Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Hershey's Hot Cocoa Eleven Ways

Here’s a hot chocolate with more variations than you may ever use. After the kiddo went to bed Saturday night, we took the opportunity to sample a few liquors in our hot cocoas while we chatted.

This isn’t a super rich cocoa. It’s light and nice on it’s own, but really shines sharing the stage with other flavors. I like to serve hot cocoa in six ounce servings, but if you want bigger portion sizes by all means go for it.


The Chambord won hands down for the best flavor. Although I must say, the rest were quite excellent.

Ingredients
½ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup Hershey’s Cocoa, packed

Dash of Salt

1/3 cup hot water

4 cups (1 quart) milk

¾ teaspoon vanilla extract


Instructions

1. Stir together sugar, cocoa, and salt in medium saucepan; stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add milk; heat to serving temperature, stirring constantly. Do not boil.


2. Remove from heat; add vanilla. Beat with rotary beater or whisk until foamy (I often skip this part to save time). Serve topped with marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream, if desired.


Makes about 6 (3/4 cup) servings, or 5 (1 cup) servings.


Our Own Individual Serving Variations

Luxurious Chambord Hot Cocoa

Add 1 Tablespoon Chambord to a ¾ cup serving of hot cocoa.


Cool Peppermint Schnapps Hot Cocoa

Add 1 to 1 ½ Tablespoons Peppermint Schnapps to a ¾ cup serving of hot cocoa.


Special Coffee Liquor Hot Cocoa

Add 2 Tablespoons Kahlua Especial to a ¾ cup serving of hot cocoa.

Cowgirl Style
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to taste per serving. Top with whipped cream.

Hershey’s Variations for Entire Recipe


Spiced Cocoa
Add 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
and 1/8 teaspoons ground nutmeg with vanilla extract. Serve with cinnamon stick, if desired.

Mint Cocoa
Add ½ teaspoon mint extract or 3 Tablespoons crushed hard peppermint candy or 2 to 3 tablespoons white crème de menthe with the vanilla extract. Serve with peppermint candy stick, if desired.

Citrus Cocoa
Add ½ teaspoon orange extract or 2 to 3 Tablespoons orange liqueur with vanilla extract.

Swiss Mocha
Add 2 to 2 ½ teaspoons powdered instant coffee with vanilla extract.

Canadian Cocoa
Add ½ teaspoons maple extract with vanilla extract.

Cocoa Au Lait
Omit marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream. Spoon 2 Tablespoons softened vanilla ice cream on top of each cup of cocoa at serving time.

Hershey’s Single Serving Variation


Quick Microwave Cocoa for One
To make one serving, in a microwave-safe cup of mug, combine 1 heaping teaspoon Hershey’s Cocoa, 2 heaping teaspoons sugar and dash of salt. Add 2 teaspoons cold milk; stir until smooth. Fill cup with milk. Microwave at high (100%) 1 to 1 ½ minutes or until hot. Stir to blend.

Hershey’s Hot Cocoa recipe from "Hershey’s Recipe Collection", Copyright 2009, Page 472. Pictures by Laura Flowers.


36 comments:

D Martinez said...

Thank you for this wonderful post! Yum x 11 :-)

The Old White Barn said...

What wonderful ideas for grown up hot chocolate! I can't wait to try a few - very creative!
Susan

Jeanette said...

yummy!

Jackie said...

Maybe I need one more chilly night here in Tampa! Will be trying this recipe for sure, I don't think I can mess this up! thanks for another lovely recipe!
Jackie

Michelle said...

wow perfect timing! i've been craving a cup of hot cocoa for some time now :) looks delicious

Donna-FFW said...

Oh with the chambord, I bet its heavenly!

VegeCooking Club said...

I love the peppermint shnaps idea. Yuuuummmm!!!

Maria said...

I love all of the different variations! FUN!

Devon said...

This is the type of thing we all need right now and I love the fact that most of us have all of these ingredients already.

Chef E said...

You just do not know...I just got home from teaching and I am reaching out for this going...umn umn umn gi'me gi'me now!

Hey email me and I will make the meat thing very painless :O) I eat less meat now than when my son lived with me, since I have been a personal chef for Indian families...its a balance, but when the guys want that kind of food, like mine who loves pork, and I do not eat it hardly at all, but I can cook it like no tomorrow! I was a grill chef for a few years, that really showed me a few things as far as steaks go too...

Also, without writing a book here, you can cook it like I did before I left my son's and package it up in portions for their meals. Taste the sauce, that you know tells you so much!

Sue said...

I bought my husband a "Back to Basics-Cocoa Latte" machine for Christmas and he loves it! Me too:) I want to try the spiced cocoa variation:)

shaz said...

Mmm..cocoa. I could definitely take the Kahlua one. Very cool Laura, it's so you to not just stop at one or two flavours - go 11!

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

I could use a cup of Cocoa Au Lait right about now - Brrr!!

:)
ButterYum

Jamie said...

Sweetie! We keep finding each other through the madhouse that we call life and I love your blog so every time I find myself back here I kick myself that I don't find the time more often like I used to! New Year's Resolution: visit Laura more often!

And when was the last time I had homemade hot chocolate - with mini marshmallows to boot? Years! I need some! Yum! And with a shot of Chambord? Wow!

Mari @ Once Upon a Plate said...

Love this idea Laura! Thanks for sharing. :D

marla (Family Fresh Cooking) said...

I love cocoa and everything that goes along with it. Great, tasty options here. Gosh, I need me a steamy mug of hot chocolate....NOW :)

oneordinaryday said...

Hershey's cocoa is my favorite. I like making mine minty, but for my kiddos, they love it with whipped cream and a sprinkling of colored sugars on top. : ) Over Christmas, they call it Christmas hot chocolate because it has red and green sugars on top.

Namitha said...

Swiss Mocha and cocoa Au Lait are my favs...Will try your version soon :-) Thanks !!

Errin said...

Chocolate and liquor? Sign me up!

Anonymous said...

Peppermint Schnapps in hot chocolate?

You're a genius!!

Milwaukee Cupcake Queen said...

Excited to be on your team in NYC!

Anonymous said...

Alcohol + cocoa?? I am in! :D

Kathleen said...

Why didn't I think of putting Chambord in my hot chocolate? You're brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!

Lo said...

DH's family ALWAYS drank peppermint schnapps in their hot chocolate. I had no idea what I was missing until I married Peef. Crazy. And so very simple.

Love the seemingly endless possibilities here. Chambord sounds like a really nice one to try!

Mimi said...

Oops! I left out the cocoa.
Mimi

Lisa said...

I've had a cup of hot cocoa a few times already this week, but I love all of your variations. Great ideas--the mint cocoa is my favorite. Your photo looks just like my after dinner treat last night!

Unknown said...

I want one of each now! Love the pics!

notyet100 said...

lovely post,..;-)

cecile said...

I have never tried it Cafe Au Lait style. I will love it! My favorite is one you have not posted though, which is hot chocolate with rum, particularly Sailor Jerry's rum. Soo delicious on a cold night.

l'optimiste said...

looks scrumpious! your photos are excellent.
I passed on your recipe for Black bean Spinach enchaladas to my girlfriends - they were awesome apparently; and I think you'll be getting a few more followers shortly :o)
x

Carol Egbert said...

I love hot chocolate with a shot of espresso and a healthy hit of cayenne pepper..

Congratulations on the top 9!

figtree said...

Chamborg and hot chocolate??? Oh my! I have all these ingredients in my hse and Im making this tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cristie said...

Beautiful picture! What a list of great cocoa's to use on a cold night, thanks for the ideas. And, I love your new site!

Post Grad Hair Cut said...

great great great suggestions! yum! I love hot chocolate.

2 Stews said...

Mmmmm...what fun you must have had testing and tasting. I've never added liquor to hot cocoa...and am wondering why not! Thanks for the recommendations, Laura.

Diane

Gomathy S said...

Nice collection of cocoa..feel like slurping one :)

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