I am freezing. It was 4 degrees out last night and suffice it to say, our house has not recovered. I have even gotten up and baked and it’s not even 7am yet. I can almost guarantee you that it’s only a few minutes before my kids come bounding out to ask about the hot chocolate bar.
The hot chocolate bar in our house is a tradition on superbly cold days. It’s a tradition that indulges my sweet tooth and my affection for Starbucks-like creations. I actually did this long before I had kids but since having kids it’s almost become a Delp family institution.
First, we never use hot cocoa mix. It doesn’t taste the same and it isn’t as rich as cocoa made from scratch. The hot cocoa mixes that are as good as what you make from scratch are much more expensive.
To make hot chocolate from scratch you need to mix together 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of cocoa and 1/3 cup of water. Mix it together in a saucepan and then bring it to a boil. Once it is boiling, turn down the heat and add milk. I prefer my hot chocolate to be more warm than hot, but for some of these add ins you’ll need the drink to be hot so that they can melt.
Here are the things to include in your hot chocolate bar:
Peanut Butter–Add a heaping helping of peanut butter to a hot cup of cocoa. In the words of Rachel Ray, YUM-O!
Cream–I make my own whipped cream out of heavy whipping cream. (Just add a little sugar and beat until it’s the consistency of whipped cream.)
Peppermint Candy Canes–If you like mint chocolate, this is definitely the thing to try.
Spicy Cinnamon–Add red hot candies to a cup of hot cocoa for a cinnamon treat!
Chococlate Chips–The more sophisticated way to do this is to use chocolate covered spoons. . .but a heaping spoonful of chocolate chips, or white chocolate chips adds even more chocolatey flavor for those of you true chocoholics.
Candy Bar Pieces–I personally like pieces of Heath bar, but 3 Musketeers, Snickers, or Butterfingers all make an excellent addition to a cup of hot chocolate.
One More Worth a Mention. . .
Every once in awhile my kids will ask for Hot Vanilla. If you frequent Starbucks you’ll see Vanilla Crème on their menu. Dunkin Donuts just launched their version of White Hot Chocolate. Whatever you call it, it is, in the worlds of my three year old, yummylicious. To make your own at home heat the milk to your preferred temperature. Add a few teaspoons of sugar and top with whipped cream. You can also add any of the aforementioned yummys. . .but I like it just plain.
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