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Hot cocoa with milk

10 min2 servings209 kcal per servingEasy
Hot cocoa with milk
Example photo: Personal Creations · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Hot cocoa made with real milk and proper cocoa powder is miles away from the instant sachet kind, and it takes just 10 minutes. You need unsweetened cocoa, milk and a little sugar. The key step is rubbing the cocoa and sugar with a splash of milk into a smooth paste first, so there are no lumps in the finished drink. A pinch of salt sounds odd but makes the chocolate flavour rounder. It's exactly what you want on a chilly evening or a slow weekend morning.

Method

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  1. Mix the cocoa powder, sugar and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan.

  2. Add 3-4 tablespoons of the milk and stir into a smooth, thick paste with no lumps.

  3. Gradually stir in the rest of the milk.

  4. Heat over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, whisking constantly.

  5. When small bubbles appear around the edge, lower the heat and warm for another 1-2 minutes without letting it boil hard. Add vanilla sugar if you like.

  6. Take off the heat and whisk for 20-30 seconds to create a light froth. Pour into mugs.

Tips for success

  • Don't tip cocoa straight into hot milk; it clumps into lumps that are hard to break up.
  • Stay by the pan. Cocoa milk boils over and scorches easily.
  • Keep stirring to prevent a skin forming, and whisk before serving.
  • For a richer drink, stir in 20 g of dark chocolate at the end until melted.

Serving and storage

Serve hot in thick mugs. Top with marshmallows or whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.

Best drunk fresh. Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to a day and reheat gently, stirring.

Variations

  • Cinnamon: add a pinch of cinnamon with the cocoa.
  • Oat milk: use oat milk for a mellow, slightly sweet dairy-free version.
  • Hot chocolate: reduce the cocoa to 10 g and add 50 g of dark chocolate.

Calories and macros

Per serving (about 273 g):

209kcal
9.4protein, g
7.8fat, g
27.1carbs, g

Per 100 g: 77 kcal, P 3.4, F 2.8, C 10. An estimate based on average ingredient values. Your daily calories ›

QuickVegetarianFor kidsNo ovenGluten-free

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Frequently asked questions

How do you make hot cocoa without lumps?

Mix the cocoa with the sugar, then rub it with 3-4 tablespoons of milk into a smooth paste. Only then add the rest of the milk gradually. The sugar separates the cocoa particles so they dissolve evenly.

How much cocoa powder per cup of milk?

For 250 ml of milk, use 1-1.5 tablespoons of cocoa (8-10 g) and 1-2 teaspoons of sugar. For a stronger flavour, go up to 2 tablespoons. This recipe uses 20 g of cocoa for 500 ml of milk.

Can I make cocoa with water?

You can, but it tastes noticeably thinner. Half water and half milk is a good compromise. If using only water, sweeten it a little more and add a pinch of vanilla so it doesn't taste flat.