Cooking Lesson #193 Barcelona-Style Hot Chocolate

The 2020 Holidays Recipe Collection

How you doin’? At our fine chocolate company, Choclatique, we were always looking for great hot chocolate recipes like the kind we found in Barcelona. On visiting the local cooking school there, the student chefs were just learning how to make the iconic Barcelona Hot Chocolate—not hot cocoa. Barcelona Hot Chocolate is a warm steamy beverage and a rich decadent dessert at the same time. It is thick and creamy and loaded with real chocolate—not flavored with cocoa powder chalkiness.
 
To the many people they get their lackluster hot cocoa fix by ripping open an envelope of powder and pouring it into a cup of hot water, I'm here to tell you that real men and women don’t drink that kind of beverage once they’ve tasted the real thing (recipe below); and it's just as easy to make as the “quick” stuff. Barcelona Hot Chocolate is rich, thick, and velvety smooth and is made by using just a few simple ingredients that make all the difference. If the weather outside is frightful, warm up with a cozy cup of REAL homemade hot chocolate.
 
What's the difference Between Hot Chocolate and Hot Cocoa? While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a real difference, and it turns out it's right there in the name. Hot chocolate is made with whole chocolate (chocolate liquor and cocoa butter and sometimes a little cocoa powder) and hot cocoa is made from just cocoa powder. Therefore hot chocolate tends to have a thicker consistency than hot cocoa.
 
Don’t use the cheap stuff. For the richest hot chocolate, use the highest quality chocolate: dark chocolate that is at least 64 percent or higher. In terms of dairy, real hot chocolate recipes call for thicker forms of dairy such as half-and-half, heavy cream, whole milk or a mixture of each. A good dairy-free alternative for hot chocolate is coconut or almond milk.
 
Prep time:  10 minutes
Cook time:  10 minutes
Yield:  2 servings
 
Ingredients:
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup half and half or whipping cream
1-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped (64% or higher)
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
1 pinch ground cinnamon
Toppings (your choice)
 
Directions

1. Heat the milk, half and half or cream in a saucepan over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
3. Stir in the dark chocolate until it’s completely melted. About 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the additional cream and cinnamon.
5. Top with whipped cream, marshmallows, crushed peppermint, or any other topping of your choice.

ChefSecret:  During these difficult times, small pleasures matter.

Covid-19 Quip of the Day:  “My mom always told me I wouldn’t accomplish anything by lying in bed all day. But look at me now, ma! I’m saving the world!”
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Here is wishing you the very best for the upcoming holidays. To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind welcoming in the holiday season. If you have a little extra in your pockets to share with others at this difficult time, please consider donating to Feeding America. Thanks for reading.

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