The Best Dark Hot Chocolate Recipe Made With Real Chocolate

You will need:

• Dark chocolate (either dark chocolate chips or a good quality dark chocolate bar broken up into smaller pieces);
• Milk of choice (I use almond milk but full cream cow's milk works great as well);
• Optional extras: if you feel like getting a bit fancy then you might want to try adding a drop of peppermint, orange or vanilla essential oils or extract or some lavender syrup.

You will also benefit from having a high-speed blender if you want to get a good froth on the hot chocolate without an extra step of frothing up the milk.

But don't worry, I have instructions for you if you only have a regular blender or even if you have no blender at all (and it is still super easy).

When I say high-speed blender I mean a blender like the Vitamix.

With a machine with this much power, we can heat the hot chocolate in the jug without any extra steps (this is even better if you have the Aer disc attachment as you will get a lot more froth - but it is not necessary).

It is as simple as adding the ingredients, turning the machine up to high, and waiting until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is warm.

I do have one major tip though:

Use small chocolate chips or a bar of dark chocolate broken up into smaller bits. This will allow the chocolate to melt a lot more quickly, which means it will be incorporated into the milk without everything overheating.

If you don't have a high-speed blender don't worry, you will still be able to get your hot chocolate fix!

In fact, if you take your time and have a little bit of patience you can still get great results on the stove top.

This is how I used to do it in Uni when good quality electrical appliances were a thing of dreams.

Simply:

• Gently heat the milk in a saucepan on the stovetop until it starts to bubble. It should be warm, but not scalding;
  
• Add in some finely chopped dark chocolate. Here is best to use a dark chocolate bar that you have chopped up extra finely or even grated. We want it to melt really quickly, so the smaller the chocolate the better.
  
• Whisk the milk and chocolate together briskly until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is fully incorporated. You can always cheat and melt the chocolate in the microwave before adding it to the milk for a guaranteed super smooth result.
  
• Optional extra depending on supplies. If you have a milk frother then froth some milk and pour it on top of the hot chocolate before serving.

Voila, dark hot chocolate on the stovetop without any hassle.

Use good quality dark chocolate for the best results.

I go for about 72% cocoa so no further sweetener is required.

If you like it sweeter you might want to add a little bit of raw sugar or use a bar of milk chocolate instead.

You know what you like!

For the ultimate hot chocolate experience, we love to add in some fun flavors.

Try these:

• ½ teaspoon coconut extract;
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract;
• ½ teaspoon peppermint extract;
• add a big dollop of Nutella (why not try this homemade Nutella) to the mixture when blending or heating;
• 1 drop of food grade peppermint essential oil (great for a Christmas time feel);
• 1 drop of food grade wild orange essential oil;
• 1 drop of food grade turmeric essential oil or some ground turmeric;
• top with some whipped cream, melted chocolate drizzle or some fun sprinkles.

Use your imagination for the best hot chocolate experience!

Cold and rainy days are just perfect for enjoying hot chocolate at home.

Why not try one of these combinations next time the urge hits:

• Turmeric Infused Healthy Hot Chocolate;
• White Matcha Hot Chocolate;
• Thick and Creamy Pumpkin Hot Chocolate;
• Gingerbread Hot Chocolate;
• Cinnamon Hot Chocolate;
• Low Carb Keto Hot Chocolate.