On a cold and blustery day, I love the comfort and warmth from drinking a cup of hot cocoa. I always use the six ingredients listed above. To be honest, I've never actually written down a recipe. I just whisk the ingredients into the warming milk and over the years it always turns out delicious. To give you a starting point, I measured the amounts I usually add and came up with the following recipe. Any of the amounts can be changed to your taste. If you want it sweeter, add more sugar; a deeper chocolate taste add more cocoa, etc.
If you don't have Dutch process (European) cocoa powder, treat yourself and buy some the next time you're at the market. It's has a deeper chocolate flavor and is more mellow in taste. The brand, Droste Cocoa, is available in most markets. I use it in all of my baking. Expect to pay more for it than the regular Hershey's brand, but it's definitely worth it! Also, adding a bit of instant espresso coffee will not make the cocoa taste like coffee, but it will enhance the flavor of the cocoa. Enjoy and stay warm this weekend!
