Hot Chocolate with Co-op Toppings
Winter contentment is all about finding your cozy place. Here’s a winning formula to try: comfy clothes, relaxing tunes, and a piping-hot mug of hot chocolate. Whether yours is dairy-free or dairy-full, you can make it “co-op style” with scrumptious toppings and flavor combinations. There’s truly something for everyone to sip and enjoy.
Dairy-free hot chocolate
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Willa’s oat milk
- 1/2 cup chopped Hacienda San Jose 100% dark chocolate disks
- 1 Tablespoon Navitas cacao powder
- 2 Tablespoons maple sugar
Directions:
Over medium-low heat, warm 2 cups of Willa’s oat milk until the milk just starts to steam. While it’s heating, chop up a heaping ½ cup of San Jose 100% dark chocolate discs. When the oat milk is steaming, whisk in the chopped chocolate and 1 Tablespoon of Navitas cacao powder. Add 2 Tablespoons maple sugar and continue to whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and incorporated, and serve. This makes a very thick “sipping” chocolate; for a lighter hot chocolate, add more milk or less chopped chocolate.
Topping suggestion: a ginger medallion (find ginger medallions in the bulk aisle).
Dairy-full hot chocolate
Ingredients:
- 3 cups Kalona whole milk
- 1/2 of a Tony’s Chocolonely milk chocolate bar
- 1 Tablespoon Navitas cacao powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cranks of salt from a salt grinder
Directions:
Over medium-low heat, warm up 3 cups of Kalona whole milk. While it warms, chop up one half of a Tony’s Chocolonely milk chocolate bar. When the milk is steaming and hot, whisk in the chocolate, 1 Tablespoon Navitas cacao powder, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and two cranks of salt. Whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and incorporated, and serve.
Topping suggestions: whipped cream and crushed mint Kakookies or other cookie crumbles.
Rose hot chocolate
Ingredients:
- 3 cups milk (your choice)
- 3/4 of a ruby chocolate bar (like from Chocolove)
- 1 crank of salt from a salt grinder
Directions:
Over medium-low heat, warm 3 cups of milk. Meanwhile, chop up 3/4 of a Rose (pink-colored) chocolate bar. When the milk is just starting to steam, whisk in the chopped chocolate and one crank of salt. Whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and incorporated, and serve.
Topping suggestion: North Mallow rolled in colored Watkins sprinkles.
Other hot chocolate topping combos
There are a number of delicious toppings for your hot chocolate! In addition to the ideas above, you could also try these.
- Add whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and a candy cane.
- Garnish the mug with a coconut cashew candy (found in the bulk aisle).
- Before adding the hot chocolate, wet the rims of your mug and dip them in coconut, then garnish with a cookie.
- Garnish your mug with a strawberry on the rim.
- Top dairy-free hot chocolate with a dairy free “whipped topping” (find it in the frozen section) and crushed cookies, such as Siete Mexican shortbread or Mexican chocolate.
- Top with whipped cream and drizzle with salted caramel sauce or organic chocolate syrup.
See ideas for making your hot chocolate a functional hot drink with supplements, such as maca powder, beet powder, and more.