peppermint hot cocoa

Countdown to Christmas: Day 7

For many years I thought that you could only make hot chocolate from the packets you’d buy in the store.  It’s okay, you can go ahead and laugh, but it’s true.  I guess I just never thought about making it any other way.  When I stopped eating refined sugars and started to look at the labels I realized how loaded with sugar they really were.  So like anything else I taught myself how to make it the old fashioned way.

ingredients: 

• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp raw cane sugar or splenda
• 1 cup milk or 1 cup boiling water

one of the following:

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or
• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract or
• 1/4 tsp almond extract 

For hot cocoa made with milk:

Measure out a cup of milk, you can use whatever kind you prefer.  Pour it into a small saucepan and put on the stove on low heat.  Using a whisk continually whisk the milk while it heats.  Using the whisk prevents the milk from burning but also creates a really nice foam layer that’s a great topping to your drink.  Sort of like you would get at Starbucks.

Put your cocoa powder & whichever type of sweetener you’re using into a large mug.  I usually use a 16 oz one.  When your milk is hot but not boiling pour it into your mug, trying to reserve some of the foam for the top.  Using your whisk stir everything together really well.  Add in whichever extract you’d prefer.  Vanilla will give you a normal hot cocoa, Peppermint is great for a Christmas kind of drink.  Or a new favorite of mine is almond extract which makes it taste like marshmallows have melted in your cup.  Top off with the foam from your heated milk.

If you prefer to use boiling water instead of milk, just put on the kettle and add it to your cocoa powder & sweetener mix.  You still need to use a whisk to get all the clumps out, but it’s a great version for those who don’t drink milk at all.

You never have to rely on the packaged stuff again... so stay cozy inside during the cold weather and enjoy!