Hot Chocolate Bar (Giada)

  • 4
  • 15 mins
  • 25 mins

Ingredients

  • HOT CHOCOLATE:
  • 4 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • GARNISHES:
  • Espresso shots
  • 1 toffee candy bar, crumbled (recommended: Heath Bar)
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Cinnamon-Sugar, recipe follows
  • CINNAMON-SUGAR: 1 vanilla bean
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Preparation

Step 1

Make the hot chocolate:
In a medium saucepan, heat 4 cups of the milk over low heat, being very careful not to let the milk boil. In a small bowl, mix together the cocoa, sugar, and the remaining 1/2 cup milk. Add the cocoa mixture to the warm milk, and continue to warm the cocoa until hot.
Pour into 4 mugs and serve along with the garnishes.

For the hot chocolate bar:
On a large serving tray, arrange the mugs of hot chocolate, a small pitcher of espresso shots, a bowl of crumbled toffee candy bar, a bowl of mini-marshmallows, and a bowl of Cinnamon-Sugar. Invite your guests to flavor and garnish their hot chocolate as they desire.

Cut the vanilla bean in half, lengthwise. Using the back of a knife, scrape along the inside of the vanilla bean to collect the seeds. Scrape vanilla bean seeds into a small bowl. Add sugar and cinnamon and stir to combine. Set aside in a small serving bowl.