I must admit, I am not a chocolate person. In fact, I am many people's favorite person with whom to share one of those big black and white cookies, because I am only interested in the white part.
Hot chocolate, on the other hand, falls into a completely different category.
If the weather is cold, I find myself constantly craving it…though it may actually be more about the whipped cream and marshmallows that accompany it than about the drink itself.
I just came upon this recipe for Chocolate guru Max Brenner's Hot Chocolate, and I will definitely be giving it a try!
Ingredients:
1.5 tablespoons cornstarch
3.5 cups whole milk
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (I used 1 cup of Nestle Tollhouse Chips)
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped Cream; optional
Directions:
1. Pour 1/2 cup milk in a medium bowl. Add 1.5 tablespoons cornstarch and whisk. Add the two egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar and whisk. Set aside.
2. In a saucepan, bring 2 cups milk to a gentle simmer.
3. Add the egg yolk mixture to the simmering milk.
4. Whisk until the mixture comes to a full boil–approximately 3 minutes–and add 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract.
5. Whisk well until it the vanilla extract is completely incorporated and becomes a custard like consistency. Meanwhile, boil 1 cup milk in a saucepan on a separate stove.
6. Strain the custard through a wire sieve into a bowl.
7. Add the chocolate to the custard. Using a fork, mix well.
8. Once the 1 cup milk in the separate saucepan has boiled, add the chocolate custard and whisk well until it's even in consistency.
9. Pour into cups and garnish with whipped cream.