Hot Cocoa

Hot Cocoa seems to be a requirement on a snowy day.  When you're little sometimes the promise of a nice warm mug of hot cocoa is used as a bribe to get you to finally come inside from playing in the snow. And when you're a grown up its still a warm relaxing treat to have on a cold day ...build a fire (luckily mine works with a light switch), cuddle up under a blanket and relax with a good book or movie.  Ha, who am I kidding?!  I have no time for books & movies unless they are children books & Disney movies for my daughter ...but you get the point ...young or old, hot cocoa is a great treat on a cold day.

I bought the instant mixes and the results were just not living up to the foodie standards in this house. So I searched the internet for homemade hot cocoa mixes, tried a few recipes and finally ended up with the recipe below.  The addition of corn starch definitely helps make the cocoa powder disolve easier without clumps and it also gives a thick richness to the drink.  It only takes a few minutes to make and its worth the effort for the gourmet results. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup chocolate chips (milk chocolate or semi-sweet)

1 tablespoon corn starch

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
makes enough for about 9 cups of hot cocoa  

Mix ingredients in a food processor until all the chocolate chips are finely chopped.  If you don't have a food processor you can use a cheese grater or knife to finely chop the chocolate chips.  Store in an air tight container. When ready to use mix 3 tablespoons of mixture with 1 cup of milk.  Heat & stir over stovetop or heat in the microwave for about 1 minute. Stir until the mix is completely dissolved.  Serve with mini marshmallows or whipped cream.  

recipe adapted from Smittenkitchen.com