Love in a Mug

Heartwarming Hot Chocolate

Recipe By: CRAVE

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, here’s a mouthwatering hot chocolate recipe that will shoot straight to your heart! Nothing says, “I love you” like chocolate, so cozy up to a warm mug or two of this month’s special Valentine’s drink!

First and foremost, the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate is major. Hot cocoa is mama’s good old spoonful of cocoa powder in either a cold or warm cup of milk. Hot chocolate is significantly different. It is pure chocolate that is melted at home from scratch, with milk added to it to become a liquid heartwarming potion that will keep your soul smiling for the rest of the cold month.

Before you start worrying about calorie count, note this:

1. Hot chocolate helps your body process nitric oxide, which improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure; meaning, it is good for your heart!
2. It was believed, from the 16^th to 19^th century, that chocolate helped treat fever and liver diseases along with stomach disorders.
3. Cornell University conducted a study that proved that dark chocolate plays a role in reducing heart disease because of its high antioxidant levels.
4. Chocolate has a national day! 31^st of January is National Hot Chocolate Day.

This recipe makes four 3/4-cup servings

Ingredients
For the whipped cream:
1 cup heavy cream, chilled

For the hot chocolate:
2 cups whole milk*
50g (about 1/2 cup) milk powder
3g (about 1 teaspoon) cornstarch
150g (about 1 cup) 60% dark chocolate, in disks or coarsely chopped

*Note: This hot chocolate is very rich. If you like it slightly thinner, use 3 cups of milk.

Preparation:
For the whipped cream:
Pour the heavy cream into a medium mixing bowl and put it in the freezer for 5 minutes (If you don’t have room for the bowl, just put the heavy cream in the freezer.)

Take the mixing bowl of whipped cream out of the freezer and whisk with a large whisk until soft peaks form.

For the hot chocolate:
Bring milk to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium then add the chocolate, whisking vigorously until the chocolate is completely melted. Add the milk powder and cornstarch, still whisking, until everything is dissolved and the mixture is smooth and thick.

To serve, divide the hot chocolate among four mugs or glasses, and then garnish each with a large dollop of whipped cream.