"Cioccolata Calda" - Make a Decadent Italian Hot Chocolate

Italian hot chocolate is something that everyone should try once in their life to enjoy the deliciously thick texture and richness of the beverage. If you haven’t yet tried silky smooth, thick and creamy Italian hot chocolate before, then you are certainly missing out.

You may call it hot chocolate, some people call it as hot cocoa or drinking chocolate and Italians simply term it as cioccolata calda. No matter what you call it, it will remain the best comforting beverage you can have during the wintertime.

Italian hot chocolate is supreme and most certainly cannot be compared with the sad, watery version generally served at bars and cafeterias around the world.

Not everyone is privileged to fly to Italy just to try the wonderful hot chocolate. So, we have brought you the recipe of Italian hot chocolate to prepare it at home in just a matter of minutes.

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Ingredients

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All you need is 5 basic ingredients that are easily available in your kitchens such as fresh milk, good quality cocoa powder, premium dark chocolate, sugar and cornflour. Cornflour is the secret ingredient. You read it right, cornflour gives the Italian version its texture which is quite thick and creamy.

• 5 tsp high-quality organic cocoa powder

• 4 tsp cornflour

• 4 tsp sugar

• 500 ml fresh whole milk, warmed

• 120 g dark chocolate, finely chopped

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Preparation

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• Whip the cornflour, cocoa and sugar in a small pot.

• Put the warm milk into the pot.

• Warm the mixture on medium-low heat, stirring frequently to avoid lumps.

• Bring the mixture to a light boil, then lower the heat and add in the chopped dark chocolate.

• Stir the hot chocolate until creamy and dense; you may add more sugar if you like it sweeter.

• Pour the Italian hot chocolate among two cups, top with whipped cream if you like and serve hot.

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Toppings & Add-ons

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Courtesy: Backyard Camp

Once you have learnt the basic version, then it becomes all the easier to master the whole art of making the best hot chocolate. To give a little twist to your hot chocolate, try including one of the following add-ons:

• whipped cream

• extra cocoa powder

• mini marshmallows

• a drizzle of salted caramel sauce or dulce de leche

• crushed toasted hazelnuts

• a splash of pure vanilla extract

• a drop of your favourite liquor (Baileys, Rum, Grand Marnier all work amazingly well)

• a pinch of cinnamon

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Courtesy: thepetitecook