Cioccolata calda: rich and velvety hot chocolate
| November 7, 2009 | Posted by ameliaps under chocolate, cocoa, Drinks and cocktails, holidays, hot chocolate, winter |
On hot chocolate: “It flatters you for a while, it warms you for an instant; then all of a sudden, it kindles a mortal fever in you.” ~ Marie, Marquise de Sévigné, 17th century
On a cold afternoon, there’s nothing that will warm my heart and soul more than my dad’s rich and velvety hot chocolate. He’d make it a lot around the holidays and spike it up with a shot of his favorite liqueur (Sambuca or Strega). You can use Galliano or Grand Marnier instead. With a cup of this liquid comfort, we’d all sit around the wood burning fire in the kitchen, play cards, joke and laugh happy for hours.
The reason why this chocolate is so good is because it has both chocolate AND cocoa, and a few other wonderful aromas. Not your usual cinnamon “soup”.
Cioccolata calda: rich and velvety hot chocolate
Serves 6
8 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate (or less, but that’s not my problem!)
1/4 cup cocoa powder (stricktly Dutch processed of the best quality)
1 qt. milk
2 espresso shots
1/2 cup sugar (white or demerara)
1 (organic) lemon peel, cut into a spiral (like you would peel an apple)
1 shot-glass anise liqueur (or rum or galliano or grand marnier or whatever you like)
Mix the cocoa powder and the sugar and dissolve them over very low heat in part of the milk stirring with a whisk to avoid lumps from forming.
Separately, in a medium pot, over a very gentle flame, dissolve the chocolate in the rest of the milk, together with the coffee (if you have one, use a double boiler for best results).
Mix the two chocolate solutions together over the heat continuing to stir.
Add the liqueurs and bring right up to the boiling point (without boiling).
Add the lemon peel.
Taste and season again as needed.
Serve very hot in small chocolate pots (or big ones).
Wooha!!!! You are among gods now!
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Love the first photo…with the drizzled chocolate! I would use orange peel and cointreau…and finish off with a swirl of cream
I love hot chocolate! And the really rich kind like this is heaven! Love the idea of spiking it with Gran Marnier or Cointreau…