Description
Italian Hot Chocolate “cioccolata calda” is like no other hot chocolate! It’s richer, creamier, and thicker, with a pudding-like consistency, and can seriously be eaten with a spoon. Garnished with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, it’s the perfect indulgent comfort drink.
Ingredients
- 6 oz (179 grams) Italian dark bittersweet chocolate, Perugina (coarsely chopped)
- 1 1/2 cups (350 ml) whole milk
- 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- a pinch of salt
- Garnish: whipped cream and/or shaved chocolate
Instructions
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- In a small bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of the milk with the cornstarch (to make a ‘slurry’) until all of the lumps are dissolved. Set aside for a moment.
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- On a medium heat burner, in a medium-sized pan, pour in 1-½ cups of milk and heat to just before it boils. Reduce the heat to the lowest heat level.
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- Add the cornstarch-milk ‘slurry’ mixture that you set aside. TIP: Stir this cornstarch mixture just a little bit before adding to the pan of hot milk since the cornstarch will settle to the bottom of the small bowl of milk while waiting to be added.
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- Continue to cook this mixture at a simmer, while stirring continually until it thickens nicely. Bubbles will form around the edges of the pan as it simmers. Do not boil, though.
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- Turn the heat to medium-low and add the broken-up dark chocolate pieces to the saucepan. Stir/whisk continually until the dark chocolate is melted and a creamy, thick texture develops. It only takes a few minutes.
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- When the milk has heated through and the dark chocolate is completely melted, add the dark cocoa powder. Continue to stir/whisk together nicely.
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- Add the salt and sugar and stir/whisk to dissolve into the mixture.
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- Taste for sweetness, adjusting with more sugar if you prefer (and we do)!
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- When the hot chocolate is smooth and thickened up, serve immediately in mugs along with spoons. Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
Enjoy this luxurious Italian Hot Chocolate treat!
Buon Appetito,
Roz xo