This homemade hot chocolate is the proper kind, made with real chocolate rather than a sachet. Cocoa goes into the milk for a deep chocolate flavour, finely grated dark chocolate melts in for body, and a handheld frother whips it light right before it goes into the mugs. Top it with big marshmallows for Bonfire Night or any evening that needs warming up. Two mugs take 10 minutes.
Why this works
Cocoa and chocolate each do a different job. Cocoa gives a dark, slightly bitter chocolate flavour, while melted chocolate brings cocoa butter, which makes the drink thick and silky in a way cocoa and sugar alone can't.
Stirring the cocoa to a paste with a splash of cold milk first stops it clumping when the rest of the milk goes in. Taking the pan off the heat before it boils means no skin, and grated chocolate melts in the warm milk without any risk of catching.
Key ingredients
- Dark chocolate. Around 70 percent cocoa solids, the kind you would happily eat. Milk chocolate makes it sweeter, so cut the sugar if you use it.
- Cocoa powder. Plain, unsweetened cocoa. Drinking chocolate powder is mostly sugar and won't give the same depth.
- Whole milk. Full fat milk gives body and froths best. A barista style oat milk works for a dairy free version.
- Marshmallows. Large ones, as in the photo, melt slowly on top. Most contain gelatine, so look for vegetarian ones if that matters.
Amounts for 1 to 6 people are in the recipe card below, in grams or cups.
Method
- 01
Grate the chocolate
Grate the chocolate finely with the rasp onto a plate. Fine shavings melt in seconds, so nothing is left at the bottom of the mug.
Rasp Zester and Fine Grater - 02
Make a cocoa paste
Put the cocoa, sugar and salt in a small saucepan and stir in a splash of the cold milk to make a smooth paste.
- 03
Heat the milk
Whisk in the rest of the milk and set the pan over a medium heat. Heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, until steaming with small bubbles at the edge. Don't let it boil.
- 04
Melt in the chocolate
Take the pan off the heat, add the grated chocolate and the vanilla, if using, and stir until smooth. Taste and add more sugar if you like.
- 05
Froth it
Tilt the pan so the hot chocolate is deep at one side. Put the frother's whisk under the surface, then switch it on and keep it under the foam as it rises, for about 30 seconds. Switch off before you lift it out.
Handheld Milk Frother - 06
Pour and top
Pour into two mugs, spooning the foam over the top, and add the marshmallows.
What to serve it with
With caramel apple turnovers or a toffee apple on Bonfire Night.
Storing and reheating
- Fridge
- Cool, cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Freezer
- Not suitable.
- Reheat
- In a pan over a low heat, stirring, until steaming. Froth again before serving.
Questions
Cocoa powder is unsweetened and tastes of dark chocolate. Drinking chocolate is mostly sugar with some cocoa, so it makes a sweeter, thinner drink. This recipe uses cocoa plus real chocolate.
Yes. Mix the cocoa paste in a large microwave safe bowl, whisk in the milk and heat in 1 minute bursts, stirring between each, until steaming. Stir in the chocolate, then froth.
Add a splash of double cream with the milk, or a little more chocolate. Both give a richer, heavier drink.
Milk gives the body and the froth, and water makes a thin drink. If you are short of milk, use at least half milk.
Recipe
Proper hot chocolate in 10 minutes
Grated dark chocolate and cocoa melted into whole milk, frothed until light, with marshmallows on top. Ten minutes, one pan. By Maya Brooks.
- Prep
- 3 min
- Cook
- 7 min
- Total
- 10 min
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
Method
- 01Grate the chocolate finely with the rasp onto a plate. Fine shavings melt in seconds, so nothing is left at the bottom of the mug.
- 02Put the cocoa, sugar and salt in a small saucepan and stir in a splash of the cold milk to make a smooth paste.
- 03Whisk in the rest of the milk and set the pan over a medium heat. Heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, until steaming with small bubbles at the edge. Don't let it boil.
- 04Take the pan off the heat, add the grated chocolate and the vanilla, if using, and stir until smooth. Taste and add more sugar if you like.
- 05Tilt the pan so the hot chocolate is deep at one side. Put the frother's whisk under the surface, then switch it on and keep it under the foam as it rises, for about 30 seconds. Switch off before you lift it out.
- 06Pour into two mugs, spooning the foam over the top, and add the marshmallows.
