Stove-Top Decedent Hot Cocoa

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Stove-Top Decedent Hot Cocoa

Hot cocoa is a thing of mine. It’s a favorite thing of mine. And at the first sign of cold weather, you’ll find me with a cup in hand.

This quick and easy stove-top recipe is a standard in our house and every time I get the pot out to start a batch, the kids get giddy with excitement. Make this with your own kiddos and trust me – you’ll never go back to the insta-packets again. Pack it up for your family Christmas Tree hunts or for the Winter parade.

Cook Time: 5 Minutes     Yield: 5 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (I use local Idaho brand Mactaggart’s Brand but you can use Hersey’s as well!)
• 1/2 C Granulated Sugar
• Pinch of Salt (Sel Gris from Olivelle is my go to)
• 1/8 t Cinnamon (optional)
• 4-5 C Milk (Whole or 2% work the best but you can use whatever kind you prefer. I use 4 cups for a more rich flavor.)
• 1/8 t Vanilla Extract (optional)
• .5  – 1.0 Ounces of a Chocolate Bar (Whatever brand you prefer – I’ve used a Hersey’s Bar and Chocolate Chips and both work great.)
• Whipped Cream or Marshmallows for the full experience (we use our homemade standard whipped cream canister we keep in the refrigerator. To make your own, we recommended the following canister and N20 Cartridges).

Directions:

1. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the cocoa, sugar, salt and cinnamon and set aside.
2. Pour one cup of the milk into a sauce pan and bring to a medium heat, stirring consistently.
3. Whisk in the dry cocoa mixture and continue to stir over heat until smooth.
4. Slowly stir in the remaining milk and bring to heat, stirring consistently to prevent from burning.
5. While stirring, add in the vanilla and chocolate bar and continue to stir until the chocolate is melted, about a minute, ensuring you stir it off of the bottom of the pan.
6. Serve in mugs and garnish how you see fit.

*Note that when you work with milk on the stove top, it is important to continue to stir to prevent the milk from sticking to the pan and burning.

For garnishments, I let me kids pick their poison. I mean, they already are getting a cup of steaming hot deliciousness that will send them bouncing off the walls so why not enjoy it a little more with some marshmallows, whipped cream, AND sprinkles.