Homemade Hot Chocolate (4 ingredients) ☕

There's nothing quite like a warm mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter day (at least that's the weather here in Lithuania 😬❄️). Whether you're snuggled up on the couch with a good book, or having a refreshing walk outside, hot chocolate is the perfect companion to chase away the winter blues. ☕

But why settle for store-bought packets of powder when you can make your own delicious hot chocolate from scratch? With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a rich and creamy hot chocolate that will have you coming back for more. 🤩

To start, you'll need some plant-based milk (I opt for milk that is creamier such as oat milk, but any other milk will do - my second favorite is almond milk), raw cacao, semisweet chocolate and sugar. You can also add a splash of vanilla extract for extra flavor.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can also try adding a pinch of cinnamon, chili powder, or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. The possibilities are endless! 🌶️

Hot chocolate is a great dessert if you like chocolate, it warms you up and it's just a nice way to include more pleasure into your daily life ✨

You will need:
For one serving

• 300 ml. plant-based milk (unsweetened almond milk is used in the recipe, if you use sweetened milk, taste before adding sugar as you may not need it)
• 1 tablespoon of unsweetened raw cocoa
• 2-3 pieces of dark chocolate (chopped should make about 2 tablespoons)
• 1.5 teaspoons of bourbon vanilla flavored sugar (or simple sugar)
  

Preparation

1. Chop the chocolate into very small pieces so that it's easier to melt it. It should make you about 2 tablespoons. I used dark chocolate with 70% cacao.
   
2. Heat the milk in a small pot. Heat it for 3-4 minutes on low heat, don't let it boil.
   
   Once the milk is a bit heated, add cocoa powder, sugar and finely chopped dark chocolate.
   
3. Keep heating everything over low heat, stirring constantly, until everything is dissolved and the drink is hot enough, but you don't need to bring it to boil. You can taste whether you need more sweetness.
   
4. Pour the prepared drink into a mug. It can be served with vegan whipped cream, you can sprinkle some cinnamon on top or add other desired ingredients.

Hot chocolate can be made in different variations, do you have any favorite ingredients that you "must add" for a perfect hot chocolate? ☕