My favorite winter drink is not pumpkin spice anything or peppermint or any other holiday in a cup. I love hot chocolate. I love all types of hot cocoa, but my favorite is just straight up classic hot cocoa. So I found an amazing recipe for it and I just mix it up from there. And lucky for everyone reading (hey Mom! pretty sure it’s still just you) tomorrow, December 13, is Hot Cocoa Day! Do you hear that? It’s angels singing.
I’ll let you in on one of my favorite recipes for Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa. Because what is better than caramel and chocolate. You’re right, nothing.
Salted Caramel Sauce
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
Big pinch of sea salt
Heat sugar and water in saucepan. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is bubbling. Stop stirring and let it boil until it turns a dark golden brown. Take it from the heat and slowly pour the cream. Stir or whisk in the cream. Then stir in butter and sea salt. Set aside to cool.
Or you can just buy Trader Joe’s Salted Caramel Sauce because it is delicious and does not require this kind of effort.
Hot Cocoa
2 oz good quality Dark Chocolate
2 oz good quality Milk Chocolate
2 cups milk
Finely chop the chocolate. Heat the milk on low to medium heat. Just before it boils, pour in the chocolate and stir until the chocolate is melted.
Pour the caramel into your cup first
Pour your hot cocoa over the caramel
Then top with marshmallows, whip cream, or whatever you love most
Then, for good measure, add more caramel sauce. Because it’s the season of giving and caramel is something you would never want to be stingy with.
Nothing pairs better with this than sitting on the couch watching The Holiday on repeat.
