Slow-Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate (Food Network)

By sandiB2010

Made and served in the same pot, our slow-cooker cocoa is thickened and enriched with dark chocolate. Set up an add-ons bar beside the cooker (mini marshmallows, crushed candies and peppermint schnapps take cocoa to a whole new holiday level), then stick a ladle in the pot and let guests help themselves.

Ingredients

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 12 cups whole milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 8 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 24 peppermint candies, crushed (about 1 cup), for serving
• 3 cups mini marshmallows, for serving
• 2 cups peppermint schnapps, optional, for serving

Details

Servings 1
Preparation time 5mins
Cooking time 125mins
Adapted from foodnetwork.com

Preparation

Step 1

Directions

Whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder in a 6-quart slow cooker. Turn the cooker to high, and slowly whisk in the milk to prevent lumps from forming. Add the vanilla and salt, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. The sugar and cocoa powder should be completely dissolved.

Whisk in the chopped chocolate a little at a time until it is all incorporated. Replace the lid, and cook until thickened, 30 minutes more.

Turn the cooker to warm, and serve with small bowls of the peppermint candies and mini marshmallows and a small pitcher of schnapps, if using. For minty cocoa, let a few teaspoons of the peppermints melt in an 8-ounce cup or add 2 tablespoons of schnapps.

To spike the whole batch, whisk 2 cups peppermint schnapps into the cocoa just before serving.