Homemade Hot Cacao

How to Make This Hot Chocolate Recipe

• Whisk a little milk with the cocoa powder. This helps to make a paste and dissolve most of the powder. This step is essential: if you dump cocoa powder directly into hot milk, you’ll get lumps that are impossible to whisk out.
• Add the remaining ingredients. Once it’s smooth, add the remaining ingredients.
• Heat gently without boiling. Continue heating everything over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted and the drink is steaming hot, about 2 minutes total. The key is to heat the milk thoroughly without letting it boil. Boiling can scorch the milk and create a skin on top.
• Taste and adjust, then serve. Adjust the sweetness level if desired, then pour into mugs and garnish with your favorite toppings.

Variations & Toppings

When chocolate cravings strike, this recipe is my go-to recipe. Made with plenty of raw cacao powder, maple syrup, and cinnamon, you’re in for a rich and intensely chocolatey treat in 10 minutes flat.

• In a medium saucepan, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, water, and salt over medium heat. Heat this chocolate base mixture, stirring constantly, until smooth.
• When it simmers, reduce the heat, pour the milk, and continue stirring as it heats up and you see steam surface. Do not let it boil; you don’t want to burn the milk.
• Turn off the heat, add the vanilla, and mix.
• Pour the hot cocoa into mugs and top it with marshmallows or whipped cream.