Top 5 Homemade Hot Chocolate Drinks

Is there anything more luxurious than drinking a mug of hot chocolate on a cold evening by a log fire, cuddled up in the arms of your loved one? No, I don’t think so. Nothing beats the feeling of warmth and decadence of a good cup of hot chocolate and good company.

According to Wikipedia, the first chocolate beverage is believed to have been created by the Mayans around 2,000 years ago. The beverage became popular in Europe after being introduced from Mexico to the New World. When chocolate was brought back to Spain in the 17^th century by the conquistadors, it quickly spread throughout Europe, where was considered a luxury and a drink of the elites.

Until the 19th century, hot chocolate was even used medicinally to treat ailments such as stomach diseases. Back in the 1600s it was also believed that drinking hot chocolate incited love making while also promoting conception and facilitating childbirth.

Hot chocolate for pleasure.

Nowadays, most people just enjoy a good cup of hot chocolate for pleasure. It is one of children’s and adults favourite hot drinks. For me, the smell of hot chocolate reminds me of Christmas mornings, family gatherings and cosy happiness. A cup of hot chocolate never fails to make me feel loved and happy.

Below you will find my top 5 homemade hot chocolate recipes. Enjoy…

Better known as Spanish Hot Chocolate

This recipe was passed on to me by a Spanish lover I had. It is basically a thick Spanish Hot chocolate with added cinnamon powder for a spicy touch. The rich texture of this decadent chocolate always brings to me memories of the strong tanned arms of Antonio around me. Even the cinnamon added on top reminds me of Antonio’s spicy intoxicating scent. But Antonio could be the subject of another hub, we are here to discuss hot chocolate drinks and I must say, the Spanish are among the best at making a good hot chocolate drink.

The Spanish version of a cup of hot chocolate is incredibly rich and flavorful, only for the real chocolate lovers. I am going to share my recipe with you, but you need to promise to make it for someone special in your life.

You will need:

• 4 cups of whole milk

• 120gr of dark chocolate. I like Lindt 70% cocoa bars.

• 2 table spoons of vanilla sugar

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 2 cloves

• 1 Tablespoon of Maizena

• Powdered cinnamon

  To make it, place the milk, cinnamon and clove into a saucepan over a low heat. Break the chocolate into small pieces, the smaller the better, and add to the milk. Whisk occasionally until the chocolate melts and the milk is steaming. Be careful not to let the milk come to a boil. Add the sugar and whisk vigorously until the sugar has dissolved and your chocolate looks foamy.

  To add texture to your hot chocolate, dissolve the spoon of Maizena (cornstarch) in a little bit of water and add to the hot chocolate. Continue stirring over a low heat until the mixture has thickened up a bit.

  Remove from the heat, remove the cinnamon stick and clove and serve in big mugs sprinkled with powdered cinnamon to add sweet spiciness to your chocolate drink.

To make an extra special chocolate drink, take the above recipe and before serving add a shot of rum to your cup.

Of course, if you happen to be in Spain, you can add a shot of Brandy de Jerez like Antonio used to do for me to warm up during our long winter nights in the Sierra Nevada.

I would like to say that this recipe was passed on to me by an ex KGB boyfriend, tall and white like milk with Kahlua flavoured kisses. The reality is less glamorous though and I must admit that I found this recipe while surfing the net. The reason why I am including it here is because it is an extremely strong chocolate drink, fit to warm you up even during the most extreme winters.

To make a Russian Hot Chocolate you will need:

1 shot of Kahlua
1 shot of Vodka

A cup of your favourite hot chocolate drink.

Start with a hot cup of your favourite hot chocolate drink and add 1 shot of Kahlua and one shot of vodka. Stir and enjoy by a log fire.

The Mexicans like their chocolate hot and if you dare to try I have found this recipe, that although it requires an acquired taste, does heat you up from inside out.

You will need:

• 2 cups boiling water

• 1 chilli pepper, cut in half, seeds removed

• 5 cups light cream

• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate

• Sugar to your taste

• l tablespoon almonds or hazelnuts, ground extra fine

• Whipped cream

  In a large pan boil 2 cups of water, add the chilli pepper to the boiling water and cook until the liquid is reduced to 1 cup. Strain the water and set aside.

  In another pan put the cream, the vanilla and cinnamon stick and cook under a medium heat until bubbles appear around the edge. Reduce the heat and add the chocolate and sugar. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is fully melted and the sugar dissolved.

  Turn off the heat; remove the vanilla bean and cinnamon sticks. Add the chilli water, a little at a time, tasting to make sure the flavour isn't too strong. If the chocolate is too thick, thin it with a little more milk.

  Serve in small cups and add a dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with ground almonds or hazelnuts.

This is a hot chocolate drink that I learnt to make while I was at University. The hot chocolate from the vending machines was so awful that in despair one day I created (at the time I was naïve enough to think that I was the first one trying this) the perfect quick hot chocolate drink. To make it you just need a Mars bar and a cup of hot water. Shave the mars bur into a cup of hot boiling water, stir until the chocolate is melted and enjoy a frothy, decadent hot chocolate.

In all of the recipes here you can play around with the proportions, adding more or less sugar or sweetener as you prefer. I personally prefer to use sugar instead of sweeteners when necessary but normally using a chocolate tablet is enough to sweeten your hot chocolate drink. I also prefer to use soy milk instead of dairy milk I find that the chocolate is easier to digest and at the same time you benefit from the extra proteins found in soy milk.

Also, as you can see next to the Hot chocolate drink with rum, you can also replace ordinary Rum by rum flavoring, the result will be similar but without the added alcohol.

Mmmm, I think I’m going to make a decadent hot chocolate just now and go sit down by the fire to watch "Chocolat"