Did you know that if it were not for the entrepreneurial spirit of the British, the whole world would never have known what slab chocolate is and would continue to enjoy the magic drink in its almost original form? In 1846, Joseph Fry cast the world's first chocolate bar, and that was the beginning of sunset divine drink... And today, few people can boast that they have tried hot chocolate. The sachet drink doesn't count! It's about the real drink of the gods.

In fact, he was considered as such - the Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs prepared a sacred drink, strange according to the concepts of modern man, that only a select few could drink. It was prepared like this: cocoa beans were fried, ground and mixed with cold water, adding hot chili peppers. The result was a truly atomic mixture, a drink not for everyone! Chocolate in its usual form became popular after the Europeans "slightly" improved the recipe: hot peppers were replaced with sugar, and the drink itself began to be heated for better solubility of the ingredients. Moreover, until the 19th century, hot chocolate was not only a delicacy, but also a medicine.

However, enough history, because we are on a culinary site, which means that we are interested in the recipes and subtleties of preparing this divine drink. Just let me remind you of the undoubted benefits of chocolate (in any of its manifestations). Chocolate contains many different biologically active substances: vitamins A, B1, D, C and E, antioxidants, flavonoids, potassium and calcium salts. Hot chocolate improves mood, increases vitality, increases efficiency, stimulates mental activity, improves memory, helps to cope with depression and can even be a means of preventing diseases of the cardiovascular system. Unlike bar chocolate, hot chocolate contains less sugar - good news for slimming people!

And now the subtleties and tricks. The most important product from which you will prepare a drink that warms your soul and heart is chocolate. You can follow the tradition and try to make real hot chocolate from ground cocoa beans, like the ancient Mayans, but it is much faster and easier to make it from regular chocolate bars. Chocolate should be chosen only of the best quality, without fillers and all kinds of additives such as dyes, preservatives, GMOs and other chemicals. You can use regular slab dark or milk chocolate, specialty culinary chocolate, or cocoa powder. In any case, this ingredient should be of the best quality, because it is he who gives the taste and aroma to your drink.

The liquid base for hot chocolate can be cream, milk, or water. Chocolate on water is lighter, but tastes fresh, so it needs to be seasoned well. Hot chocolate with milk or cream tastes better, but it also has a lot more calories. The mixture of water and milk is optimal: chocolate in such a mixture dissolves better and turns out to be lighter and more delicate.

You can add almost anything to hot chocolate. Egg yolk, sour cream or starch add thickness and make it more satisfying. Alcohol and spices infuse hot chocolate with a unique taste. Cognac, rum, liqueur, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, chili peppers, fruits, dried fruits, ice cream go well with chocolate. Each of these products makes your drink unique.

The method of making hot chocolate can be summed up in two words: “melt and stir”. Melting chocolate must be very careful and careful, not allowing it to boil. The safest way is a water bath. To do this, a saucepan or heat-resistant bowl with pieces of chocolate is placed in a pot of boiling water, and the whole structure is placed on the stove. The fire is the smallest. Stir the chocolate with a wooden or silicone spatula until it is completely melted. Make sure that no water gets into the chocolate - it will just curl up. Never overheat the chocolate! If you decide to cook hot chocolate with egg yolk, then make sure that the mixture does not boil, otherwise all your efforts will go to waste. Pour the yolk in a thin stream, stirring constantly, into the warm chocolate.

In general, nothing complicated and supernatural. Choose a recipe to your liking and try to prepare the drink of the gods. In the winter cold, rich aromatic hot chocolate will warm you and fill your heart with joy.

Ingredients for 2 servings:
200 g dark chocolate
50 ml of milk.

Preparation:
Break the chocolate bars into pieces. Heat milk to 50 ° C. Place a saucepan of milk on water bath and add a little chocolate. Stir the chocolate constantly until it melts. Heat well, but don't boil! Pour into ceramic cups and serve with a glass cold water, since the taste of this drink is very rich.

Hot chocolate "Fragrant"

Ingredients for 6 servings:
250 g milk chocolate
700 ml of milk
300 ml 20% cream.

Preparation:
Pour cream and milk into a saucepan, put on medium fire and bring to a boil, but do not boil. Remove from heat, add finely chopped chocolate and stir well with a whisk until completely dissolved. Pour into thick-walled cups and serve.

Add spices or fruits to hot chocolate and surprise with a new taste!

Ingredients for 6 servings:
200 g of dark chocolate,
700 ml of milk
300 ml 20% cream,
2 cinnamon sticks.

Preparation:
Combine milk and cream and bring to a boil, but do not boil. Grind the cinnamon sticks coarsely in a mortar and place in the milk. Let it brew for 5 minutes, strain, add the chopped chocolate and stir thoroughly with a whisk.

Banana hot chocolate

Ingredients for 4 servings:
100 g of chocolate
900 ml of milk,
2 bananas
a pinch of cinnamon.

Preparation:
Peel the bananas and cut into pieces, break the chocolate. Pour milk into a saucepan, put bananas and chocolate and put on low heat. Bringing to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the chocolate is melted, remove from heat. Beat the mixture with a blender until foam appears. Pour into glasses and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Ingredients for 2 servings:
100 g dark chocolate
60 ml 22% cream,
zest of ½ orange,
sugar, chili powder - to taste.

Preparation:
Melt the chocolate and cream in a water bath. Add zest, stir, add sugar and ground pepper. If you are preparing chocolate with pepper for the first time, then be careful with pepper, 1-2 pinches will be enough for a start.

Ingredients for 2 servings:
100 g milk chocolate
200 ml of milk
200 ml coconut milk,
2 tbsp Sahara.

Preparation:
Combine both types of milk and bring to a boil. Add sugar, remove from heat and put chopped chocolate into milk mixture. Whisk until the chocolate is melted and pour into circles.

Chocolate and coffee are an inseparable couple. They complement each other perfectly.

Ingredients for 4 servings:
120 g dark chocolate
250 ml espresso coffee,
700 ml of milk
3 tbsp vanilla sugar.

Preparation:
Boil milk and remove from heat. Combine 500 ml of milk with coffee, add 1 tbsp. vanilla sugar. Add 2 tablespoons to the remaining milk. vanilla sugar and bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat, add chopped chocolate and stir until dissolved. Connect chocolate milk and coffee and milk mixture and beat with a blender.

Brazilian hot chocolate

Ingredients for 2 servings:
125 g dark chocolate
500 ml of milk
100 g sugar
60 ml strong coffee,
250 ml of water.

Preparation:
Boil water, remove from heat, dip chopped chocolate into pieces, and stir until chocolate is completely dissolved. Heat milk to a boil and mix with melted chocolate. Add sugar and very strong hot coffee, put on low heat, or better in a water bath, and stir until all the sugar is dissolved.

Hot chocolate coffee drink with cardamom

Ingredients for 2 servings:
50 g dark chocolate
70 ml strong coffee,
½ stack. milk,
1 banana
1 tsp Sahara,
3 boxes of cardamom,
a pinch of nutmeg.

Preparation:
Melt chocolate in hot milk, add sugar. Cut the peeled banana into slices, place in a blender, add chocolate milk, cardamom seeds and a pinch of ground nutmeg. Whisk, pour into glasses and sprinkle with grated chocolate.

Thick hot chocolate

Ingredients for 6 servings:
200 g of chocolate bar
1 liter of milk
1-2 tbsp Sahara,
2-3 tbsp no top starch.

Preparation:
Dissolve the starch in 1 glass of milk. Pour the remaining milk into a saucepan, put on medium heat, add sugar and chopped chocolate. Heat, stirring constantly, until the chocolate is melted. Then pour in the milk with starch, mix well and heat until the mass begins to thicken.

G hot chocolate with sour cream

Ingredients for 2 servings:
1.5 tbsp cocoa powder
1 stack sour cream,
2 tbsp Sahara.

Preparation:
Mix sour cream with cocoa powder and sugar until you get homogeneous mass, put on fire and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Do not overheat - as soon as bubbles appear, immediately remove from heat. Pour into thick-walled cups.

Ingredients for 6 servings:
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
150 g ground almonds
1 liter of milk
1 tbsp starch
6 tbsp Sahara,
1 egg,
½ tsp ground cinnamon
a pinch of nutmeg.

Preparation:
Stir cocoa powder, sugar, starch and a raw egg... Heat the remaining milk to a boil and add the chocolate mixture to it. Cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Add spices and ground almonds to the finished chocolate, stir and pour into cups.

Ingredients:
200 g of dark chocolate
500 ml of milk
1 tbsp Sahara,
30 g cocoa butter
1.5 tbsp no top starch,
1 bag of vanilla sugar.

Preparation:
Stir the starch in a glass of milk. Heat the remaining milk in a small saucepan, add the chopped chocolate, reduce heat and stir until the chocolate is completely dissolved. Pour milk with starch in a thin stream, stirring constantly, add cocoa butter and vanilla sugar. Warm up the resulting mixture, stirring constantly, until it thickens.

The addition of good alcohol will only benefit hot chocolate. True, this will not be a child's drink at all!

Ingredients for 2 servings:
200 g dark chocolate
400 ml of milk
4 tablespoons brandy,
4 tablespoons Sahara.

Preparation:
Bring the milk to a boil, reduce the heat, place the crushed chocolate in the milk and stir until the chocolate is dissolved. Remove from heat, add brandy and sugar, stir. Pour into thick-walled cups and garnish with chocolate chips.

Ingredients for 4 servings:
150 g dark chocolate
2 tbsp cocoa powder
600 ml of fat milk,
4 tablespoons chocolate liqueur,
4 tablespoons Sahara.

Preparation:
Boil milk, add cocoa powder and chocolate pieces. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar and beat until frothy with a whisk or mixer. Pour 1 tablespoon into cups. chocolate liqueur, top up with hot chocolate, garnish with grated chocolate.

Ingredients for 4 servings:
100 g milk chocolate
2 tbsp cocoa powder
250 ml 30% cream,
400 ml of milk
60 ml Irish Whiskey.

Preparation:
Whisk half of the cream until fluffy. Heat milk with chocolate, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts. Add cocoa to the chocolate mixture, bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add remaining cream and whiskey. Pour into warm thick-walled glasses, top with whipped cream and sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

Ingredients for 6 servings:
50 g cocoa powder
1 liter of milk
180 g sugar
6 egg yolks
100 ml rum,
400 ml of tea.

Preparation:
Stir cocoa powder in a little milk, add to the rest of the milk. Brew a strong black tea. In a separate bowl, beat the sugar with the yolks, then slowly, stirring constantly, pour in the milk with cocoa, put on low heat or a water bath and heat until thickened. Pour in the tea and rum, stir and serve hot.

Hot chocolate can be served with meringues, marshmallows, whipped cream or light crispy biscuits. In general, there is no question of following a diet ... Hot chocolate is a delight. Pamper yourself!

Larisa Shuftaykina

About winter warming drinks, and did not tell in it about a drink very beloved by many - hot chocolate.

But it is he who is able to give us warmth, coziness and comfort, warm the body and soul, create an amazing delight in taste and health benefits☺

Correcting this "injustice" in relation to hot chocolate!

It is simply impossible not to love this drink, because it is real, it is passionate, sensual, alluring and captivating, it is unique.

He is able to instantly cheer up, give incredible inspiration, give strength and energy. This is exactly what we lack so much in the winter cold, right? ☺

There are so many great recipes for this drink! There is not enough book to describe them.

A difficult task, but I will try to tell you about the most interesting ones. simple and healthy recipes, which you can easily prepare at home yourself.

So, if you love hot chocolate as much as I love it and want to master a couple of recipes for yourself, then brew yourself a cup of tea and get ready to learn the mysteries of its preparation!

Read on to learn more about the benefits of hot chocolate and several reasons to drink a cup of this divine drink ...

In this article, you will learn:

Hot chocolate - what is it and how to make it?

Chocolate is the favorite food for children. And it's not for nothing that the kids love him so much!

Chocolate is a sweet start to the day.

Everyone can afford to drink a cup of hot chocolate in the morning at breakfast, even those who care about a slim figure and thin waist!

By the way, scientists have proven that drinking hot chocolate is much healthier than just eating chocolate!

The darker the chocolate, the higher the percentage of cocoa, the more beneficial it is. Of course, we are talking about REAL chocolate, natural, not containing various synthetic flavors, colorants, thickeners, stabilizers and preservatives!

Why is hot chocolate good for you?

Key Points of Interest:

1. Hot chocolate will warm up if we are frozen, as it perfectly improves blood circulation and accelerates the blood.
2. A small cup of hot chocolate is good for filling, so this drink is perfect as a snack in the morning.
3. Chocolate contains antioxidants that prevent heart disease and premature aging, rejuvenate cells and reduce the risk of developing cancer.
4. It improves brain function. Research shows that hot chocolate can wake you up and improve memory and concentration.
5. Increases efficiency several times. But for this purpose it is not necessary to add sugar to the drink, since the use of sugar after a sharp jump in "supposedly working capacity" nullifies all "achievements of the chocolate effect" ...
6. A chocolate drink made from quality ingredients contains more antioxidants than quality and expensive natural red wine!
7. Great for raising mood, reducing stress and anxiety, reducing symptoms of depression and stimulating the production of endorphins (hormones of joy), which helps us feel happy.
8. Again, here's the same advice: make sure you don't have a chocolate drink in your cup. a large number sugar, and it's best to replace it altogether !!! Doctors advise not to get carried away and drink no more than two small cups of hot chocolate a day!
9. Strengthens blood vessels, as it contains flavonoids that stabilize blood pressure, strengthen the vascular wall, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
10. Hot chocolate can help you lose weight. On one condition - we replace all frankly harmful sweets with two cups of good hot chocolate with a little sugar or!

How to make the perfect hot chocolate yourself - tips from the world's most famous chocolatiers

This is what famous chocolate gurus like Dominique Ansel, Jacques Torres, Maury Rubin and Michael Klug advise.

For flawless hot chocolate, heed their advice!

• First rule: forget about instant chocolate powders from the shops!

Yes, it’s a quick and easy way to make a cup of hot chocolate, and in many cases it’s irreplaceable.

But, unfortunately, not all hot chocolate mixes are equally "chocolate" ...

In many mixtures, the quality of the components is rather dubious, not to mention the fact that many companies add various synthetic additives to the mixture ... Well, what taste can we already talk about?

However, there are also such mixtures that are made from natural powdered chocolate.

This is - yes, you can take this. Therefore, carefully study the composition on the pack and look for real chocolate mixes.

• Second rule: only high-quality chocolate!

The basis of the drink is chocolate, so you need to be very responsible in choosing it, because the taste of your drink will depend on it.

Use chocolate exclusively on your own High Quality.

You will not be able to cook a fragrant and truly delicious Strawberry pie in winter, right? And all because in winter, strawberries do not have the right taste and real aroma.

It's the same with chocolate: if you want delicious and aromatic hot chocolate, then use the best quality chocolate!

You need to choose a very high quality bar with a cocoa content of at least 70%.

You can add some sugar or stevia to keep the drink sweet. But still, it would be better to mix dark chocolate (base) with milk chocolate, while dark chocolate will make up 70% of the drink, and the second, milk, will make up the remaining 30%.

If you are preparing chocolate for children, then this proportion, of course, is best to change and make up the drink in a ratio of 50 to 50%.

But the percentage of cocoa in a chocolate bar isn't everything!

When choosing a chocolate for yourself, don't just look at the percentages.

Therefore, look for the best, try different, learn about the best producers of high-quality natural chocolate, until you find the perfect chocolate for yourself!

• Third rule: milk and cream. It's the same here as with chocolate: it's better to mix both. The main thing is to clearly define the correct proportion for yourself.

Cream gives the drink a creamy and silky texture.

If you add a lot of them, then it will no longer be a drink, but a cream, a dessert, and, moreover, a rather fatty dessert, which is not entirely useful.

Needless to say, milk and cream must be of the highest quality, natural, preferably organic, farmed, made from real milk, not milk powder.

And without the use of various stabilizers, flavoring synthetic flavors of "natural milk" and preservatives.

Try comparing the taste of chocolate made with regular store milk and cream versus chocolate made with organic dairy products. Comments will be superfluous ...

• Fourth rule: additives.

The most popular of the additives are cinnamon and vanilla.

You can add them to the finished chocolate, or you can warm milk with a cinnamon stick or with a vanilla pod before adding chocolate.

Noteworthy are such spices-additives to the drink as nutmeg and cayenne pepper.

Whipped cream, chocolate chips, and cinnamon powder are ideal for decorating your finished drink.

Be sure to add one pinch of salt to your finished chocolate.

This is necessary in order to emphasize all the sweetness of this drink!

The perfect hot chocolate is exactly the case when the perfect ingredients come together.

• Fifth rule: correct cooking technology.

You don't need any special equipment to make hot chocolate.

All you need is a stove, a small saucepan and, in fact, a whisk, with which you will stir this whole thing thoroughly and with inspiration:

1. You need to heat the milk in a saucepan. Do not let it boil, otherwise it will change its consistency after boiling, and it will be "not the milk" we need!
2. Add chocolate to hot milk. It should be at room temperature.
3. Next - continue to heat the mixture to a fairly high temperature, constantly stirring it with a whisk, until the chocolate is completely melted in the milk.

That's all, friends, it's simple! All that remains is to add whatever supplements you want and - voila - your chocolate drink ready!

If you want to taste the most delicate foamed hot chocolate, pour the chocolate into a blender bowl, pour in a little hot milk and whisk. It will be unforgettable, I promise you!

You will succeed! Well, I did it ... Even if not the first time, yes ... But it worked!

Therefore, here are the recipes for chocolate bliss, choose!

How to make hot chocolate - best recipes

So, let's look at the most delicious recipes:

• Classic hot chocolate # 1

Heat 450 ml milk and 75 ml in a saucepan. cream of 33% fat, add 70 grams of dark chocolate and 30 grams of milk.

And don't forget a pinch of salt.

Warm up the drink, but do not bring it to a boil. Pour into circles.

• Hot chocolate with liqueur

For a cup and a half of milk, use five tablespoons of hot chocolate powder.

Heat the milk without bringing it to a boil. Pour the chocolate powder into it and stir well with a whisk so that there are no lumps.

If desired, the drink can be enriched with vanilla essence, a pinch of cinnamon or a pinch cayenne pepper.

Then pour liquor (60 ml) into the bottom of a dish.

Fit chocolate liqueur, cherry bourbon, rum, and spicy liqueurs and baileys. Then pour the prepared hot chocolate on top of the liqueur.

Complete your creation with whipped cream, chocolate chips. You can also serve nicely with marshmallows (you don't need to eat them) or add orange zest.

• Classic hot chocolate No. 2

Heat two glasses of milk and dissolve 60 grams of chocolate in it, adding sweetener to taste. While stirring continuously, bring this mixture to a hot state.

• Spanish hot chocolate

Ingredients: 2 glasses of milk, 60 grams of grated dark chocolate, 0.5 tsp. cinnamon, 1 egg yolk, sweetener to taste.

Whisk one yolk in a little milk. Set aside.

Heat the remaining milk and pour the grated chocolate, sweetener and cinnamon into it. Heat this mass, remembering to stir all the time.

At the very end, add the pre-beaten egg yolk.

• Mexican hot chocolate

Ingredients: 400 ml of milk, 50 grams of chocolate, 3 cinnamon sticks, a little vanilla.

• In a small saucepan, combine milk, chocolate, and cinnamon stick.
• Heat until all the chocolate is melted.
• Then take out the cinnamon and add the vanilla.
• Beat until frothy.

• Hot chocolate with spices

Ingredients: 2 tbsp. l. dark chocolate, 2 glasses of milk, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and a sweetener to taste.

• Pour half a glass of milk into a saucepan.
• Add chocolate, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
• Put everything in the oven for 5 minutes.
• While the mixture is heating, you need to stir it twice so that the chocolate is completely melted.

Then pour the remaining milk into the mixture and put it back in the oven for 7 minutes.

• Austrian hot chocolate

Ingredients: 100 grams of chopped chocolate, zest from one orange, 0.5 tsp. ground cinnamon, one and a half glasses of milk, 4 tbsp. l. heavy cream.

• Melt the chocolate along with the zest, cinnamon and 3 tbsp. l. milk.
• When the chocolate is completely melted, pour the remaining milk into this mass and bring to a hot state.

Pour hot chocolate into circles and place 1 teaspoon of whipped cream on top of each serving.

• Hot chocolate "Montezuma"

Ingredients: 100 g chocolate, 250 ml milk, vanilla.

• · In a fairly high container, you need to melt the chocolate.
• · Then add milk and vanilla.
• · Warm up three times, bringing to a hot state and removing the mass from heat.
• · Then beat the prepared chocolate mixture well using the hand blender.

Hot chocolate "Bavaroise"

Ingredients: 3 egg yolks, 200 ml of milk, 30 grams of chocolate, 30 ml of strong black hot tea, sugar to taste.

• · Melt chocolate in hot milk and add tea.
• · Separately, you need to carefully grind the yolks with sugar.
• · Then mix the two masses and beat thoroughly until foam forms.
• · You can add a little vanilla.

Hot chocolate with coconut milk

Ingredients: 200 ml. milk, 200 ml. coconut milk, 100 gr. milk chocolate, sugar to taste.

• Combine the two types of milk and bring them very hot.
• Add sugar and chocolate pieces.
• Heat, stirring, until all the chocolate is completely dissolved.

And a few more fast and delicious recipes this delicacy.

They are very interesting, you will definitely like them!

You already understand the technology, so catch ideas and create!

• Lavender chocolate

A glass of milk + half a glass of grated white chocolate + a little strong infusion of lavender flowers or a couple of drops of real quality essential oil lavender.

• Mint chocolate

A glass of milk + half a glass of grated dark chocolate + some strong peppermint infusion or a couple of drops of good quality peppermint essential oil.

• Spicy hot chocolate

A glass of milk + quality cocoa powder (or substitute chocolate) + your favorite spices + 1 teaspoon of maple syrup.

• Vanilla chocolate

A glass of milk + a tablespoon of water + chocolate + a tablespoon of sugar + vanilla extract.

Creamy peanut chocolate.

One glass skim milk+ 0.5 cups heavy cream + 120 grams of milk chocolate + 50 gr. peanut butter.

• Caramel chocolate

Half a glass of milk + ¼ a glass of heavy cream + 150 grams of chocolate + 3 tbsp. tablespoons of caramel syrup.

• Coconut chocolate

Two glasses of milk + 3 tbsp. bourbon spoons + a glass of coconut milk + coconut flakes+ 1 tbsp. a spoonful of heavy cream + 115 grams of dark chocolate.

• Coffee hot chocolate

Two glasses of milk + one glass of strong brewed coffee + 100 grams of dark chocolate + a tablespoon of sugar.

• Thick hot chocolate

Four glasses of milk + 200 grams + two tablespoons of sugar + 3 tablespoons of cornstarch.

• Pumpkin hot chocolate

One and a half glasses of milk + 100 grams of chocolate + two tablespoons pumpkin puree+ one tablespoon of honey + a pinch of spicy mixture + a pinch of salt.

• Cognac hot chocolate

One and a half glasses of milk + half a teaspoon of cinnamon + ¾ tablespoons of cornstarch + 50 grams of dark chocolate + 3 tbsp. spoons of good chocolate powder + two tablespoons of sugar + one tablespoon of brandy.

• Orange hot chocolate

One and a half glasses of milk + half a tablespoon of fresh orange peel + 60 grams of dark chocolate + 0.5 tablespoons of sugar.

• Berry hot chocolate

One glass of low-fat cream + juice from 300 grams of berries + 200 grams of dark chocolate + 50 grams butter+ 2 tablespoons of sugar.

• Nutty hot chocolate

One glass of milk + 1 table. spoon of cocoa + 1 table. a spoonful of ground nuts + 20 grams of dark chocolate + ¼ tsp. ground ginger+ a pinch of salt.

• Vegan Vanilla Hot Chocolate

One glass of vanilla + 100 grams of dark chocolate + 2 tsp. coconut sugar.

• Italian hot chocolate

Two and a half glasses of low-fat cream + 1 teaspoon of cornstarch + one orange peel + 60 grams of grated chocolate + 1 tablespoon of sugar.

• Burning hot chocolate

One glass of milk + 140 gr. dark chocolate + a pinch of chili + ¼ tsp cinnamon.

• Irish chocolate

A glass of milk + half a glass of grated dark chocolate + 60 gr. liqueur "Baileys".

If you want, you can replace milk with one that has a low lactose content, or completely replace cow's milk and cream for similar coconut or almond products. Yes, it will no longer be a "classic". But, I do this because I do not like ordinary milk, the main thing is not to deny myself this pleasure!

Hot chocolate of excellent quality and prepared with love is a real "medicine for body and soul"!

When it's cold, gray and chilly outside, my friends, I recommend you to cook hot chocolate: thick, velvety, passionately burning, with a pleasant light bitterness ... Mmm ... This is truly a royal drink!

And now you know everything about how to cook it correctly and tasty!

Do you have your own secrets of making this divine drink? Please share in the comments! As a big fan of hot chocolate, this is very interesting to me!

See you soon, my dears!

Cook with pleasure, enjoy your health! Inspiration and wonderful "chocolate mood" for you!

Alena was with you, bye-bye

Hot chocolate is a drink that is familiar to almost everyone. He is loved by both children and adults. With the help of this delicacy, you can warm up in a cold season and even cheer yourself up. Today, hot chocolate is served in almost every café. Some people prefer to make it at home from a ready-made mixture purchased from a store. But only a few know what a real one can do.

Today, there are many recipes for making hot chocolate at home. But their essence boils down to one main ingredient - chocolate. Let's consider some of the rules and features of making hot chocolate at home.

Ingredients for making hot chocolate at home

The main ingredients of hot chocolate are:

1. Chocolate or cocoa powder. Chocolate must be bitter. The amount of cocoa in it must be at least 70% (this also applies to cocoa powder).

2. Milk. It is best to use non-fat or skim milk.

3. Sweetener. Ordinary granulated sugar can be used as a sweetener. Those who do not eat sugar can use a sugar substitute. The ideal sweetener is cane sugar.

In addition to the main ingredients, additional ingredients can be added to hot chocolate:

• Flavors. These natural flavors can be cinnamon, vanilla, mint, nutmeg, orange.
• Stir sticks. Lollipops or cinnamon sticks can be used as stirring sticks. They can be both a flavoring agent and a decoration for this dessert.
• Decor. You can decorate the drink with whipped cream, grated orange zest or caramel.

When using additional ingredients when making hot chocolate at home, you should be careful. The most important thing is not to overdo it. The aroma of the chocolate should not be lost, and its taste should also remain unchanged.

Homemade hot chocolate can vary in size. nutritional value and calorie content. This will depend on the products from which it will be prepared. Thus, you can get a drink that fully meets your needs and preferences.

Hot chocolate at home: stages of preparation

Hot chocolate at home: recipes and methods of preparation

1. Diet hot chocolate

• Heat 250 ml of milk (skimmed) in a water bath. Add 70 g of chopped 70% dark chocolate and 20 g of cane sugar. Stir with a whisk.
• Remove from heat and beat again.

Depending on your taste and desire, you can add cinnamon. To do this, add 5 g of cinnamon along with sugar and chocolate.

2. Making hot chocolate based on cocoa powder

To make hot chocolate at home from cocoa powder, you need to take: 150 ml of milk and 50 ml of low-fat cream, 1 tbsp each. l cocoa powder and granulated sugar.

Place all ingredients in a container (small saucepan). Stir gently and heat over low heat. Without stopping stirring, bring the mixture to a boil.

Add cinnamon (5 g) if desired. You can also place one tablespoon of whipped cream on top as a decoration.

3. A simple recipe for hot chocolate

• Break a small bar of dark chocolate (70%) into pieces or grind in a food processor.
• 60 ml. Heat milk in a water bath.
• Add chocolate to milk little by little, stirring continuously. Do not stop stirring until all the chocolate has melted.
• Pour the finished drink into cups and decorate to your liking.

Making hot chocolate at home is easy. A cup of this warming aromatic drink will give you incomparable pleasure. So don't miss the opportunity to indulge in homemade hot chocolate!

Elena Ristolainen for the site

Hot chocolate is a drink for true gourmets and those who wish to cheer up, recharge with vital energy, positive, warm up in the winter cold. When serving, the delicacy is complemented with chocolate chips, marshmallows, and, if desired, your favorite cookies, croissants, and other pastries.

How to make hot chocolate?

You can make hot chocolate at home from high-quality chocolate: milk, black or white, or by practicing more budget versions of making a drink from cocoa powder.

1. The pieces of chocolate are melted in a water bath or in hot milk, stirring continuously with a whisk.
2. The drink is filled with an additional taste by adding vanilla or cinnamon sticks, other spices to milk while boiling, or by throwing ground additives at the final stage of preparation.
3. The sweetness of the drink is regulated by varying the proportions of the types of chocolate used, by adding sugar.
4. Hot chocolate turns out to be more delicate and velvety in taste, but at the same time more high-calorie when prepared with or with the addition of cream.

How to make hot chocolate from chocolate bar?

You can make delicious and aromatic hot chocolate at home from a simple chocolate bar. It is important to be sure of the quality and naturalness of the original product by purchasing it from trusted manufacturers. The proportions of the components can be changed according to preference and new spices and flavorings can be added to the composition.

Ingredients:

• milk - 0.5 l;
• dark chocolate - 70 g;
• milk chocolate - 30 g;
• cream 33% - 75 ml;
• salt - a pinch.

Preparation

1. Bring 150 ml of milk to a boil, put chocolate slices in a container and stir until they dissolve.
2. Pour in cream, the rest of the milk, add a pinch of salt.
3. Warm up the mixture, stirring with a whisk until the first signs of boiling appear, but do not let it boil.
4. Remove the container from the stove and serve hot milk chocolate, adding chocolate chips in the cup.

Hot chocolate made from cocoa powder

The following recipe is for those who want to save money or simply do not have the ability to use chocolate bars for making a drink at the moment. Hot chocolate from cocoa is prepared in an elementary way, has flavor characteristics similar to the authentic version and will be an ideal dessert for not fastidious consumers.

Ingredients:

• milk with a high percentage of fat content - 0.5 l;
• vanilla - to taste;
• sugar - 4 teaspoons or to taste;
• cocoa powder - 8-10 tsp.

Preparation

1. Combine cocoa powder with sugar and vanilla in a saucepan.
2. Milk is poured in little by little, while stirring the mass with a whisk.
3. Place the dish on the stove, warm it up with stirring until the crystals bloom and let the drink boil.
4. Serve hot chocolate with your favorite pastries, or simply sprinkle with chocolate chips.

White hot chocolate - recipe

A drink for lovers of more delicate flavors - white hot chocolate. It is prepared from a white chocolate bar, adding to the composition vanilla extract or, in some cases, a little instant coffee for extra aroma. When serving, the drink can be supplemented with whipped cream and grated dark chocolate.

Ingredients:

• milk - 3 glasses;
• White chocolate- 180 g;
• vanilla extract and instant coffee- 2 tsp;
• icing sugar - to taste;
• whipped cream, grated chocolate.

Preparation

1. Bring milk to a boil.
2. Slices of white chocolate, vanilla, coffee are placed in a blender container, beat until smooth.
3. Pour in hot milk and continue beating until the chocolate is blooming.
4. Sweeten the drink with powdered sugar.
5. Serve hot white chocolate with cream and chocolate chips.

How to make hot chocolate in a coffee machine?

Preparing hot chocolate in a coffee machine will allow you to enjoy a thick and delicate taste the resulting drink. It is very difficult and problematic to achieve such a result by classic cooking on a stove, which is an excellent motivation for using a special device, if one is available.

Ingredients:

• milk - 200 ml;
• chocolate powder - 50 g.

Preparation

1. Chocolate powder is poured into the device pitcher, poured with milk, which can be whole or diluted from a dry product.
2. Bring the mixture practically to a boil with the help of steam.
3. Reduce the nozzle and wait for the beverage to thicken.
4. The thick hot chocolate is poured into a cup and served immediately.

Hot chocolate with marshmallows - recipe

Delicious airy marshmallows will be an effective and appropriate addition to hot chocolate. They are added directly to the cup to the finished drink, which can be made from chocolate bars, milk-based cocoa or cream. Any version of drinking with such a presentation will seem more appetizing and tastier.

Ingredients:

• milk - 300 ml;
• cream - 70 ml;
• chocolate - 80 g;
• marshmallows to taste.

Preparation

1. Mix milk and cream in a deep-bottomed saucepan.
2. The chopped chocolate is added.
3. Warm up the mixture with stirring to almost a boil, ensuring that all the chocolate slices dissolve.
4. Ready-made hot chocolate with marshmallows is served, putting the marshmallows right in the cup and next to it on the saucer.

Mexican hot chocolate

Having prepared hot Mexican chocolate following recipe, you will be able to enjoy the extraordinary thickness, piquancy and exquisite spice of the resulting delicious dessert. Egg yolks will provide the desired texture, and a pinch of cayenne pepper and ground cinnamon will give the characteristic Mexican flavor.

Ingredients:

• milk - 300 ml;
• brown sugar - 40 g;
• dark chocolate - 80 g;
• ground cinnamon and vanilla sugar - 0.5 tsp each;
• yolk - 1 pc.;
• cayenne pepper and salt - pinch each.

Preparation

1. The milk is heated almost to a boil.
2. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon and chocolate slices, stir until the latter blooms.
3. Stir the yolks pounded with brown sugar into the mixture, warm up, stirring with a whisk, a little more, but do not boil.
4. Serve hot, adding whipped cream to the drink in a cup and sprinkling with ground cinnamon.

Italian hot chocolate

Making hot chocolate according to Italian recipe requires the presence of a special component - ground arrowroot, which gives the drink an exquisite and rich density and additional taste. The product is successfully replaced with corn starch, which is similar in properties and characteristics to the required chopped arrowroot root.

Ingredients:

• milk or cream - 1.5 cups;
• brown sugar - 2 tbsp spoons;
• dark chocolate - 120 g;
• arrowroot or starch - 2 tsp;
• orange peel.

Preparation

1. Heat milk or cream to a boil with brown sugar and arrowroot.
2. Put the grated chocolate, stir until it dissolves in the drink.
3. Flavor the dessert orange peel and served while hot.

Alcoholic hot chocolate

You can make homemade hot chocolate with the addition of alcohol: liqueur, rum, bourbon, or spicy alcoholic tinctures. Like the classic versions, alcoholic beverage can be served with whipped cream, grated chocolate, or a pinch of ground spices. As base component use chocolate, cocoa, or chocolate powder.

Ingredients:

• milk - 320 ml;
• dark chocolate or chocolate powder - 100 g or 5 tbsp. spoons;
• liqueur - 50 ml;
• whipped cream or chocolate chips.

Preparation

1. Heat the milk without bringing it to a boil.
2. Add chocolate, stir until the slices dissolve.
3. Liqueur is poured into the bottom of the serving container, then the container is filled with hot chocolate, decorated to taste with whipped cream and chocolate chips and served.

Hot chocolate with cinnamon

Cooked hot can be surprisingly rich, aromatic and savory in taste. To do this, you just need to add ground cinnamon and spice sticks to the drink, and in addition to chocolate slices with milk, use cocoa powder and heavy cream in the preparation.

Ingredients:

• milk - 450 ml;
• cream - 150 ml;
• dark chocolate - 250 g;
• cocoa powder - 1 tbsp. a spoon;
• sugar - 50 g;
• ground cinnamon - 1 tbsp. a spoon;
• cinnamon sticks and mashmello.

Preparation

1. In a water bath, melt chocolate slices in cream.
2. Mix sugar with cocoa, cinnamon and milk, heat to a boil, let it brew for 10 minutes, filter.
3. Boil the milk base again, pour in melted chocolate with cream, heat it up a little.
4. The drink is served with cinnamon sticks and marshmallows.

Hot chocolate from Nutella

Delicious hot chocolate with a nutty flavor is made from finished chocolate spread. The saturation of the drink is regulated by the amount of the latter in the composition, which can be accompanied by whole milk, cream or even water. If desired, the drink can be flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, and other spices to taste.

Ingredients:

• milk - 400 ml;
• chocolate paste - 6 tbsp. spoons;
• sugar, vanilla, cinnamon - to taste;
• chocolate chips or whipped cream.

Preparation

1. Heat milk to almost boil.
2. Add chocolate paste, stir with a whisk until it dissolves in a milk base, warm up a little.
3. Season the drink to taste, let it brew, serve hot, adding chocolate chips.

Hot chocolate with caramel

The following delicious hot chocolate recipe is performed with caramel and results in an amazing rich chocolate dessert taste. If desired, the concentration of the drink can be slightly reduced by adding more cream or less dark chocolate and adjusting the amount of powdered sugar.

Ingredients:

• cream - 200 ml;
• dark chocolate - 400 g;
• caramel syrup - 3 tbsp. spoons;
• powdered sugar - 1-2 tbsp. spoons.

Preparation

1. Melt the chocolate in a water bath.
2. The cream is whipped into a thick foam with the addition of powdered sugar.
3. Mix half of the creamy mass with chocolate.
4. The rest of the cream is combined with, mixed and topped with the creamy hot chocolate mixture in cups as it is served.

How to make hot chocolate in the microwave?

It is elementary to cook hot. For the execution of the recipe, you can use slices of dark or milky bar, supplementing them with milk or a mixture with cream. Classic taste the drink will acquire additional characteristics with the addition of cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and other aromatic and flavoring additives.

Ingredients:

• milk - 200 ml;
• milk and bitter chocolate - 30 g each;
• chocolate chips and marshmallows for serving.

Preparation

1. Pour milk into a container suitable for microwave cooking.
2. The product is heated to a hot state by placing it in the device at high power for 1-1.5 minutes.
3. In another pot, the pieces of chocolate are melted. To do this, send the vessel to high power for 10-30 seconds, from time to time opening the door and stirring.
4. Hot milk is added to the melted chocolate mass, mixed until smooth, heated in a microwave for another 10 seconds.
5. A hot drink is served with chocolate chips and marshmallows.

Hot chocolate in a multicooker

Hot chocolate is a recipe that can be easily performed in a multicooker. At the same time, you cannot do without stirring the base of the drink during the preparation process, but even heating will still provide a better and more tasty final result. Classic version can be diversified using the idea from the below technology.

Cocoa powder hot chocolate recipes are very popular due to their simplicity. Now such a drink is made for any reason. However, in ancient times it was called the food of the gods, and only the leaders drank it. In Europe, it was considered an expensive pleasure, therefore it was available only to wealthy people.

Today, almost every sweet tooth can pamper himself with hot chocolate from grated cocoa. The drink is easy to prepare at home, choosing the right proportions to taste. In addition, the delicacy is not only tasty, but also healthy: it strengthens the immune system, improves the functioning of the nervous, digestive and cardiovascular systems.

Cocoa or hot chocolate?

Both cocoa and hot chocolate are served hot. At first glance, these are analogues, but in fact there is one difference between cocoa and hot chocolate. It lies in the technology of preparation of raw materials. Hot chocolate is usually based on hard chocolate with a high fat and cocoa butter content (about 50%). It is boiled in fat milk or cream, therefore the energy value such a dessert is quite high: 250 kcal per 1 glass.

Cocoa powder is made from the cake that remains after processing the cocoa butter. The drink can also be brewed in milk or simply in water, but the calorie content of the product will be several times less due to the minimum content of cocoa butter (about 10%). It is more liquid in consistency than one made from hard tiles, but at correct preparation they can be difficult to distinguish from each other.

Traditional recipe

There are a great many recipes for hot chocolate from cocoa powder, but the traditional one is rightfully considered one of the best. classic drink... Only a few ingredients are needed, and cooking will not take more than 20 minutes.

Before making delicious and healthy hot chocolate at home, you need to collect the necessary products:

• 27 g cocoa powder;
• 36 g granulated sugar;
• 9 g vanilla sugar;
• 400 ml of milk.

The cooking technology is extremely simple.

1. The milk should be heated on the stove, but not boiled.
2. In a separate container, mix all the other ingredients, mix thoroughly.
3. Gradually introduce the mass into the milk, stirring continuously.

When the consistency is smooth and all the crystals are dissolved, the hot chocolate can be poured into cups. Many people use marshmallows for decoration. On average, the entire process takes 10-15 minutes. When the liquid cools down, it will become slightly thicker. You can add a little more cocoa powder for a richer taste.

With pepper

Hot cocoa chocolate with added hot pepper for sure will appeal to all lovers of something unusual. So spicy but healthy drink will impress even the most sophisticated gourmet thanks to the unique combination of delicate sweetness and spices.

It is noteworthy that such unusual drink came deeply from antiquity, but over time changed the recipe. Until the 19th century, it was consumed exclusively in liquid form. The Maya and Aztecs mixed water with cocoa, added sweet corn grains, chili peppers, and then whipped all the ingredients. When the liquid began to ferment, it could be drunk. The drink was served exclusively cold.

The sweet tooth owes its recipe for modern hot chocolate to Spanish monks and hidalgo. It was they who first came up with the idea of ​​removing spices and adding sugar after the conquistador Cortez brought an outlandish drink to Europe in the 16th century. It is noteworthy that scientists at that time discovered the amazing properties of cocoa dessert. It was used as a general tonic and tonic, used in the treatment of depression and even for the rapid healing of wounds.

Already in our times, a recipe has appeared that combined two seemingly incompatible drinks: spicy and sweet. It will not be difficult even for a novice cook to cook it yourself.

Main products:

• ¾ glasses of milk;
• 4 tbsp. spoons of cocoa powder;
• 1 tbsp. a spoonful of sugar;
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon;
• 4 g ground red pepper;
• ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract;
• 50 g of your favorite dark chocolate.

After all the ingredients are on the kitchen table, you can start cooking.

1. Stir in cocoa powder, sugar, salt, cinnamon and pepper.
2. Add chocolate to the mixture and pour in the milk. Heat over low heat until all ingredients are dissolved.
3. Add vanilla and remove from heat.

This unusual hot chocolate will become a real decoration. festive table or a nice addition to watching a family movie. You can use whipped cream as a decoration and sprinkle some grated chocolate on top.

Dry mix

We already know how to make hot chocolate from cocoa. However, you can make a special mix that will allow you to simply dilute the mixture. hot water and enjoy your favorite taste. This is especially important when you have little time for chores in the kitchen.

You will need:

• 2 tbsp. powdered sugar;
• 1 tbsp. cocoa powder;
• 2 tbsp. powdered milk;
• 1 pack of marshmallows.