Make Hot Cocoa
Hot cocoa is different from hot chocolate, in that it is made from cocoa powder, while hot chocolate is made from solid chocolate. This article will teach you how make tasty, delicious hot cocoa.
Contents
10 Second Summary
1. Heat ¾ cup (180 milliliters) of water or milk.
2. Put 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder into a mug.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar, if desired.
4. Pour the hot water/milk over it and stir.
5. Add ¼ cup (60 milliliters) cold milk or water to cool the drink down.
6. Add toppings or additional flavors, if desired.
Ingredients
- Cocoa powder
- Water (or milk)
- Marshmallows (optional)
- Condensed milk (as mentioned in tips) (optional)
- Sugar (optional)
- Vanilla (optional)
Steps
On the Stovetop
- Heat ¾ cup (180 milliliters) of water or milk of your choice in a kettle and heat it on the stove. Use a suitable kettle, not an electric kettle, or, use a saucepan. (this recipe serves one person).
- Put one tablespoon of cocoa powder and two tablespoons of sugar (optional) into a mug or bowl and mix. Dutch-processed cocoa is usually used in store-bought cocoa mix because it's usually preferred. You can buy it at your regular store if you prefer it, but you may need to look on the ingredient list to see whether or not it's processed with alkali, which is Dutch-processed. It may or may not be listed on the front.
- Once the water or milk is about to boil (175°F), fill the mug with the hot water or milk.
- Stir together until the cocoa mixture has dissolved. Over time the cocoa starts to sink to the bottom of the mug, so re-stir or stir well for better flavor.
- Add ¼ cup (60 milliliters) of milk or water to cool the drink down. Look at the "tips" near the end of this page for suggestions on a creamier cup of hot cocoa.
- Add toppings or additional flavors (optional). Try adding some marshmallows or some whipped cream (you can drizzle chocolate syrup on the whipped cream or add sprinkles for garnish). Also consider adding a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract or peppermints to add additional flavor.
- Enjoy your hot cocoa!
On the Stovetop #2
- Put one cup of milk into a saucepan or cooking pot.
- Put about four tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder into the pot.
- Add the same amount of sugar to the pot.
- Turn your stove on HIGH. Put the saucepan on the heat.
- Watch and stir until it boils.
- Take it off the stove and stir once more.
- Grab a mug and put a teaspoon of vanilla extract in it.
- Pour the hot cocoa in and enjoy!
In the Microwave
- Put one tablespoon of cocoa and 2 tablespoons of sugar into a small bowl.
- Mix sugar and cocoa together until mixed.
- Place a 8 oz. cup half filled with milk into the microwave. Microwave for 1 minute 15 seconds.
- Stir cocoa and sugar into milk until blended.
- Add 2 peppermints if desired.
In the Microwave #2
- Put chocolate syrup in the bottom of a cup or mug.
- Take a glass bowl that can be used in the microwave.
- Put a teaspoon of your cocoa powder and cold milk into the bowl.
- Heat up the bowl for 30-45 seconds.
- Pour into the mug.
- Add either 1 or 2 peppermints, depending on how much you're making. Add more of your mix and heat up for 1-2 minutes (or until mints dissolve and the drink is hot.)
- Squirt some whipped cream and drizzle chocolate syrup over the whipped cream.
- Enjoy your cocoa!
In the Microwave #3
- Pour the cocoa powder into a mug.
- Stir the cocoa powder with a fork while adding milk, little by little until the cup is full. There will be some cocoa powder on the top- that's okay.
- Microwave on HIGH for 90 seconds.
- Remove from microwave. The cocoa powder on top should have either turned into a custard sort of thing or a syrup. Take a fork and stir it again, breaking up the cocoa on top.
- Add toppings. Enjoy!
Creamy Sugar Cocoa
- Place two and a half teaspoons of cocoa powder into a large mug.
- Set a kettle of water onto boil.
- Whisk up about 3/4 of the amount of milk you want in a small bowl until it becomes mildly thick and very frothy.
- Pour the milk into the mug and mix with the cocoa powder until you have a brown, frothy milk mix.
- Pour in water from the boiled kettle.
- Add as much more milk as you want to.
- Stir in two teaspoons of plain sugar.
- Enjoy your sweet, very frothy cocoa!
Tips
- If your hot cocoa is very strong in taste, add 2-3 teaspoons of milk or water.
- Do not mix the powder and water together and heat them together in the microwave, as this can either make it watery and lumpy, or it can explode.
- If the hot chocolate is too hot, add some cold milk or water.
- When doing this with a smaller kid, be careful they don't touch the kettle and get burned.
- If you are planning to add in marshmallows, you don't need to add as much sugar.
- Another suggestion for a mug of creamier hot cocoa is using one tablespoon of heavy cream.
- Try putting a little bit of vanilla and cinnamon in your cocoa for a more spiced taste.
- You can also add sweetened condensed milk to the mug for a sweeter, thicker, creamier hot cocoa.
- Candy canes also go well with hot chocolate.
- If you are making a batch of hot cocoa mix and storing it for use, each mug should contain about three tablespoons of hot cocoa mix depending on your taste.
- You can use melted chocolate to make your cocoa taste better and creamier.
- Hot cocoa is not the same thing as hot chocolate, which is made from actual chocolate.
Warnings
- If you use the microwave, make sure that you only use a microwavable cup.
- Do not touch the kettle anywhere other than the handle or you may burn or scald yourself on the kettle or condensation.
Things You'll Need
- Teaspoon
- Tablespoon
- Mug
- Tablespoon
- Kettle
- Pot
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- Make Frozen Hot Chocolate
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