How to Make Hot Chocolate

Those of us accustomed to eating chocolate may be surprised to learn that chocolate was originally enjoyed as a drink. Although most of us today make our chocolate from a powdered mix, making the real thing is as simple as melting some chocolate and mixing it with hot milk. And does it taste good! This recipe makes about 10 servings.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 8 c. whole milks
• 1 c. sugars
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 6 oz. bittersweet chocolate

1. 

   Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl.

2. 

   Heat the milk over medium-low heat until it steams and is very hot to the touch.

3. 

   Add the sugar and vanilla and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Shut off the heat.

4. Ladle out about 1 c. of the milk and pour it over the chocolate.

5. 

   Let the chocolate melt slowly. Stir it with a whisk to get all the chocolate in contact with the milk.

6. 

   Continue adding milk and stirring until all the milk has been incorporated.

7. 

   Stir together, then ladle into serving cups.

Tips & Warnings

• Six oz. bittersweet chocolate is about 2 c. chopped chocolate.

• Adjust the sweetness or chocolate level to your taste; there aren't any firm guidelines here.

• You can substitute 2 percent milk if you wish, but whole milk will give the drink the best texture.

• Use the highest-quality real chocolate you can find. Valhrona and Callebaut are top-of-the-line chocolates; excellent bars by Swiss makers Lindt and Tobler can be found in many supermarkets.