Description
This Italian Hot Chocolate recipe offers a rich, creamy, and pudding-like hot cocoa experience, distinctly different from typical watery hot chocolate. Made with high-quality dark chocolate and thickened with cornstarch, it delivers a luscious and comforting drink perfect for chilly days.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar (or to your liking)
- 2-3 teaspoons corn starch
- 50 grams dark chocolate (60%) or mini semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 ½ cups milk (whole or fat-free)
Optional Toppings
- ¼ cup mini marshmallows
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a saucepan, add the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and cornstarch, mixing them well to ensure an even distribution of the dry ingredients.
- Add Milk and Whisk: Pour in the cold milk gradually while whisking continuously to fully dissolve the cornstarch and create a smooth base without lumps.
- Incorporate Chocolate: Add the chopped dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips to the mixture.
- Heat Gently and Stir: Warm the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate is fully melted, and the mixture becomes bubbly, hot, and thickens to a pudding-like consistency.
- Serve and Garnish: Pour the hot chocolate into cups and top with mini marshmallows or whipped cream if desired for an extra indulgent touch.
Notes
- Use high-quality cocoa powder and chocolate for the best flavor.
- Adjust cornstarch amount: 3 teaspoons yield extra thick hot chocolate, but remember it thickens further as it cools.
- 60% dark chocolate is recommended, though any chocolate type you prefer can be used.
- Whole milk provides creaminess, but fat-free milk is a lighter alternative.
- For gifting, layer cornstarch, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and chocolate chips in a 4oz jar; optionally top with mini marshmallows.
- Skipping cornstarch results in a thinner, more traditional hot chocolate texture.
- This recipe yields approximately 14 oz, enough for two servings.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7 oz (half the recipe)
- Calories: 319 kcal
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 19 mg
