Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe for a Cold Reading Day

Photo credit: @BooksforThought

Today is going to be a bit different Blog post. It is the middle of winter now in the United States. In Australia, I know it's probably blazing hot, but this is still a good recipe for when your air conditioner turns the atmosphere pretty cold. 

I love hot chocolate. Although, I don't like the taste of dumping a hot chocolate package into a warm cup of water or milk. It just doesn't have the same effect.

I have been using this hot chocolate recipe for a few years now, and it is the perfect cup of sweetness to spread a little bit of warmth to your cold, winter reading day.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

For this recipe, you will need the following:
• 1 cup Milk (I like to use Almond milk, since it has a sweeter taste. But it is up to you)
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder (I use Hershey's, once again, because it has a sweeter taste)
• 2 tbsp pure cane sugar (or regular granulated sugar, it doesn't matter)
• 2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup whipping cream (for the whipped cream on top. You can use store bought, if you desire)

You're only going to need two dishes: one saucepan and one of your favorite mugs.

Here we go:
Turn stove onto medium heat. Pour the milk into the saucepan. Warm the milk until it skims on the top, and there are very few bubbles. (Do not let it boil.) Add the cocoa powder and vanilla extract. Stir into the milk until the liquid is a light brown color. Then slowly add the mini chocolate chips. Make sure the chocolate chips are melted completely, and there are none sticking to the saucepan. 

Beat the whipping cream with a mixer until soft peaks form. Add a pinch of cane sugar to add some sweetness, since whipping cream does not have a sweet taste. 

The hot chocolate can cool fairly fast, so make sure to add it to your mug quickly. Then add your whipped cream. Add marshmallows, chocolate chips, even sprinkles, if you desire. 

Then go grab your book, snuggle under a warm fluffy blanket, and drink your hot chocolate. It's the best, I promise. You won't want to drink the packaged hot chocolate ever again!

Thank you so much for checking out my Monday Blog post. It was exciting to write about something different. If you have any favorite recipes for reading days, put them below. I'll see you on Thursday!

•Jessica•