The Best Hot Chocolate: My Top 3

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Love hot chocolate? Me too! I’m going off topic a bit today. Why? Because Aby Garvey threw this most excellent question out there, and I just had to respond! I’m a professed chocoholic (and foodie) - and there is nothing better than a frothy, smooth and silky cup of steaming hot chocolate. Personally, milk and I don’t get along, so I’m a soy kinda girl. My trick is to use 3/4 plain or vanilla soy milk (I prefer Silk) and add 1/4 soy creamer. Yum!

So, here’s the list of my faves:

#3: Scharfenberger Cocoa: It’s unsweetened, but follow the directions on the back and add a teaspoon of instant espresso. Yum.

#2: Nigella’s Hot Chocolate: What’s not to love about a chef who is gorgeous and engaging, and looks like she actually consumes what she eats. ( I leave the alcohol out, just a personal preference.)

#1: Tyler Florence’s Ultimate Hot Chocolate (recipe below). Warning: this is for hard core chocolate lovers only. It takes a little effort, but I’m telling you, it is the best hot chocolate you will ever put in your mouth. No, I’m not even kidding.

The Ultimate Hot Chocolate (from “Tyler’s Ultimate” cookbook)

1 quart milk

2 tablespoons whole coffee beans

1 vanilla bean

1 cinnamon stick

3/4 cup sugar (I use about half brown, half organic granulated, or honey)

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Marshmallows, for serving

Combine the milk, coffee beans, vanilla bean, cinnamon stick, sugar, chocolate, and cocoa powder in a saucepan. Bring it slowly up to a simmer over medium heat, stirring it frequently so that the chocolate doesn’t scorch on the bottom of the pan. Strain and serve hot, with marshmallows.

Enjoy!