Festive drinks to warm one’s chilly bones
By Josh Foreman
Basic hot chocolate, Cioccolata Calda, Nutella hot chocolate and eggnog, made and taken by Josh Foreman
Most people associate this cold Christmas season with warm, comforting drinks such as tea and hot chocolate. But, as good as these may be, they all share one common problem in most homes: they’re way too basic. No one should have to buy Swiss Miss when hot chocolate is this easy.
Basic Hot Chocolate
Most people probably have this in mind when they think of homemade hot chocolate because of how simple yet delicious it is.
One cup of whole milk
One tbsp of heavy cream (Optional)
¼ tsp of vanilla extract
One ½ tbsp of brown sugar
Two tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder
Combine everything in a small pot and slowly heat, occasionally stirring to prevent curdling. Pour into your most festive mug and serve with whipped cream or marshmallows.
Cioccolata Calda (Italian-style)
Despite its Italian title making it seem significantly more intimidating, this recipe is straightforward and definitely worth a try.
One ½ cups of whole milk
Four ounces of finely chopped dark chocolate
Two tbsp of granulated sugar (Leaves very rich and bitter, adjust to taste)
One tbsp of cocoa powder
One tbsp of cornstarch
First, use a splash of milk and your cornstarch in a small bowl to create a slurry. Next, combine all of your chopped dark chocolate with a splash of your milk in a pot on medium heat, whisking frequently to melt. Once melted, add your cocoa powder and sugar until fully combined. Next, slowly whisk in the rest of your milk until the mixture is thinned out and has taken a lighter color. Then add your slurry until fully incorporated, using a spatula to ensure that none of the cornstarch stuck to the curves of the pot. Once you’re happy with the consistency and taste, you’re ready to serve!
Nutella Hot Chocolate
While not very precise, this recipe is extremely forgiving and perfect for anyone that loves nutella.
Two cups of milk
One heaping spoonful of Nutella
One tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder
One ½ tbsp of sugar
A pinch of salt
A dash of vanilla extract
A splash of heavy cream
Combine all ingredients into a pot, heating and whisking until fully combined. Once hot, use a blender, food processor, or emulsion blender to finish combining.
Eggnog
This one isn’t hot, but it is one of the most popular drinks during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Sometimes we need to cool it down a little.
Three cups of whole milk
Six egg yolks
One cup of sugar
Two tsp of vanilla extract or ½ of the beans of a vanilla bean pod
One tsp of ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon of ground cloves
One tbsp of ginger powder
One ½ tsp of ground nutmeg
One ½ cups of heavy cream
First, place your milk in a pot on medium-low heat, heating just until it begins to steam. Don’t boil or simmer. While the milk heats, combine all six egg yolks into a mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat the eggs for 15-20 seconds or until they begin to thicken slightly. While mixing constantly, incorporate all of the sugar slowly into the eggs, about a tablespoon at a time, until all of your sugar has mixed with the egg. Once the milk is heated, mix two-three ladles of milk into the egg mixture to bring the eggs up to temp with the milk. This prevents the eggs from curdling and ruining the consistency. Once warm, mix the eggs with the rest of the warm milk, continuing to heat slowly until thickened. This should take 10-15 minutes, but always consider that the eggnog will thicken more once it’s cold. Pour the finished mixture into a bowl through a fine mesh strainer and mix in the spices and heavy cream. Optionally, cool over an ice bath before storing in the fridge.
However you choose to make your Christmas drinks, let these recipes bring your whole family together in a flurry of flavor and festivity this holiday season.