Chocolate Hot and Cold

In this household hot chocolate is a year round thing. Even with this crazy heat, the evenings cool down and Ms. M, the resident connoisseur usually mixes up a mug before bed.

We found some highly recommended mexican hot chocolate discs at the grocery store this winter but she did not care for them. The box languished in the pantry until I happened upon a recipe for mexican chocolate ice cream and I thought why not try to use it for this? It was July after all, ice cream season.

Since there was no custard of eggs and cream in this recipe  (just milk) I knew that it was to be eaten when made, as non-custard based ice creams tend to get too hard sitting in the freezer, even for a short time.

The ice cream was a hit but as it happened, the ice cream bucket did not freeze properly so the ice cream turned out even less than creamy than I was expecting. The good news is that it reminded me of something else - that childhood treat fudgsicles! but with cinnamon :)

 If I make this again ( I have two discs left) it will go in popsicle molds!

So what is the household expert doing for hot chocolate?

I  came across this recipe in The Best of America's Test Kitchen books, from 2008 for a hot chocolate drink mix.

Hot Cocoa Mix

3 C non fat dry milk

2 C (8oz) confectioner's Sugar

1.5 C (4.5 oz) Dutch-processed Cocoa

1.5 C white chocolate chips (I used chopped white baking chocolate squares as this is what I had on hand)

1/4 teaspoon Salt

Combine ingredients in a large bowl.

Working in 2 batches, pulse the ingredients in a food processor until the white chocolate is finely ground.

To make hot cocoa, stir 1/3 cup mix into 1 cup hot milk.

May be stored room temperature for up to 3 months.

I was dubious. It called for white chocolate and I really do not like white chocolate. But it was the "key ingredient" and the trick to utmost creaminess or so I was told, so I hesitantly made a half batch to test it out. Those chalkboard paint lids are still coming in very handy.

As you can see the jar is almost empty so it too was a hit, although Ms. M found it almost too creamy and substituted some of the milk for water. She often prefers her hot chocolate that way so I still considered the mix 100% success.

Chocolate, hot and cold.

 

Comments

[Cathy]

This looks fantastic!!!!

[Lynne]

That looks so good. There is a local ice cream place here where they make a Frozen Hot Chocolate ice cream and A Mexican chocolate ice cream with cinnamon....yummy.

[KM]

YUM! It's been a long time since we've made homemade ice cream. Probably too long.

[Vicki]

Yummmmmmy! ;)

[Francesca]

It's gelato season over here too! (no chocolate, because mamma doesn't like it - just think of those poor chocolate-deprived children! :))
Did you try making ice cream with your raspberries?
Happy weekend!

[Michaelanneneal]

I have never made homemade ice cream before, but this sure looks tempting:)))) YUM!

[flowtops]

Oh boy, Ms. M is getting spoiled to no end!

Nicki