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Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

mama's amazing hot cocoa

GiCi avatar
Recipe by
Gaia Cisto
@GiCi
New Albany, IN

I could never express how cherished this recipe is in my family. This is the cocoa that I grew up with and the cocoa that my family today adores. We serve this for the first time on Thanksgiving night - in celebration of the start of the Holiday season and make it throughout winter on special occasions. It stores beautifully in a mason jar (when there is any left over) and is equally delicious cold. Think rich chocolate milk with a kick. The cayenne's heat only adds a richness to the cocoa. It's a decadent winter treat for all ages to enjoy. My daughter is 5 and LOVES this!!

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yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 5 Min
cook time 15 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For mama's amazing hot cocoa

  • 1/3 c
    cocoa powder
  • 1/3 c
    water
  • 3/4 c
    sugar
  • 3 tsp
    cinnamon, ground
  • 3 tsp
    ginger, ground
  • 1/2 tsp
    clove, ground
  • 1/2 tsp
    pink himalayan salt
  • 2 dash
    cayenne pepper
  • 1 can
    evaporated milk
  • 3 c
    whole milk
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp
    almond extract
  • freshly grated nutmeg

How To Make mama's amazing hot cocoa

  • 1
    In a medium saucepan, mix water, sugar, cocoa and spices with a whisk. Bring to a bubbling boil. (this is a very key step - the bubbling boil is very important. You are toasting the flavors together at this step and it makes all the difference to the taste of the cocoa.) Allow to bubble and stir consistently. I let the bubbles raise up a bit, then whisk them down. Bubble up again, then whisk them down. Do this at least 3 or 4 times.
  • 2
    Slowly add 1 can of evaporated milk while whisking.
  • 3
    Pour in 3 cups of whole milk and stir - not only circularly, but back and forth - side to side as well. Stir in this way until steam begins to rise off the cocoa.
  • 4
    Remove from heat source and add freshly grated nutmeg. Stir again in circular, back and forth - side to side motion.
  • 5
    Optional: Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a dash of cinnamon.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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