Hot Chocolate

By Violet_61

Use Candy canes as stirrers. Or Irish cream, hazelnut cream, brandy, rum or coffee liqueur for a little nip.

Ingredients

• CHOCOLATE:
• 6 cups full-fat milk or a combination of milks (whole milk, half-and-half, almond milk, full-fat canned coconut milk)
• 2 cups chopped chocolate or chips (one kind or a combination of a few varieties)
• 2 tblsp vanilla extract or a combination of other extracts like coconut or almond
• SHAKEN CREAM:
• 2 tsp vanilla extract or a combination of vanilla extract and other extracts like coconut or liqueurs like coffee liqueurs or other liqueurs.
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup cold whipping cream

Preparation

Step 1

CHOCOLATE:
Pour the milk into a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the milk steams and starts to simmer around the edges just a bit. Do not boil. Reduce the heat to low. Add the chocolate and extract and stir to melt. You can make this ahead and keep warm in a slow cooker. Makes 6 mugs. Serve with shaken cream.

SHAKEN CREAM:
Add the extract and sugar to the bottom of a large Mason jar (32 oz size).
Swirl to dissolve the sugar. Add the cream and lid. Vigorously shake the jar about 3 minutes, until there is only a muffled sound. Use a long spoon to dollop cream onto hot chocolate. Makes just a bit more than 1 cup of cream, enough for 6 mug servings.
Store in the fridge if you any left over.