Ode to Hot Chocolate
My Absolute Favorite Hot Drink
This isn't really an ode, if you're going by the strict classical definition of "lyrical poetry." It's more of an enthusiastic rant about hot chocolate.My most favorite thing about hot chocolate presently is actually this travel mug I own. It's a bit shorter and wider than most that you find, so it doesn't fit in cup holders but with the lid off it makes a rocking soup bowl. I found it at the hardware store. It holds 16 ounces perfectly, which is also known as a pint. Yes, MY hot chocolate comes in pints! I love being able to use that line from the Lord of the Rings movies, as I'm sure I love hot chocolate as much as any Hobbit would.
The tradition of hot chocolate I was raised with is hot chocolate based on hot milk, not hot water. I grew up in a 2% household and that's still what my palate sorts of expects when you think of a level of richness and content. Almost all hot chocolate is better than no hot chocolate, except for this one kind I have found that tends to primarily inhabit hotel buffet bar dispensers. (stage-whispers) Don't drink the funny brown water....
Mom used to put a small handful of miniature marshmallows in my hot chocolate when I was a little girl. As an adult, most often when I'm out somewhere and I get a hot chocolate, it's topped with whipped cream, and sometimes drizzled with a touch of chocolate syrup.
Hot Chocolate Makers
For very busy people or those who have to serve a lot of cocoa, having a dedicated kitchen device for hot chocolate just might make your life a little more luscious. On average, these are priced between $20-$40 but the top of the line goes higher.
Mr. Coffee Cocomotion Hot Chocolate Maker
Amazon Price: $45.99 (as of 01/17/2012) 
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Back to Basics CM300BR Cocoa-Latte Chrome 32-Ounce Hot-Drink Maker
Amazon Price: $30.80 (as of 01/17/2012)
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Bialetti Hot Chocolate Maker & Milk Frother
Amazon Price: $97.94 (as of 01/17/2012)
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Bodum Chocolatiere Glass Hot Chocolate Maker/Frother
Amazon Price: $33.95 (as of 01/17/2012)
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Bonjour Pink Hot Chocolate Maker and Mug Set Square Design
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 01/17/2012)
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The Hot Chocolate Dairy Poll
got milk? hot chocolate drinkers share their favorite tastes
So far, the voters who've told us their preferences seem to be really split across a lot of the hot chocolate variations. What does your mouth tell YOU is the perfect hot chocolate?
Do You Use Milk To Make Your Perfect Hot Chocolate?
On Heating The Milk...
You want to make sure to heat or steam your milk so that it gets hot, but don't actually take it as far as reaching a full boil. If the milk gets too hot, not only does it start to ruin the rich flavor but it also forms a skin on top (which can be kinda gross and makes it hard to mix in the cocoa powder).
A Hot Chocolate Cookbook
Hot Chocolate: 50 Heavenly Cups of Comfort (50 Series)
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Hot chocolate is featured on the menus of trendy coffeehouses and upscale restaurants everywhere, and with Hot Chocolate anyone can make this gourmet beverage at home.
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Hot Chocolate Recipes
variations on the theme of hot chocolate
- Mexican Hot Chocolate
- This is serious chocolate. This very rich drink is almost a dessert in of itself. It makes the perfect late night drink with cookies as well as a great finish to the meal. Don't skip any steps and throw the eggs right into the chocolate. You will have hot chocolate with scrambled eggs floating in it.
- My Most Decadent Hot Chocolate
- Throw away that mix in the can. OK, you don't have to throw it away...just save it for the kids. When you want a luscious decadent chocolate drink, this is the one for you. Try the variations for something heavenly as well. This recipe doubles and triples easily. Choose your favorite eating chocolate for this recipe as that will really influence the flavor of the final drink.
- Fiesta Hot Chocolate
- Makes 4 cups or mugs. Serve with whipped cream and cinnamon sticks.
- Home for the Holidays Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Recipe for Presidential hot chocolate from Mrs. Bush's Kitchen
- Hot Chocolate Recommendations? | Ask MetaFilter
- Awesome thread on hot chocolate, with lots of personal recipes and cocoa brand advice
- Haunting Hot Chocolate
- This hot white chocolate drink looks even spookier with a ghost-shaped marshmallow floating in it.
- White Christmas Hot Chocolate
- Nonalholic Drinks, Holiday Drinks, White Christmas Hot Chocolate
- Drinking Chocolate on StarChefs
- Increasing numbers of venues-from high-end restaurants to more casual places, and from gourmet and chain bakeries to specialty chocolate stores-are featuring drinking chocolates on their menus.
- Drinking Chocolate recipe
- A delicious recipe for Drinking Chocolate, with heavy cream, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, dark chocolate and whipped cream. Also lists similar drink recipes.
- Starbucks Hot Chocolate Recipe | Recipezaar
- Starbucks Hot Chocolate Recipe | Recipezaar - Chocolatey and delicious! Try the Snickers variation - you'll love it.
- Drink Up: Ginger-Spiced Hot Cocoa
- A spicy and savory variation of hot chocolate
Flavored Syrup Additions
Add a dash of flavor to your hot chocolate with a flavored syrup! I'm partial to adding vanilla flavor to my own hot chocolate, but you might prefer a mint, caramel, nut or fruit accent.
Mint Teisseire Concentrated Mint Syrup for drinks, sodas, and flavoring teas, 20.3 fl oz, Mint
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Orgeat (Almond) Teisseire all natural Almonds Orgeat Syrup 750 ml 25.4 fl oz, Orgeat
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 01/17/2012)
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Big Train French Vanilla Syrup 750 milliliter, 25.4-Ounce Unit (Pack of 3)
Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 01/17/2012)
List Price: $12.00
List Price: $12.00
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Torani Syrup, Classic Hazelnut, 25.4-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3)
Amazon Price: $16.69 (as of 01/17/2012)
List Price: $19.56
List Price: $19.56
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The History of Hot Chocolate
- Hot Chocolate, Rediscover True Hot Chocolate, History of Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Recipes
- History of Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Recipe for Mayan Hot Chocolate
- ScienceDaily: Hot Cocoa Tops Red Wine And Tea In Antioxidants; May Be Healthier Choice
- There's sweet news about hot cocoa: Researchers at Cornell University have shown that the popular winter beverage contains more antioxidants per cup than a similar serving of red wine or tea and may be a healthier choice.
- Hot chocolate - Wikipedia
- Hot chocolate, hot cocoa or drinking chocolate is a beverage, usually served hot, typically consisting of milk, chocolate or cocoa powder, and sugar. It became popular in Europe after being introduced from the New World.
- GourmetSleuth - Mexican Chocolate
- Mexican chocolate is made from dark, bitter chocolate mixed with sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes nuts. The end result is a "grainy" less smooth product.
- A Very Brief History of Hot Chocolate
- Before the British firm of Fry & Sons figured out how to make it into a candy bar in 1847, chocolate had been drunk as a beverage for thousands of years.
- Drinkable Chocolate List
- Remember last week when I asked you about drinkable chocolates? Well, I ended up getting over two hundred responses. So many responses that trying to consolidate them into a semi-coherent list has been a bit of a challenge. Many of you expressed interest in hearing the other responses I received. Below are the names of the drinkable chocolate products that you mentioned again and again, with a sprinkling of highlighted comments.
- Cadbury.co.uk - History Of Chocolate
- How chocolate became the favourite, delicious, nutricious foodstuff that it is today
The Mixing Trick
If you don't like finding all the cocoa or chocolate at the bottom of the mug when you get done, always put the powder or syrup into your mug first!
Then add just an inch or two of liquid. Blend that small amount thoroughly and once everything is fully combined, then add the rest of the liquid to the mug and stir again!
Then add just an inch or two of liquid. Blend that small amount thoroughly and once everything is fully combined, then add the rest of the liquid to the mug and stir again!
Make Your Own Homemade Cocoa Mix - recipe
recipes for homemade hot cocoa powder mixes
Would you like to make your own homemade hot chocolate mix? It's really easy and it makes a fantastic mix that works great with hot water. You'll want an empty quart jar to hold your mix and a big bowl for blending the ingredients.Basic Hot Cocoa Mix
1 C sugar
1 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1 C powdered milk
1/2 C mini chocolate chips
1/2 C mini marshmallows
1 tbsp salt
Just mix all of the above dry ingredients together in a bowl and then keep the cocoa mix in a quart jar, or a similar cotainer that keeps it dry. This recipe makes approximately a dozen servings.
To make a mug of cocoa, add 1/3 cup cocoa mix to a cup of boiling water and stir well. If that is too rich for your tastes, reduce the amount of cocoa mix or increase the amount of water. If it turns out too sweet for you, the next time you make the mix, reduce the amount of sugar used.
Flavor variations:
~ chocolate varieties - the recipe can be changed depending if you use semi-sweet, bittersweet or milk chocolate chips.
~ peppermint - substitute 1/2 C crushed peppermint candies for the mini marshmallows.
~ mocha - substitute 1/2 C expresso powder for the marshmallows.
~ for a gift presentation - layer the ingredients in a jar (see photo) and add your own designer label
White Hot Chocolate Recipes
highlighting luscious white chocolate
- White Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe - Hot Beverage Mixes Recipes
- This delicious white hot chocolate mix recipe is fabulous to give as a gift during the holidays.
- RecipeSource: White Hot Chocolate
- Be sure to use a top-quality white chocolate instead of a "coating chocolate." Daskalides, Callebaut and Lindt are good choices, available at specialty markets.
- Martha Stewart's White Hot Chocolate - Oprah.com
- What better way to warm your heart than a steaming cup of hot chocolate!
- White-Hot Hot Chocolate
- "Hot chocolate could warm you up on a cold day, but what about those unmercifully cold sub-zero days? This recipe uses a combination of spices and creamy chocolate to create a smooth drink with a lingering warmth. Garnish with a candy cane or cinnamon stick if desired." Original recipe yield: 4 servings
- Recipe for White Hot Chocolate.
- Made from a luscious mixture of white chocolate with just a hint of milk chocolate, this decadent drink is sure to please. Use the best chocolate you can find for the best results - especially for the white chocolate.
The World of Hot Chocolate
recipes from around the world
Hot Chocolate
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In HOT CHOCOLATE, the first book to come out of the growing trend of haute chocolate consumption, preeminent chocolatiers from around the world contribute more than 60 recipes.
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Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipes
Take the deliciousness of hot chocolate and put it on ice for the perfect chocolate treat in the summertime!
- RECIPE for Serendipity's Frozen Hot Chocolate
- Recipe for Serendipity's Frozen Hot Chocolate, as featured in Fabulous Foods, the net's favorite cooking community.
- Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe from GroupRecipes.com. This makes one HUGE frozen hot chocolate.
- Chocolate Punch - an iced chocolate recipe
- A large recipe for a crowd. It's creamy chocolate with the sparkle of club soda.
- How to Make Frozen Hot Chocolate - wikiHow
- During the summertime, the last thing on our mind is sitting down and having a steaming mug of hot chocolate. But sometimes that winter craving just won't go away. Here's how to enjoy the snowy day treat without getting heat stroke.
Hot Cocoa Deals
auctions from eBay
Stephen's Hot Cocoa Caramel Apple Cider 2-1# cans FREE FAST SHIPPING!! Gourmet!!
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KEURIG CAFE ESCAPES MILK CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA 16 K-CUPS, Dated: 09/15/2012
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12 Hot Cocoa Keurig K-CUPS Variety Pack ( 4 different blends )
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36 K-Cups Grove Square Hot Cocoa 36 Cups Dark Chocolate! Great Cocoa!
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Keurig K-Cups Cafe Escapes Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa
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Share Your Cocoa-licious Thoughts!
suggestions, comments and feedback from readers
submit
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BusyMOM Jan 10, 2012 @ 7:36 pm
- I'm going to have to make a cup right now! Lovely!
- Reply
ShriyanNayna Dec 26, 2011 @ 7:18 am
- Loved the tips for the perfect temperature of the milk and for blending the milk and chocolate properly :) An absolutely mouthwatering lens !
- Reply
jimmyworldstar Dec 19, 2011 @ 1:34 am
- I wouldn't put salt in my hot chocolate, that ruins the sweetness. Some pieces of chocolate bar that will melt is always good to have. A thin wafer is good as a snack to go with it. A little dab of whip cream and maybe some Baileys or Kahlua is a great midnight treat.
- Reply
desa999 Dec 16, 2011 @ 5:51 am
- Wow what a tasty lens I can smell the hot chocolate. Yum!
- Reply
Buchamar Dec 12, 2011 @ 4:19 pm
- Yummy!!
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