SPICY HOT CHOCOLATE

Spicy Hot Chocolate image

Gently seasoned with a touch of chile powder, cinnamon and vanilla, this fragrant hot chocolate recipe is not too sweet and very complex. Using both cocoa powder and chocolate gives the roundest, deepest chocolate flavor while a mix of whole milk and cream makes it wonderfully rich and thick.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
3/8 teaspoon ancho chile powder, or to taste
1 3/4 cups whole milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Marshmallows or whipped cream, optional

Steps:

In a medium pot, whisk together chocolate, cocoa, sugar and chile. 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.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 254, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 28 grams, Fat 16 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 62 milligrams, Sugar 24 grams