Chocolate Week 2022 is finally here and, if you're anything like us, you've probably been counting the days until its arrival since, well, this time last year!
Running from Monday October 17th, Chocolate Week 2022 does exactly what it says on the tin - it's a week all about celebrating (i.e. consuming lots of) chocolate. And while the vast majority of us have a favourite chocolate bar/treat/dessert, this year we want to turn the spotlight on one of the chocolate canon's unsung heroes - hot chocolate.
Believed to have been created around 2,500 - 3,000 years ago by the Maya, today, it is the UK's third most popular hot drink behind, of course, tea and coffee. But although hot chocolate is the hot drink of choice for more than one in ten of us, most of us rarely - if ever - make one from scratch.
If you fancy giving it a go this Chocolate Week, here's how to go about it.
Hot chocolate royale
Why make a standard hot chocolate when you can go deluxe and pile it high with marshmallows?
Ingredients
To make two mugs, you will need:
300ml milk
71ml double cream
50g chopped chocolate
Mini marshmallows
All you need to do is pour the milk, double cream and chopped chocolate into a pan, then bring it gently to the boil, whisking until smooth. Serve immediately and top with mini marshmallows and a little grated chocolate.
Gingerbread hot chocolate
Gingerbread and autumn go hand-in-hand, so what better time to try this fragrant and warming version of a classic hot chocolate?
Ingredients
To make two mugs, you will need:
300ml milk
100ml double cream
1 tsp dark brown soft sugar
1 orange, zested
pinch of ground ginger
pinch of ground cinnamon
2 cloves
4 drops of vanilla extract
100g dark chocolate, chopped
whipped cream
2 mini gingerbread biscuits, crushed
Begin by stirring the milk, cream, sugar, orange zest and spices together in a saucepan, then bring to a simmer over a low heat. Remove from the heat and pour through a sieve into a jug, discarding the clove and orange zest. Pour the milk back into the pan and stir in the vanilla and chocolate until the chocolate has melted and is smooth, returning the pan to a low heat to warm through, if necessary.
Then, simply pour into a heatproof mug, top with whipped cream, add the crushed gingerbread biscuits and serve.
Vegan hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is an equal opportunities treat and we believe EVERYONE should be able to enjoy it, so here's how to make it if your diet is exclusively plant-based.
Ingredients
To make two mugs, you will need:
500ml oat milk
100g vegan dark chocolate, finely chopped, plus a grating to serve
1 small cinnamon stick
2 bruised cardamom pods
½ tbsp maple syrup
vegan marshmallows
Heat all the ingredients - apart from the marshmallows - in a small pan over a low heat and stir frequently until the chocolate melts. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods, then divide the hot chocolate between two mugs and top with the marshmallows and an extra grating of chocolate.
Boozy mint hot chocolate
A hot chocolate nightcap? Don't mind if we do…
Ingredients
To make two mugs, you will need:
100ml double cream
2 tsp icing sugar
few drops peppermint extract
300ml whole milk
100g dark chocolate , chopped
50ml crème de menthe
dark chocolate curls or sprinkles
First, whip the cream in a small bowl, then stir in the icing sugar and a few drops of peppermint extract, then place in the fridge.
Next, pour the milk into a saucepan and heat gently until simmering, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat, then add the chocolate and stir until it has completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Return to the heat until warm then add the crème de menthe and pour into two mugs. Top with some of the whipped mint cream and chocolate curls or sprinkles and serve.
HotChocolate2U!
Even though we guarantee you'll love all these recipes, sometimes you just don't have the energy for DIY and if that's the case this Chocolate Week, you can always contact your nearest Cafe2U van instead.
Not only do we do a range of hot chocolates that will make your taste buds tingle, we'll even deliver them straight to your door! Get in touch here.