Best Barefoot Contessas Hot Chocolate Recipes

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Heat milk and half and half in a saucepan on medium heat to just below the simmering point.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add both types of chocolate.
• When they are melted, add the sugar, vanilla extract and espresso and whisk vigorously.
• Reheat gently and serve immedietly garnished with vanilla beans or cinnamon sticks.

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Place the milk and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Off the heat, stir in the chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper with a wooden spoon and allow to steep for 3 minutes. Reheat the hot chocolate over low heat until it simmers.
• Strain the chocolate into a measuring cup and pour into mugs. Stir with cinnamon sticks, if desired.

WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• In a saucepan on medium heat, heat the milk and half-and-half to just below the simmering point. Remove the pan from the heat and add the white chocolate. When the chocolate is melted, add the vanilla and whisk vigorously. Reheat very gently and serve with a vanilla bean as a stirrer in each cup.

HOLIDAY HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• In a saucepan on medium heat, heat the milk and half-and-half to just below the simmering point. Remove the pan from the heat and add the white chocolate. When the chocolate is melted, add the vanilla, vanilla bean seeds, and 1/4 to 1/3 cup orange liqueur, according to taste, and whisk vigorously. Reheat very gently and serve.

FROZEN BERRIES WITH HOT WHITE CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Combine the chocolate, heavy cream, and the vanilla in a heat-proof bowl and set it over a pan of simmering water until the chocolate melts.
• About 5 minutes before serving, remove the berries from the freezer and place them on individual serving plates. Ladle the warm chocolate sauce over the berries and serve.
• Yield: 8 to 10 servings
• Note: You can either buy frozen berries, or freeze your own by placing the berries on a flat tray in layer. When the berries are fully frozen, keep them a plastic bag in the freezer. Larger berries, such as strawberries, do not freeze well.

CREPES AND HOT CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt, and set aside. In a small saucepan, warm the milk over low heat. Add the warmed milk and butter to the flour mixture, followed by the eggs and the rum. Use an immersion blender to mix the batter until thoroughly combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or in the refrigerator overnight.
• To make the crepes, spray an 8-inch saute pan with grapeseed oil spray, wipe it clean, and turn the heat to high. (You'll know the pan is ready when it just begins to smoke.) Using a 2-ounce ladle, ladle out crepe batter into the hot pan and tilt the pan to spread the batter into an even circle. After 45 seconds, when the top is dry, flip the crepe over and cook on the other side for 20 seconds, until it just starts to brown at the edges. Fold the crepe in half and transfer it to a sheet pan lined with foil. Repeat this process with the remaining crepe batter.
• Place one crepe on a plate and top with Hot Chocolate Sauce. Fold the sides over and repeat with another crepe on the same plate (you will have two crepes for each serving.) Repeat with the remaining crepes and serve.
• Place the chocolate in a large bowl and set aside. Combine the water, sugar, cocoa powder, and cream in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate, setting the saucepan aside, and whisk until smooth. Pour the chocolate sauce into a sieve set over the reserved saucepan and keep warm until ready to use.