan until it reaches 140ºF. Go slow and whisk often so that the milk heats evenly.
Use Real Chocolate
Once your milk is at your desired temperature, stir in room temperature chocolate. This creates hot cocoa that is much richer and higher in quality than the powdered stuff. Obviously, the better the chocolate you use, the tastier your hot cocoa will be. Let this combination come back up in temperature, whisking until the chocolate is totally melted. Be careful not to let it burn!
Add Toppings
If you want to leave it at that, you can, but adding mix-ins and toppings really takes hot cocoa to the next level. Whether you go classic with whipped cream and marshmallows or get creative with sea salt, rum, spices, or mint, you can’t go wrong if you follow your taste buds.
