Treat yourself to a cup of Italian hot chocolate (known as Cioccolata Calda) and forget about your ordinary hot chocolate. Rich, thick and decadent hot chocolate mix made with just a few ingredients.
Next time, try this warming bubbly Sahlab.
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❓Why This Recipe Works
- Rich and so chocolatey.
- Simple recipe with everyday ingredients.
- Easily doubled or tripled recipe.
Italian hot chocolate is what many call Italian drinkable chocolate is not your everyday hot chocolate. This hot chocolate is made with real chocolate for an ultimate hot chocolate experience.
You will notice that this recipe is simple and requires everyday ingredients with a special emphasis on chocolate. They key to this recipe is to use good quality ingredients.
📝 Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- You can use semisweet chocolate chips, especially if you are gifting it as it makes for a nice look inside the jar.
- Use whole milk or skimmed milk it works either ways.
- You can use regular granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar, powdered sugar is easier to dissolve though.
- Make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder.
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a small saucepan add cocoa powder, powdered sugar and corn starch.
- Add cold milk and whisk to dissolve corn starch well. Place on medium heat.
- Add chocolate and keep stirring until bubbly and thick.
💡 Tips
- Use high quality ingredients for best results.
- I like using 60% and up to 70% good quality chocolate bar.
- To make a 4oz gift jar start by layering cornstarch at the bottom, cocoa powder, powdered sugar then top that with chocolate chips. You can also add some mini marshmallows at the top.
📣 Related Recipes
- This is the Middle Eastern Milk pudding in a drinkable form, Sahlab is so good especially when garnished with nuts.
- Cardamom tea with fresh ginger root is so soothing and calming.
- This spicy tea is sweet and aromatic, one of my favorite.
Italian Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar or to your liking.
- 2-3 teaspoons corn starch
- 50 gram Dark chocolate (60%) or mini semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups milk.
Optional:
- 1/4 cup mini marshmallows or whipped cream
Instructions
- In a sauce pan add cocoa powder, sugar and cornstarch then mix.
- Pour in cold milk and whisk well to dissolve cornstarch.
- Add chopped chocolate and heat it up over low heat while stirring.
- Keep stirring until it is bubbly and hot and you have a chocolate thick mixture.
- Pour in cups and top with whipped cream or marshmallow if desired.
Notes
- Use high quality ingredients for best results.
- For extra thick hot chocolate use 3 teaspoons, keep in mind that it thickens as it cools down.
- For the chocolate I like using 60% chocolate bar, but you can use any chocolate you like. Semisweet chocolate chips work as well.
- You can use whole milk or fat free milk.
- To make a 4oz gift jar start by layering cornstarch at the bottom, cocoa powder, powdered sugar then top that with chocolate chips.
- You can also add some mini marshmallows at the top.
- Some people skip the corn starch for a thinner consistency.
- This recipe yields 14oz which is enough for two.
Nutrition
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First published Dec 21, 2012 . Last updated February 15, 2021 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.
I haven't had hot chocolate in years. Really craving it now, though, particularly since it's snowing here (again -- we've gotten a lot lately). Good stuff -- thanks.