Description
Indulge in the rich and velvety Italian Hot Chocolate, a luxurious drink made by slowly heating cocoa, milk, and chocolate until thickened to a pudding-like consistency. Perfect for a cozy treat, this recipe offers a luscious texture and deep chocolate flavor topped with optional whipped cream or shaved chocolate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk (or dairy-free milk of choice)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate)
- Pinch of salt
- Whipped cream or shaved chocolate for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium saucepan, whisk together cocoa powder, cornstarch, sugar, and salt until evenly combined.
- Create smooth paste: Add about 1/4 cup of the milk to the dry mixture and whisk thoroughly to form a smooth, lump-free paste.
- Add remaining milk: Whisk in the remaining milk until fully blended with the paste.
- Heat mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly to prevent scorching and lumps.
- Melt chocolate chips: Once the mixture is warm, stir in the chocolate chips and continue stirring until they are completely melted and smooth.
- Simmer and thicken: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Continue stirring constantly for 5 to 7 minutes until it thickens to a pudding-like consistency.
- Serve hot: Remove the saucepan from heat and pour the hot chocolate into mugs.
- Add toppings: Optionally, top with whipped cream or shaved chocolate for extra indulgence.
Notes
- Use cornstarch as a thickener to achieve the characteristic rich and creamy texture of Italian hot chocolate.
- You can substitute whole milk with any dairy-free milk such as almond, oat, or soy milk.
- Adjust the sugar according to your preferred sweetness level.
- Constant stirring while heating prevents the mixture from burning or clumping.
- This recipe makes 2 servings, perfect for sharing or a cozy evening indulgence.
