Hot Chocolate is a classic Winter drink that can make the entire season more enjoyable! Kids and adults alike will brave the coldest days on the mountain if they can enjoy a steaming mug of hot cocoa when the day is done. There’s nothing better than a hand-warming mug of sweetness with whipped cream on top on a chilly winter day. Hot chocolate is one of the best parts of the season!
Kids everywhere warm up with hot cocoa and then wear chocolate mustaches with pride as they build snowmen, go skating, and throw snowballs at their pals. Snowy days and hot chocolate go hand in hand; that tradition has been around for a long time!
LET’S LOOK AT A LITTLE HISTORY OF THIS YUMMY CONCOCTION:
The Mayans of southern Mexico and South America were drinking chocolate as far back as 500 B.C., though they made a rather spicy version with chili peppers and usually drank it cold. Eventually, the explorer Cortez brought the drink to Europe, and it became popular with the Spanish upper class in the 1500s.
The Spanish sweetened it up, left out the chili peppers and served it hot. It took a while for the news to spread, but by the 1700s, chocolate houses had become popular in London. These shops were like the trendy coffee shops of today, but the chocolate itself was very expensive. Hans Sloane, an Irish physician and naturalist who traveled and studied in Jamaica, brought the “chocolate + milk” idea back from the islands, and the English agreed that this made the drink even better, and it continued to grow in popularity. But it wasn’t until the middle of the 18th century that chocolate was consumed as a candy treat, not just a drink.
The pure cacao drink that the Mayans were drinking was high in caffeine, so naturally, they believed it had restorative properties, and they were right. Real, pure chocolate contains high levels of antioxidants as well as theobromine—a mood elevator.
When you add milk, you also factor in calcium and vitamins. So, that delicious and cozy fireside drink is also helping you to get happy and stay strong.
CLASSIC HOT CHOCOLATE
Ingredients
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder Kosher salt
- 6 ounces milk chocolate, chopped 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Marshmallows or whipped cream for topping
Combine the milk, heavy cream, sugar, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the sugar and cocoa powder dissolve and the milk is steaming; do not boil. Whisk in half of the chopped chocolate until melted, then whisk in the remaining chocolate until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla. Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream.
SAILOR JERRY & HOT CHOCOLATE
Ingredients
- 5 oz Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
- 5 oz Butterscotch Schnapps 3 oz hot chocolate
- Dash of orange bitters
Add equal parts liquor to hot chocolate, top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate, and garnish with a cinnamon stick or candy cane.
PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE
- Ingredients
- .25 oz Peppermint Schnapps
- .5 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur 1 cup hot chocolate
- Whipped cream for serving
- Crushed peppermint candy for serving
Add peppermint schnapps, chocolate liqueur, and hot chocolate to a saucepan. Heat mixture, then add to serving glass. Garnish with whipped cream and crushed peppermint candy.
RED WINE HOT CHOCOLATE
Ingredients
- .75 cup semisweet chocolate chips (recommended: Ghirardelli)
- .75 cup dry red wine
- .5 cup milk
- .5 cup half and half
- 2 tbsp sugar (optional) Pinch of salt
- .5 tsp vanilla extract
- Orange peel, to zest (optional)
Combine the chocolate chips, wine, milk, half-and-half, and sugar (if using) in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is hot.
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Pour into mugs and serve.
FUN FACTS ABOUT HOT CHOCOLATE:
- During the Revolutionary War, medics gave wounded and dying soldiers cups of hot chocolate and even used packets of cocoa mix as wages.
- Thomas Jefferson was a big fan and believed that hot cocoa was superior to tea and coffee in terms of enjoyment and nourishment.
- In 1989, a 6-man sled dog expedition consumed 2,100 packets of Swiss Miss Hot cocoa!
- During the 16th and 17th centuries, Roman Catholics debated whether Hot Chocolate was a drink or a food— could they have it during religious fasting? Ultimately, Pope Gregory XIII okayed it—drinkable chocolate was acceptable while fasting!
HOT SPOTS FOR HOT CHOCOLATE AROUND TOWN
- Chocolate Foundry in the Sun Valley Village
- Konditorei in the Sun Valley Village
- Lizzy’s-491 Tenth St.
- 4 Roots—611 Sun Valley Road
- Java-191 4th St.
- Hank & Sylvie’s—580 4th st.
- Bigwood Bread—271 Northwood Way
- The Kneadery—260 Leadville