CREAMY HOT CHOCOLATE; Freeze and heat later for a quick treat!
I have never been a fan of the powdered hot chocolate mix you can purchase in your local supermarket. I still make it the way I did when I was a child, with milk, cocoa, and sugar. Each cup of cocoa is different. Sometimes I add caramel topping, cinnamon, hot fudge, marshmallows, or whipped cream. But the item I add the most is coffee creamer. I keep a variety of flavors on hand so I can grab whatever flavor I am craving at the moment. It also adds such a creamy flavor.
If you are serving it to guest, why not add some chocolate covered marshmallows? They are quick and easy to make.
Another thing you can do to prepare for company or grab a hot cup of cocoa on the go is to make the chocolate ahead of time and freeze it. I use these disposable cups with lids – fill them about 3/4 full of cocoa and then pop them in the freezer. When you get ready for a cup of creamy hot chocolate, just remove the lid and microwave it for about 3 minutes. (the amount of time needed to heat will depend on the type of microwave you have and the size of the cup so adjust accordingly).
I have no idea how long it will keep in the freezer without loosing its taste but this one had been in the freezer for 6 weeks and it tasted as fresh as it did when I made it.
If you don’t have to-go cups, you can always freeze the hot chocolate in ice cube trays and pop them in a Ziploc bag or container.
Ingredients
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups (1 qt.) milk
- 1/3 cup hot water
- Dash salt
- 1/4 cup Cocoa
- 1/2 cup sugar
Directions
1. Stir together sugar, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan; stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk; stirring constantly, heat to serving temperature. Do Not Boil.
2. Remove from heat; add vanilla. If you want it super creamy, beat with rotary beater or whisk until foamy. Serve with marshmallow stirrers. Makes five 8-oz. servings.
Marshmallows Stirrers
Melt chocolate or white chocolate in the microwave until creamy. Place candy sticks (I got mine at Walmart) into the marshmallow and dip into chocolate.
