Spiced hot chocolate – The secret recipe step by step

For 2 large cups (or 3 small ones)

Exact ingredients:

Main ingredients:

• 500 ml whole milk (or plant-based milk: almond, oat…)
• 100 g dark chocolate with 70% cocoa (chopped or in callets)
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp coconut sugar (or brown sugar or maple syrup, according to preference)
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 very small pinch of cayenne pepper (or chilli – adjust to taste)
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (or the seeds from a vanilla pod)

Optional but fabulous:

• 1 pinch of ground cardamom
• Organic orange zest
• Whipped cream or milk foam for the topping
• Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder to decorate

👨‍🍳 Detailed preparation:

🔥 STEP 1: Heat the milk

• Pour the 500 ml of milk into a medium saucepan.
• Add the vanilla extract.
• Heat gently over a medium heat until the milk is hot, but do not let it boil.

💡 Tip: stir occasionally to stop it sticking to the bottom.

🌿 STEP 2: Add the spices

• Add the following to the hot milk:
  • the cinnamon
  • the ginger
  • the cayenne pepper
  • the pinch of salt
  • (and the cardamom and orange zest if you would like a sophisticated touch)
• Stir gently with a whisk or spoon.

🎯 Aim: let the spices infuse thoroughly into the milk while keeping the heat steady (no bubbling!)

🍫 STEP 3: Stir in the chocolate and cocoa

• Add the 100 g of chopped dark chocolate directly to the hot milk.
• Also add the spoonful of cocoa powder and the coconut sugar.
• Whisk until the chocolate has completely melted and the mixture is smooth, dark and velvety.
• Simmer over a low heat for another 3 to 5 minutes to allow the flavours to blend.