Homemade Hot Cocoa (using Raw Cacao powder)

Blogging Marathon# 62: Week 1/ Day 1

Theme: Kid's Delight -- Chocolate

Dish: Hot Cocoa

We are starting a new edition of Blogging marathon today and my theme for this week is 'Kid friendly Chocolate dishes'. Kalyani is hosting this month's Kid's Delight event with this universally loved ingredient as the theme.

I think most kids love chocolate and my kids definitely are in the chocolate loving group especially my son. I couldn't pass up this theme because it's been a while I tried some new chocolate recipes. First up is this 'Hot Cocoa' recipe. It has been quite a chilly winter so far not as cold as last year but still cold. I have been making this hot cocoa for my kids as their after-school drink.

I recently bought this Raw Cacao powder and have been making smoothies and this hot cocoa with it. I read it can used to make brownies, cookies, cakes and just about anything that you would bake with regular cocoa powder. As the name suggests, raw cacao powder is raw without any unwanted sugars or additives. It is unprocessed, so it retains important nutrients like manganese, iron, calcium, fiber and protein. Do look out for raw cacao powder if not use whatever you have on hand to make this drink.
I added a bit of chopped chocolate to the mix to make the drink a little richer, but you can skip it and make it with only with the cocoa powder. Either way this is one drink that is sure to warm you up on a chilly winter day.

Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 1½cups Milk (Whole or 2% fat or Almond milk for vegan variation)
• ¼cup Water
• 2tbsp Raw Cacao powder or Cocoa powder
• 1~2tbsp Sugar (adjust per taste)
• 2tbsp Bittersweet or Semisweet chocolate, chopped (optional)
• ½tsp Vanilla

Method:

1. In a small saucepan on medium-low heat, combine milk, water, cacao powder and sugar. Whisk until smooth. Bring the mixture to a slow simmer and cook for 2~3 minutes.
2. Turn off the heat and add the chopped chocolate (if using) and vanilla extract. Whisk until chocolate is completely melted.
3. Pour into mugs and serve right away with an optional dollop of whipped cream and a shaving of chocolate.

 

Lets check out what my fellow marathoners have cooked today for BM# 62. Linking this to Kalyani's #KidsDelightChocoGiveaway.