10 Fresh Ways to Improve a Mug of Cocoa

By MJH

Ingredients

• To Make Homemade Cocoa:
• Hot cocoa mix
• 1 cup of whole milk
• Sift together 1 tablespoon cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Whisk into the hot milk along with 1/4 cup milk chocolate bits until completely smooth.

Details

Adapted from tuscaloosanews.com

Preparation

Step 1

Add any of the following and garnish with whipped cream:
— Almond praline: Use brown sugar in place of the white sugar. Stir in 1 teaspoon almond extract or 1 tablespoon amaretto liqueur.

— Hazelnut: Whisk in 2 tablespoons chocolate hazelnut spread (such as Nutella). Add 1 tablespoon Frangelico liqueur, if desired.

— Grasshopper: Whisk in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon peppermint extract, to taste.

— Raspberry: Strain 1 tablespoon raspberry preserves through a fine mesh strainer. Discard any solids, then whisk the raspberry puree into the hot cocoa.

— Chili: Stir in a pinch of cayenne and a pinch of cinnamon.

— Gingerbread: Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of molasses and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice blend. Stir in 1 tablespoon ginger liqueur, if desired.

— Coconut-lime: Add the finely grated zest of 1/2 lime and 2 tablespoons of cream of coconut. Add 1 ounce of rum, if desired.

— Honey-pepper: Use 1 1/2 tablespoons of honey in place of the sugar. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.

— Peanut butter-banana: Mash 1/2 of a very ripe banana until smooth. Whisk into the hot cocoa along with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter.

— Vanilla bean cheesecake: Scrape the seeds from a 1/2 vanilla bean pod into the cocoa. Transfer to a blender, add 2 tablespoons cream cheese then puree until smooth.