My kids love Hot Chocolate, yes they do. I don't like to buy the premade stuff (filled with who knows what), so they usually go without...at least until those special trips to Starbucks ♥
A couple of months ago I decided to try my hand at making my own hot chocolate and found that my kids go nuts over it!
These pics were taken the other day when our Christmas tree was still up, but I love the bokeh effect too much to take updated ones. The lights are so beautiful in the background.
The following recipe makes enough for all 5 kids to have a small mug of chocolate with some leftover to add to my coffee. The extras can keep in the fridge for the next day!
Waking up those sweet faces with the news there is a warm cup of cocoa is a sure way to get them out of bed, pronto.
Homemade hot chocolate is a wonderful delight after spending some time outside playing in the snow.
~ Homemade Hot Chocolate ~
1 cup organic sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup cocoa (I buy mine in bulk from Azure Standard)
2/3 cup hot water
8 cups of organic milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
In a large saucepan, stir together the sugar, salt and cocoa, then whisk in the hot water. Heat to a low boil and add cold milk. Bring the mixture to your desired temperature, stirring frequently. Do not boil. 
Remove from heat, add vanilla extract and serve!
I use homemade vanilla extract. It is very simple to make yourself. This particular jar is made with vanilla beans and vodka, though I prefer my other extract that's made with bourbon...it just seems a little richer in flavor. I obviously need to make some more!
Tips: I've found the recipe very forgiving as far as the ingredients go. I've used honey, sucanat and/or brown sugar, just adjusting the sweetness as needed. I like halving the sugar (and adding a little extra cocoa) so the chocolate leans bittersweet, but my kids prefer the full strength of the sugar in milk chocolate. The vanilla can also be left out if you'd like. Don't forget the salt, I think that's what makes this recipe extra scrumptious.
I often add mini-marshmallows for fun. Over Christmas-time I put a candy cane in the cup to melt. It makes a peppermint hot cocoa treat!
Pardon the broken candy cane, I somehow can never find an unbroken one around here.
That's all there is to it. Super easy, affordable and much healthier than a store bought mix. I hope you enjoy this recipe.
As you can see my kids love it.
Lydia gets hers in a sippy cup
I hope your holiday break was a good one. Ours is still going on with us staying up late and sleeping into late morning. My husband has had most of this week off, but goes back tomorrow, so I suppose we'll enter reality again soon...maybe after the weekend ;) Happy Hot Chocolate making!
Linking to:
We stay up late and sleep late too these days, without a job to get up for we can I guess.
ReplyDeleteIn the summer it all changes with the energizing light we get. I love hot chocolate too and have struggled with finding some I find acceptable. I have settled on a Safeway Organics brand called Hot Chocolate Mix. With the crowd you make for it makes more sense to do it from scratch however like you're doing. My grandson is still in Kodiak until Jan 13th when UAF starts up again.
I need to try this! I love a good cup of hot cocoa! Thanks for linking to my link party! :)
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