The Best Hot Chocolate

Recipe courtesy Gale Gand

Show: Sweet DreamsEpisode: Tailgate!

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (15)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(15)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 45 min

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Ingredients

3 cups whole milk
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup good quality Dutch process cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Serving suggestions: Marshmallow Footballs

Directions

Place milk and half-and-half in a saucepan and heat to a simmer over medium heat.

Meanwhile, stir together the cocoa powder, sugar, and cinnamon. A few teaspoons at a time, stir the hot milk into the cocoa mixture to make a smooth paste. Scrape the cocoa mixture into the saucepan with the milk and simmer 2 minutes; do not let it boil. Stir in the vanilla and keep warm in a thermos.

Pour into small serving cups and place 4 mini-marshmallows on each serving or spritz them with whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Marshmallow Footballs:

1/4 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup sugar
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon gelatin
2 tablespoons cold water
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Make the marshmallows: Combine the water, the corn syrup, and the sugar in a saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer. Bring to a boil and boil to "soft-ball" stage, or about 235 degrees F.

Meanwhile, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Sprinkle the gelatin over the 2 tablespoons water and let sponge.

When the syrup reaches 235 degrees F, remove it from the heat, add the gelatin, and mix. Pour the syrup into the whipped egg whites. Add the vanilla and continue whipping until stiff.

Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper then sprinkle it with powdered sugar. Pour the marshmallow onto the pan and spread it out. Let cool about 2 hours then with a pair of scissors dipped in cornstarch, cut out football shapes.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe The Best Hot Chocolate
Marjorie Milwaukee, WI 01-15-2010
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Delicious hot chocolate!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Being my first time making hot chocolate...rather than using the lame & unhealthy packets like swiss miss, which contain... hydrogenated oils...I found this recipe, out of MANY on the internet. I doctored it though & it still turned out great! I used 1 c. 1% milk and 1 c. light vanilla soy, 1/8 t. cinnamon and 1/4 t. vanilla and 1/4 c. sugar and 1/8 c. cocoa powder...actually it may have still been 1/4 c. even though I used half the milk because I LOVE chocolate...but I'm not sure...guess I'll have to make it again & find out! Anyway, I loved the cinnamon in it!!! Might try the almond like someone else suggested!Read more
recipe The Best Hot Chocolate
thom sd, CA 08-16-2009
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If you think it's a little bland, then
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is a great hot chocolate as is, but I read one review that couldn't quite figure out what was missing. Consider doing a... little customizing. First, add a pinch of salt (a small pinch) to wake up all the tastebuds. Also, to make a true Mexican hot chocolate add a small amount of almond extract (5 or 6 drops). It goes a long way so be careful not to over-almond it. Read more
recipe The Best Hot Chocolate
Jan Seattle, WA 12-27-2006
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Yummy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My husband had a craving for hot cocoa and we didn't have any instant. I whipped this up super quick and he loved it! Easy... to make and delicious.Read more
recipe The Best Hot Chocolate
Gosia Vancouver 02-27-2006
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Better than storebought!!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

This is a wonderful recipe for hot chocolate if you have a few minutes to make it. I didn't add the marshmallows but that's... only because I don't like marshmallows. I had to make another modification: I heated the milk over a very low flame and put half a stick of cinnamon in the milk while it warmed. That gave the cinnamon a few more minutes to flavour the milk. I then added the cocoa and sugar paste, as indicated in the recipe. This is a wonderful recipe, and without the marshmallows is perfect for chocolate-lovers who don't like their hot chocolate too sweet. I made some for a chocolate-loving friend of mine, and she didn't just ask for seconds, she almost demanded it!Read more
recipe The Best Hot Chocolate
Diane Coquitlam 01-27-2006
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easy and yummy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I had a craving for hot chocolate, but didn't have any instant mix nor did I want to go to Denny's. This recipe was at the... top of the search page so I gave it a go. I mixed all the dry ingredients with a splash of milk (1% was all I had) and whisked it until it was smooooooooth. Then I added the rest of the milk (i didn't have any half and half) and heated it, stirring with a wooden spoon. I added a pinch of salt to bring out the chocolateyness and also added a splash of evaporated milk to make it creamy. I omitted 1 tablespoon of sugar and added a splash of orange liqueur - it turned out GREAT! I'll definitely be making this again.Read more
recipe The Best Hot Chocolate
Anonymous 01-21-2006
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Hot Coca Heaven!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

If you are bored to death or have to unwind:Have some Hot Cocoa! It is SOOOOOOOO good. I made it for my daughters party and... EVERYONE loved it. All 25 people! Try this! it's good!Read more