topic Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question in Kitchen

Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 07:32:02 GMT

Anyone ever just take a bar of chocolate and some milk, then heat it up?

I've heard that this is one of the best ways to DIY.

If so, how many ounces of chocolate to how much milk?

Also, does it have to be baking/cooking chocolate, or could I just drop a Hershey's Milk Chocolate Mini into a large mug of cold milk and microwave it?

I enjoy hot chocolate by itself, but combined with popcorn on the side... YUM!

Thanks

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

chickadee — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 08:03:12 GMT

I've done it with a couple of Hershey's kisses. I usually just warm the milk up first, then drop the kisses in and stir. I see no reason why it wouldn't work with a couple of miniatures the same way.

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 12:41:44 GMT

Hershey's Kisses are good as well, IA4T! Especially if you sometimes want to use a smaller mug of milk. Plus your method's super-easy.

Appreciate the deets. 8)

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

Barbarainnc — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 14:30:42 GMT

Hubby gets a Dove Dark Chocolate Bar and breaks off a few pieces and puts it in a mug of hot milk. He keeps his chocolate in the freezer.

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

Still Raining — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 14:32:01 GMT

When I was a kid my mom used to make it up in a pan with baking chocolate. I suppose she added sugar too. It was wonderful.

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

KYToby — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 17:38:49 GMT

It can be done, but use a good quality chocolate for really good results. If my only options were Hershey's or Dove, I would just make hot cocoa instead with a good quality dutch-processed cocoa.

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 19:33:47 GMT

If you want to risk a chocolate coma, try this one. It's definitely worth it, but should be reserved only for special occasions. Certainly you could use milk instead, but it wouldn't have the same richness.

5 pints of light cream or half & half
12 Hershy Bars or Dove Bars

Slowly heat the cream on the stove. Break the candy bars in to small pieces and add them to the cream. Stir until the candy pieces are fully melted. Be careful not to have the heat too high or you'll scald the milk.

If you really want to gild the lily, add some marshmallows or whipped cream on top. I've never tried it, but I've wondered about adding a candy cane in the mug and letting it dissolve to make a mint chocolate cocoa.

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

Vamp — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 21:50:43 GMT

Allrecipes has a recipe for hot chocolate using a chocolate bar.

Chocolate Bar Hot Chocolate

1 (1.55 oz) bar milk chocolate, chopped

2/3 c. milk, or more to taste

1 pinch ground cinnamon (optional)

Place chocolate pieces in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add milk and whisk until chocolate pieces are melted and well blended, about 5 minutes. Whisk in cinnamon. Remove from heat; add more milk if desired. Serve in a mug.

If you are making for more than one person, just multiply x the number of people. It will take longer to melt more chocolate, but the results will be the same. You can also make hot chocolate in crock pot if you are serving a crowd.

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

Tigriss — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 02:37:27 GMT

I just bought this Mexican Hot Chocolate at my local grocery store when I picked up some dark chocolate powdered hot chocolate. This one is a bar of chocolate to 4 cups of hot milk in a pot. Y'all version is even cheaper and simpler for me to do whenever I need a fix. I always have high quality dark chocolate in the house. It just never crossed my mind to do it that way until I picked this up at the grocery store. It is very good and with way less sugar than most, but I'm now out of milk and have to get more tomorrow when I head into town.

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

Dorothy11 — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 02:45:59 GMT

In France, they serve Chocolat Chaud (hot chocolate) that is thick, rich and intense. You must use good quality bittersweet chocolate (not Hersheys). Try Lindt, Ghiradelli, Trader Joes Extra Bittersweet, or Valrhona if you can find it.

Hot Chocolate / Chocolate Chaud Recipe

Adapted from Laduree via

Dorie Greenspan Paris Sweets

Ingredients

3 cups whole milk /1 1/2 cups

1/3 cup water / 2 1/2 TBS

1/3 cup sugar 2 1/2 TBS

6 ounces bittersweet/ 3 ounces

chocolate, finely chopped*

Bring the milk, water and sugar just to the boil in a medium saucepan. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the chocolate. At this point the hot chocolate needs to be blended. At Laduree this is done with a hand-held blender, if you have one leave the hot chocolate in the saucepan whip it with the hand-held blender of one minute. If you do not have a hand-held blender transfer the hot chocolate to a traditional blender and whip on high speed for one minute. The chocolate should be served immediately, while still hot and frothy.

If you want to store the hot chocolate leave it to cool before putting it in the fridge, tightly covered, for up to two days. Re-heat and re-whip before serving. Serves 4/ Serves 2

*Use best quality 70% Cacao chocolate

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

Pickwickpapers — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 02:47:17 GMT

I enjoy hot chocolate made by melting dark chocolate. ......it really adds to the taste.......sometimes I add dark chocolate to my coffee too......chocolate makes me happy. .......

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

Nightowlz — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 04:44:31 GMT

I have used a piece or two of Dove chocolate before. I like Starbucks hot chocolate. I love the hot chocolate Williams & Sonoma sells. It's really good with or without some of their espresso powder.

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 04:58:55 GMT

On 12/28/2014 Barbarainnc said:
Hubby gets a Dove Dark Chocolate Bar and breaks off a few pieces and puts it in a mug of hot milk. He keeps his chocolate in the freezer.

Healthier for him with all those antioxidants, and it stays fresh.

I'm a milk chocolate girl myself, but if I were to do dark, it would be with the smoothness of Dove. 8)

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 04:59:50 GMT

On 12/28/2014 Still Raining said:
When I was a kid my mom used to make it up in a pan with baking chocolate. I suppose she added sugar too. It was wonderful.

Oh, that's sounds delightful. 8)

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:01:08 GMT

On 12/28/2014 KYToby said:
It can be done, but use a good quality chocolate for really good results. If my only options were Hershey's or Dove, I would just make hot cocoa instead with a good quality dutch-processed cocoa.

Appreciate the tips. 8)

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:09:23 GMT

On 12/28/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
If you want to risk a chocolate coma, try this one. It's definitely worth it, but should be reserved only for special occasions. Certainly you could use milk instead, but it wouldn't have the same richness.

5 pints of light cream or half & half
12 Hershy Bars or Dove Bars

Slowly heat the cream on the stove. Break the candy bars in to small pieces and add them to the cream. Stir until the candy pieces are fully melted. Be careful not to have the heat too high or you'll scald the milk.

If you really want to gild the lily, add some marshmallows or whipped cream on top. I've never tried it, but I've wondered about adding a candy cane in the mug and letting it dissolve to make a mint chocolate cocoa.

"Chocolate coma", hehe.

King-size or regular Hershey bars?

'Tis the season - still - for adding your candy cane. And I can tell you that mini marshmallows or Reddi Whip Extra Creamy (but low fat) are awesome. 8)

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:13:58 GMT

On 12/28/2014 Vamp said:
Allrecipes has a recipe for hot chocolate using a chocolate bar.

Chocolate Bar Hot Chocolate

1 (1.55 oz) bar milk chocolate, chopped

2/3 c. milk, or more to taste

1 pinch ground cinnamon (optional)

Place chocolate pieces in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add milk and whisk until chocolate pieces are melted and well blended, about 5 minutes. Whisk in cinnamon. Remove from heat; add more milk if desired. Serve in a mug.

If you are making for more than one person, just multiply x the number of people. It will take longer to melt more chocolate, but the results will be the same. You can also make hot chocolate in crock pot if you are serving a crowd.

Appreciate the recipe and tips, and I'll hold off on the cinnamon. 8)

I'm thinking that using a whisk helps to make the whole thing nice & frothy.

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:23:55 GMT

On 12/28/2014 tigriss said:
I just bought this Mexican Hot Chocolate at my local grocery store when I picked up some dark chocolate powdered hot chocolate. This one is a bar of chocolate to 4 cups of hot milk in a pot. Y'all version is even cheaper and simpler for me to do whenever I need a fix. I always have high quality dark chocolate in the house. It just never crossed my mind to do it that way until I picked this up at the grocery store. It is very good and with way less sugar than most, but I'm now out of milk and have to get more tomorrow when I head into town.

Didn't know that you could get dark hot cocoa mix as well. That's a nice alternative for those who prefer it (& need a "fix", heh), or just wish to get the extra health benefits.

Yours sounds like a smart choice. 8)

A little FYI:

Mexican chocolate is made from dark, bitter chocolate mixed with sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes nuts. The end result is a "grainy" less smooth product. Chocolate is frequently purchased in "disks", although it is also available in bars and syrups. In Mexico, the chocolate is used for making hot chocolate as well as in sauces such as "mole".

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:36:55 GMT

On 12/28/2014 pas4116 said:
In France, they serve Chocolat Chaud (hot chocolate) that is thick, rich and intense. You must use good quality bittersweet chocolate (not Hersheys). Try Lindt, Ghiradelli, Trader Joes Extra Bittersweet, or Valrhona if you can find it.

Hot Chocolate / Chocolate Chaud Recipe

Adapted from Laduree via

Dorie Greenspan Paris Sweets

Ingredients

3 cups whole milk /1 1/2 cups

1/3 cup water / 2 1/2 TBS

1/3 cup sugar 2 1/2 TBS

6 ounces bittersweet/ 3 ounces

chocolate, finely chopped*

Bring the milk, water and sugar just to the boil in a medium saucepan. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the chocolate. At this point the hot chocolate needs to be blended. At Laduree this is done with a hand-held blender, if you have one leave the hot chocolate in the saucepan whip it with the hand-held blender of one minute. If you do not have a hand-held blender transfer the hot chocolate to a traditional blender and whip on high speed for one minute. The chocolate should be served immediately, while still hot and frothy.

If you want to store the hot chocolate leave it to cool before putting it in the fridge, tightly covered, for up to two days. Re-heat and re-whip before serving. Serves 4/ Serves 2

*Use best quality 70% Cacao chocolate

My mom (who was from Europe) loved dark and bittersweet chocolate, including Hershey's "Special Dark".

She wasn't a chocolate (or anything) snob - neither am I - although I know that some people prefer the intensity of higher quality chocolate.

The higher the percentage of cacao the healthier it is, for those who might not know.

Appreciate the post. 8)

Re: Homemade hot cocoa / hot chocolate question

feline groovy — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:48:01 GMT

On 12/28/2014 Pickwickpapers said: I enjoy hot chocolate made by melting dark chocolate. ......it really adds to the taste.......sometimes I add dark chocolate to my coffee too......chocolate makes me happy. .......

Like a 'cafe mocha'. 8)

I second that emotion, LOL.