(Image courtesy of a friend)
This silky, rich hot chocolate will be the perfect beverage on a cold winter day. With a little kick of spice and a small pinch of sugar, this chocolate drink will be sure to impress others.
In terms of hot chocolate, better chocolate = better flavor. Using cheap, 45% semisweet chocolate chips will not yield the same flavor as using a high quality chocolate. My advice to you is: use the best quality chocolate you can find.
Recipe:
2 cups milk (whole, skim, 2%, doesn't matter)
1/4 cup chocolate chips (preferable 55% cacao+)
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp paprika (do not use smoked paprika, or your hot chocolate will taste like barbecue)
3 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract/paste
Start by heating the milk over medium-low heat. Add in all of the ingredients and stir occasionally until combined. Further cook until the chocolate has melted and the cocoa powder has completely dissolved.
Optionally garnish with marshmallows.
Enjoy!