Chocolate is so much more than a great brownie or your favourite bar/box of chocolate, but the humble hot chocolate drink is something that is often over looked.
I for one am guilty of reaching for the powdered variety that can be bought from any supermarket shelf and then to make it feel more indulgent adding hot milk to it instead of just boiling water.
Kidding myself that it’s a good hot chocolate while deep down feeling a little bit guilty that I am doing something as fine as chocolate such an injustice.
It was while attending a market in Malton, North Yorkshire that I treated myself to a hot chocolate from a little trailer that was specialising in just that.
Not happy to simply offer just a simple hot chocolate they had a full range of different chocolate from a milky 35% to a dark bitter 100% which they slowly melted into warm milk.
“It was delicious to say the least and set the idea into my head …”
It was delicious to say the least and set the idea into my head that I should try to create an amazing hot chocolate recipe myself that I could make at home for my family on special occasions.
I got to searching for different hot chocolate recipes online and was amazed by the number of different recipes out there.
Realizing that it could go much deeper than just melting quality chocolate in warm milk I began to try some of the more in-depth recipes, scrapping those that I didn’t like and keeping the ones I did to one side.
I then started to review the ones I liked and started to tweak them here and there, combining them and removing elements until I got to the recipe below.
I admit that I do still have powdered hot chocolate in the cupboard for that quick go to on a cold day, or for when my children just want a little treat but I do also try and make ‘better’ hot chocolate more often and this recipe comes out every now and then for a real treat.
Recipe makes two small hot chocolates
250ml Whole Milk
60g Good quality chocolate (I like to use 70% dark chocolate but if you like yours a bit sweeter you could use 60% or 80% if you’re a really dark chocolate fan. The key is to make sure it’s high quality, ideally single origin, chocolate)
1 Egg
Gently heat the milk on the hob or in a double boiler.
Just before the milk boils remove from the heat and add the chocolate.
Stir frequently until the chocolate has all melted.
At the same time crack the egg into a bowl and whisk until light, smooth and pale.
When all the chocolate has melted pour the hot milk over the egg, whisking continuously so that it doesn’t scramble.
Return to the pan and heat gently while continuing to stir.
After a few minutes the hot chocolate will start to thicken, keep going until it coats the back of a spoon.
Pour the hot chocolate into two small cups or glasses and enjoy.
If you really want to treat the kids you can add a few mini marshmallows, or if you really want a treat for yourself add some of your favourite liquor, a coffee cream or rum works really well.