This hot chocolate is spicy in a gingerbread way, with a very mild chile bite. If you're serving it to small children, you could skip the chile powder or reduce it to a pinch. Also good to note, the higher the percentage of cocoa solids in your bittersweet chocolate, the less sweet your brew will be. We used a 70 percent chocolate and it was just sweet enough. If you're unsure and worried about over-sweetening, just add the sugar at the end to taste.
Then enjoy your cup of comfort, with a marshmallow, or without.
Spicy Hot Chocolate
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon ancho chile powder, or to taste
13/4 cups whole milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Marshmallows or whipped cream, optional
In a medium pot, whisk together chocolate, cocoa, sugar and chile powder. Place pan over medium-low heat and whisk until chocolate begins to melt. Slowly whisk in milk, then cream. Drop in cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer.
Remove pot from heat. Cover pot tightly and steep 1 hour.
Whisk in vanilla and taste for sweetness, adding more sugar if you like.
Warm over low heat before straining and serving hot, with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired.
Makes 4 servings.
Food on 02/18/2015