HOT SPICED MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE WITH ICE CREAM DUSTED WITH CHILI POWDER

Hot Spiced Mexican Hot Chocolate with Ice Cream Dusted with Chili Powder image

Provided by Michael Chiarello : Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

3/4 cup water
1 vanilla bean (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 heaping tablespoon instant espresso
Pinch salt
2 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, the best quality possible, grated
2 cups whole milk
Vanilla ice cream
Chili powder

Steps:

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Split the vanilla bean and add to the boiling water. Add sugar, cinnamon, espresso, and a pinch of salt. Simmer for 1 minute and add the bittersweet chocolate. Whisk until it gets thick. Add milk and simmer 1 minute. Serve immediately with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a sprinkling of chili powder on top.
You may make this ahead and reheat. Make sure to either whisk it or blend it in a blender to make it light and foamy before serving. (The classic Mexican chocolate was whisked with a special wooden tool called a 'molinillo'.)